Re: Are bridges supposed to be able to talk to each other?

On 21 Jul 2006 05:06:06 GMT, phil-news-nospam@ipal.net wrote in
<e9pnbu02dje@news2.newsguy.com>:

>At this page: http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Wireless_Bridge
>
>It says "All 802.11 wireless is bridging". That would seem to tell me
>that every wireless device _can_ communicate with every other wireless
>device, including exact copies (e.g. same model), as long as the wireless
>parameters match (same channel, modulation, SSID, key/phrase).

All that means is that Wi-Fi *networks* (once connections are
established) operate at the data link layer -- it has nothing to do with
how Wi-Fi *connections*, which fall into specific types and two
different modes (ad hoc [peer-to-peer] and infrastructure [central
controller]), are made; e.g.,

* Client adapters can connect to other client adapters (ad hoc mode), or
to one and only one access point (infrastructure mode).

* An access point can only connect to clients (point-to-multipoint), not
other access points.

* A client bridge can connect to one and only one access point, not
other clients.

* A point-to-point bridge can only connect to another point-to-point
bridge.

Some products can be switched between different modes; e.g., either an
access point or a client bridge, but not both at the same time.

>I'm looking for discussion that explains, as thoroughly as this page
>discusses the things it does, why certain wireless devices cannot talk
>to certain other wireless devices.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_LAN>

>Based on some explanations people
>have given me about why my two Netgear WGT624's will not talk to each
>other, it would see the above referenced page is wrong.

The page is correct. You misunderstand what it's saying.

>Can someone
>explain this better?

WGT624 has a wireless access point (in addition to a wired router);
i.e., a central controller. It can connect to wireless clients, but not
to another wireless access point -- there can be only one central
controller in a given wireless network. To connect two of them to each
other, one would have to be converted into a wireless client bridge
(losing access point capability), or both would have to be converted
into point-to-point bridges (again losing access point capability).

Different wireless networks can be connected together by wire, or by
specific types of wireless.

>In addition to the two Netgear WGT624's, I have an wireless device my
>sister-in-law got for free at some garage sale. It's a bridge. It even
>says so on the case.

The type of bridge is important; likewise how many devices it can
handle. (Many low-end bridges are limited, some to only one device.)

>It has NO brand name, neither on the case nor on
>the admin web page. I got the MAC so maybe I can look it up from there
>but more than likely it will be some Chinese manufacturer I never heard
>of. Anyway, it is 802.11b only, and WEP only.

Toss it. Seriously.

>Configuring the WGT624's
>to do "b" in addition to "g", and to do WEP instead of WPA,

Bad idea -- WEP is easily cracked in minutes.

>the bridge
>will communicate with ONE of the WGT624's, but not the other. Strange!

Probably a WEP configuration error.

>Also, it won't communicate with the HP 6980 wireless printer when I change
>it to use WEP instead of WPA (the HP 6980 and WGT624 do talk OK when both
>are in WEP mode, so I know I got that set right).

But still probably a WEP configuration error. Try entering all WEP keys
in hex.

Before buying or fooling with any more gear, please provide an exact
description of what you're trying to do, as I requested in your prior
thread. And please don't start new threads -- that makes it all hard to
follow.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>