The bridge was a success! What I found, however, was the Wireless-G Access Point (WAP54G) I tried to use in the place of my Wireless-B Router/Access Point (BEFW11S4) was not so successful.

So what went wrong?

I attempted to substitute the Router/AP with simply an AP. I had to connect the access point to the router (which was still connected to the cable modem) to configure it. I also had to put my laptop on the wired part of the router to configure it. I could configure the Access Point, but only up to a point. The setup utility from Linksys only found the access point about 10% of the time. Once the access point was found, I would configure it the way I wanted (WPA security, SSID, no broadcast). I could connect to the access point and the internet just fine.

I did everything I needed except change the IP address from static (192.168.1.245) to a DHCP client. Bear in mind, the AP is still connected to the router. Once I converted the AP to a DHCP client, the laptop could still connect to it wirelessly. I removed the AP from the router, disconnected the router from the modem, connected the AP to the modem, and cycled the power on the AP. In theory, the laptop should have connected to the AP, right? Wrong. Dead wrong.

Whenever I made the AP a DHCP client, as soon as I connected it to the modem, it disappeared. The setup utility couldn't find it. The laptop could find it but never get an IP address I tried updating the firmware, updating my drivers on my laptop; I tried everything. I would reset the access point and try the entire exercise all over again. This went on for hours.

So what was the missing ingredient?

Somewhere along the line, I missed the word router. It turns out I had bought simply an Access Point, not a Router/Access Point. The access point by itself is incapable of acting as an independently routing DHCP server. The idea behind this type of AP is just to give a wired network a wireless point of entry. Should have known better.

So the theory behind expanding my network was correct, it was just that I had the wrong equipment. I had bought the AP a couple of months ago, and had waited to buy the bridge. Since I had waited so long, there was no way I could return it. No worries, though. A quick shot over to BestBuy and I was back in business. I grabbed a Wireless-G Router/Access Point (WRT54G) for fifty bucks. I took it home, set it up, and I was rock-'n-rollin' in under 10 minutes.

The router/access point (Wireless-G) is connected to the modem, the bridge (Wireless-G) is connecting the original router/access point (Wireless-B), and everybody connected to either (wireless and wired alike) is happy.

Upside: I got my network upgraded to Wireless-G and my existing wired equipment separated from the wireless. Downside: I'm out about $80 for an access point that I don't really have a use for, but that's what eBay is for, right? Funny how the access point by itself costs $80, but the router/access point only costs $50, huh?

Labels: Hardware, Networking