bridging two WAPs and range

Hello,

I would like to bridge my wireless network with a neighbour of mine. air distance is about 300 -500 feet and there are two other houses in the way..

Anybody has any experience with bridging? can I use low priced WAPs like WAP11 or D-link 1000AP+ to bridge the distance of 500 ft?

I am not certain if ip forwarding from DHCP will still work if I use 2x WAP11s to bridge and and then use D-LINK 1000AP as a wireless access point at the end? Anybody experienced any difficulties or incompatibility by using hardware from diferent manufacters although supporting the same (802.11b) protocol? I believe it should not be a problem since they (d-link and linksys) are wired and using IEEE 802.3 ..

my network plan:

cable modem <-wired--> DI-614+(811b router+wap)<--wired-->WAP11=bridge=WAP11<--wired-->D-link DWL1000AP

anybody got any ideas how to extend the range of bridging. I am thinking about making me one or two of those homemade cantennas to extend the range.. will my neighbour (DWL 1000AP) still be able to request Ips from DI-614s' DHCP server even if there is a linksys bridge in the middle (WAP11==WAP11)



thank you in advance for sharing your experience with me..

Demian

Sounds as if it should work, as by recollection the WAP11 have a bridge mode. Wired between different bridges means there is a translation from 802.11b to 802.3 so that should work. I have done exactly what you have proposed and it works fine except DHCP is handed out near the DWL1000
ie
firewall -- wireless bridge (not WAP11) <--> wireless bridge--(wired)-- linux Firewall --(wired)-- Wireless AP

Both firewalls run smoothwall and encrypt a tunnel over the wireless link.