"Jeff Liebermann" <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote in message
news:m9o2e3h8hhtbvbga9rcjfm7d2n6j06puvu@4ax.com...
> "jch" <jch@nospam.com> hath wroth:
>
>>I have a
>>WRT54G v5 which is my current router for my home network. I'm going to
>>replace that router and because of network exapansion, will have the need
>>for a wireless bridge. Can the WRT54G v5 be made to act as a wireless
>>bridge? Iwill have ethernet devices remotely located and would like a
>>wireless bridge to provide ethernet connectivity. The only solutions to
>>making a wireless bridge from a WRT54G which I've seen require the loading
>>of 3rd party firmware which my version (ver 5) will not allow. I'm hoping
>>that it is still possible to convert a stock WRT54G v5 to this function.
>>Can
>>this be done?
>
> <http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Version_5_And_6_Router_Information>
> Only the "micro" version of DD-WRT will work on the V5 abomination.
> Micro is lacking in features, but I think (not sure) supports
> transparent bridging:
> <http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_DD-WRT%3F>
> You might ask in the DD-WRT forums.
>
> I've only attempted to install DD-WRT on a V5 mutation only once. I
> was trying to solve a problem where the router would just stop moving
> traffic for no obvious reason. After installing DD-WRT, the problem
> persisted. I replaced it with a Buffalo something, and the customer
> lived happily ever after.
>
> However, I have a problem with your description. You mention that you
> would like to build a "wireless bridge" to "some ethernet devices". It
> takes two radios to do this. Do you have two WRT54G v5 routers? If
> not, what is on the other other end? If it's a common wireless router
> or access point, what you really need is a "wireless ethernet client
> bridge" that supports more than one MAC address. That's somewhat
> different from a transparent bridge, which usually is a symmetrical
> arrangement acting effectively as an ethernet extension cord. See
> different types listed at:
> <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Wireless_Bridge_Types>

I'm replacing the WRT54G v5 with a different wifi router. I am also making
the assumption that the modified WRT54G v5 will handle multiple MACs. I'd
never heard of DD-WRT micro. Thanks for the tip. Looking at the bridge
types, I believe I need the functionality of a "Multiple MAC address cleint
adapter". The WDS bridge is overkill because I don't need the access point
functionality. Although the "Transparent bridge" would seem to fit as well.
In the definition, I don't see reference to symmetrical.


> My guess(tm) is that you just want it to act as a wireless client. The
> micro version should do that, but can become messy if you have a
> complicated system:
> <http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Client_Mode_Wireless>

I believe this is correct. My new router will arrive in a few days and I
look forward to working on this and not making a brick of my WRT54Gv5. I'm
sure I'll be back with more questions or hopefully some interesting results.