Reproduced WiFi has a dead angle? Skillfully extending coverage with old wireless routers

What's the matter, the WiFi at home has a dead angle? Wireless coverage for older wireless routers is not a force? now the price of high-power wireless products or dual-band wireless products is not cheap, and only one wireless router can not meet the needs of multi-family wireless coverage . So, is there any cheap and practical way to effectively expand your home's wireless network? The following is to introduce a home in the old-fashioned wireless router to use the method, the same can achieve a large area of wireless signal coverage , quick to see how to achieve it.

First, the precondition of turning waste into treasure

With the rapid popularization of smartphones and tablets around the world, everyone in the home WiFi demand is getting bigger, but the old-fashioned no line by the wireless coverage and transmission speed is gradually unable to meet the user's wireless network applications. Then is not the new mainstream no line, the wireless coverage of the home will be significantly improved?

In general, for a one-bedroom house, a hundred-dollar price mainstream 150M or 300M no Line , in the wireless coverage or transmission can meet the daily WiFi demand . But for two-bedroom, three-bedroom or larger area of the house , even a mainstream, high-power wireless router , due to the room structure constraints, the face of the barrier of the load-bearing wall, its wireless signal will be greatly discounted, there is a WiFi corner .

At this time may have netizens asked, in order to eliminate the dead corner, is there any good way to idle old-fashioned no line by using, will wireless coverage maximize it? The answer is yes, if your idle old-fashioned wireless routing is capable of supporting WDS, then it is possible to turn it into treasure and use it to expand the coverage of the wireless signal. However, if it does not support WDS functionality, you cannot use the methods described below.

Extend wireless coverage with unused old-fashioned no-line support for WDS features

Because not all of the older wireless routers, which support WDS functionality, some vintage-free lines are not even built into the WDS feature hardware in the product. The WDS functionality of some older wireless routers is hidden and users need to upgrade the DD-WRT firmware package before they can use it. We also need to be aware of the compatibility issues between branded products, because even if both claims to support WDS, it is possible that the WDS connection could not be established due to incompatibility and should be noted when configuring.

So there is a prerequisite for this waste-to-life plan, which is that two or more wireless routers are used to support WDS functionality, and it is best to choose the same branded product network that is compatible with one another. So if these two conditions are met, can we use the WDS feature for wireless expansion? Here is the answer for you.

Second, what is WDS? With a wireless relay or a bridge?

Since we can use the WDS capabilities of the wireless router for wireless expansion, what exactly is WDS? WDS is the acronym for Wireless Distributed Systems (Wireless distribution System), which is a protocol that wirelessly connects two access points (ap,acess point).

Initially in wireless applications, WDS is a system for communicating between wireless base stations and wireless base stations. But with the advent of wireless applications, WDS has been quickly applied to home-grade wireless products. Through the establishment of WDS, the data of the wired network is transmitted through the "Relay architecture" of the wireless network, which transmits the data to another wireless network environment, or to another wired network.

Because WDS is connected by building virtual "bridges" over a wireless network, you will often hear the confusing name of WDS directly referred to as "wireless bridging." In fact, wireless bridging is just one of the most common application patterns for WDS, while the other common mode is wireless relay mode.

So what is the difference between the two modes of wireless bridging and wireless trunking? In the wireless coverage expansion, for home users, which mode can be used to obtain better wireless network applications?

To answer the questions above, we need to understand how the two modes work differently. First, wireless bridging usually refers to a one-to-one situation where the wireless routers at both ends of the bridge communicate only with the opposite side of the wireless router and do not accept access from other wireless devices. The coverage method has some limitations and is often used when connecting two different local area networks.

The wireless relay mode can be one-to-many, while extending the wireless signal transmission distance, wireless router using wireless relay mode can also accept the access of other wireless devices. The coverage mode is more comprehensive and flexible , so the wireless network extension is more convenient and practical than wireless bridging .

To give you a more intuitive understanding of the differences between wireless bridging and wireless trunking, below is an example.

Suppose you have a, B, c three wireless routers, A and b use wireless bridging, B and C also use wireless bridging, but A and C can not use wireless bridging .

Wireless Bridging application diagram

So if you want to connect a, B and C wirelessly, you have to use the wireless relay mode, A and B trunking, B and then relay C, and A and C can also be wireless relay , so that wireless coverage becomes more comprehensive.

Wireless Relay application diagram

Wireless trunking and wireless bridging are supported in both wireless routers and wireless APs that typically have WDS capabilities. And there are some wireless router manufacturers in order to facilitate the use of home users, not the two modes of segmentation, but collectively referred to as "WDS" mode. So when you are faced with the separation of wireless trunking and wireless bridging mode, in view of the different ways they work, you can choose according to the specific business needs. For home users, it is recommended to use WDS's wireless relay mode to extend wireless coverage and eliminate the WiFi corner.

Now that we know WDS and choose the way, how do we configure WDS for two wireless routers? What do you need to be aware of when configuring? Let's take a look.

Third, implement the center of WDS wireless router a settings

Before setting up, it is important to note that if you use two wireless routers of the same brand for WDS, you can avoid incompatibilities and wireless expansion is easier to implement.

Here we select two Tp-link wireless routers A and B for WDS connection configuration, wireless router A as the central wireless router, and wireless router B to establish WDS connection with wireless router A. It is recommended that you choose a good wireless router as the central wireless router A, weak performance or old-fashioned wireless router as B for WDS connection.

First , the hub wireless router A is set up .

In IE, enter a router's web interface IP, here is 192.168.1.1, to log in. Set the SSID number in wireless settings-basic settings and select a fixed channel. Here we set the "SSID" to "Zol-wds" and "channel" to "11", as shown in the red box.

Set the SSID of the center wireless router a and select a fixed channel (see Inside the red box)

In wireless settings-Wireless security settings, set the algorithm and password information of the wireless encryption, click "Save". At this point the center wireless router A is set up.

Set the algorithm and password for a wireless encryption (see red box)

In the subsequent B wireless router WDS configuration We will use the SSID, channel, and encryption information set up in the just a router, so it's best to write it down. Let's take a look at how to set up WDS Relay for wireless router B.

Iv. implementing WDS's wireless router B settings

The two wireless routers that are extended by WDS can have the same SSID and can be different. For home users, you can set the SSID to be the same if you want your phone and tablet to be wirelessly connected to a seamless roaming within the signal coverage of the two wireless routers . But in the following settings, in order to make it easy to differentiate, we use different SSID, the SSID of wireless router B is "zol-wds-02".

Now, let's do the WDS settings for wireless router B.

　　first, to prevent IP address collisions, we will modify the LAN port IP address of B. in Network parameter--lan port settings, change the IP address of router B to 192.168.1.2, which is different from router a. Then save, router B will restart automatically.

Modify the LAN port IP address of router B (see red box)

　　second, enable the WDS feature. after reboot, log on to Router B with the changed LAN port IP address and check "Turn on WDS" in "Wireless Settings-Basic Settings". Click "Scan" to search around the wireless source.

Tick "Turn on WDS" and click "Scan" (see red box)

Select the SSID number of router A in the list of scanned signals--"Zol-wds", then click "Connect".

Select Wireless Router A to connect (see red box)

　　then, set the channel to "11" is the same as the channel of Router a , while setting the encryption information and router a is the same, click "Save", such as.

Set B's channel, the encryption information is the same as the router a (see in the red box)

　Finally, turn off the DHCP functionality for wireless router B. in the DHCP server, select "Do not enable", save, and restart Router B.

Turn off DHCP functionality for wireless router B (see red box)

Now the wireless router B is configured to complete. Then there will be a form popup that restarts the router, click "Restart Router" and "OK".

Restarting the router

Wireless Router B establishes a successful WDS connection with wireless router A (see red box)

After the reboot, wireless router B and wireless router A successfully established the WDS connection, as shown in the red box.

Note: If the wireless router is not tp-link , after the two wireless routers start WDS, in the WDS settings, the MAC address of the other router needs to be filled in. There are also some wireless routers that only support the use of WEP encryption when WDS is turned on, and users need to be aware of it.

WDS connection is successful, then the home wireless network corner can really be eliminated? What about the coverage effect of WDS, ideal? Let's take a look at the actual test of wireless signal strength.

Five, the dead corner is not? Measured WDS wireless expansion

By the use of old wireless routers, the home of the wireless corner, can not be quickly eliminated? In order to verify the effectiveness of WDS wireless expansion, below we will be in the same environment , respectively, the wireless signal before the WDS connection , and the use of WDS wireless expansion of the wireless signal at each point to make a comparison , Let's see if the wireless corner is gone.

We will be in the Zol 8 floor, block a office area for you to carry out the test of WDS, the testing content is mainly to look at two sets of WDS connected wireless routers A and B, in the face of large-area coverage needs, wall barrier and more than 10 wireless signal source interference, What is the actual signal coverage capability and the ability to access the wireless wall?

Let's take a look at the actual test environment first.

Measured environment

　　Note: Point A is the center of the wireless router a placement point,A ' point is the placement point of wireless Router B , from a point of about 20m, and a point no barrier;Point B is the first test point, From a point of about 35m, from a ' point 18m or so, and a point, a ' point no barrier;C Point for the second Test point, from a point 30m about, from a ' point 18m around, with a point, a ' point has glass door + ordinary wall block;D Point is the third Test point, From a point of about 40m, from a ' point 20m or so, and a point, a ' point has iron gate and load-bearing wall barrier;e point for the fourth Test point, from a point 32m around, a ' point 12m around, and a point, a ' point of the barrier is more complex (load-bearing walls, glass doors, iron doors, etc.

　　B Point actual test results:

b dot not using WDS signal strength is 59% (left) and the signal strength is 72% (right) after using WDS

C Point actual test results:

c dot not using WDS signal strength is 66% (left) and signal strength is 76% after using WDS (right)

D Point actual test results:

D point not using WDS signal strength is 50% (left) and signal strength is 66% after using WDS (right)

E Point actual test results:

E point not using WDS signal strength is 33% (left) and the signal strength is 51% (right) after using WDS

Through the actual test, we can see that the wireless signal strength of each test point is increased by over 10% after wireless coverage of the same environment using two wireless routers with WDS connection. compared with the WiFi corner, the most rigorous test e-point (load-bearing wall + glass door + iron gate), with the help of WDS, wireless signal strength increased by 18%, coverage enhancement effect is very significant. obviously, by using the WDS capabilities of older wireless routers to extend wireless coverage, you can eliminate the wireless dead end of your home, and it's worth trying.

VI. will WDS reduce the wireless rate?

　　With WDS, wireless coverage is increased, but the total bandwidth we use will not change, so when using two wireless routers for WDS, will the original wireless bandwidth be split, resulting in a decrease in wireless speed?

In theory, when using WDS mode, the bandwidth of the "hub wireless router" is limited. The more wireless relay devices are connected to it, the less bandwidth each device can have, and the wireless rate will be reduced in turn (1,1/2,1/3 ...) based on the increase in WDS devices. 1/n).

So is this actually really the case? If we use two wireless routers for WDS connection, will the wireless speed be halved? Let's actually test it.

To facilitate analysis and comparison, in the same environment , we chose two models with the brand 300M wireless router to establish a WDS connection, test their wireless transmission rate when the WDS function is not turned on, and after the establishment of WDS, two wireless routers wireless transmission speed, Then the analysis is compared.

The effect of the measured WDS function on the wireless transmission rate

　　Test Platform:

Client: Thinkpad X200 notebook + 300M external wireless card;

Server-side: Thinkpad T400 notebook + 300M wireless router.

　　test Software: NetIQ Chariot v5.4;endpoint6.0

　　Test method:

Client: We install the measured wireless card management software and performance Endpoint on the client, and set the IP address of the wireless network card to: 192.168.1.11.

Server: Install performance endpoint and chariot console (console) on the server side. The LAN port of any wireless router (where we choose wireless Router a) is connected to the server via a network cable, and a small local area network is set up with the IP address of the service side: 192.168.1.10.

Run the server-side Chariot console console, set up the point-to-point test project, and select the throughput script. We only set up a test process with a test time of 1 minutes.

We conducted the following test items for the wireless routers before and after the WDS:

1, single pair download rate test (WPA2 encryption)

2, single pair download + upload rate Test (WPA2 encryption)

3.10pairs Download rate Test (WPA2 encryption)

4, 10pairs download + upload rate Test (WPA2 encryption)

WDS reduces wireless transmission by a small drop

Let's take a look at the impact of wireless router transmission speed in the same environment, before WDS is established and after WDS has been established. (PS: In order to ensure the objectivity of the test data, we have carried out a number of tests, to get close to the average results, the results are only for the reader's Reference)

Comparison of single pair downlink rate data:

Test curve: Before using WDS (left) and after using WDS (right)

Average rate: 58.207Mbps before using WDS (left) and 53.97Mbps after using WDS (right)

Comparison of single-pair download + upload rate data:

Test curve: Before using WDS (left) and after using WDS (right)

Average rate: 88.882Mbps before using WDS (left) and 81.064Mbps after using WDS (right)

10pairs downlink Rate Data comparison:

Test curve: Before using WDS (left) and after using WDS (right)

Average rate: 93.755Mbps before using WDS (left) and 93.396Mbps after using WDS (right)

10pairs downlink + Upstream rate data comparison:

Test curve: Before using WDS (left) and after using WDS (right)

Average rate: 135.899Mbps before using WDS (left) and 111.216Mbps after using WDS (right)

Through the actual wireless transmission test, we found that the wireless router's transmission speed did decline , but the drop range was between 0.38%~18.16% after the WDS function was used. Single-threaded down 7.28%, single-threaded download + upload by 8.8%, the maximum drop of 18.16% occurs in the multi-threaded downlink + uplink test, the overall drop is not big, and will not have a half or worse impact on the wireless network , You can safely use the WDS feature to extend wireless coverage.

However, we also need to note that the actual use of the same brand model 300Mbps wireless router, if your home of the old wireless router theory transmission is 150Mbps, so even if WDS was established successfully, the transmission performance of the old wireless router will become your network transmission bottleneck limit , can not play the central wireless router 300Mbps wireless transmission speed effect.

And for the Soho class of wireless routers, they can search for a certain range of wireless signal to the WDS connection, if the distance too far, beyond the respective wireless coverage, you can not establish a stable wds . but for the average two or three-bedroom home users, the problem should be small.

　　Summary: WDS helps you save money and expand wireless coverage

What do you think? Let's see if your old wireless router has WDS enabled. If there are, the previous configuration method may find them a chance to re-play the wireless "vitality". Compared to the expensive high-power wireless router, the use of the old wireless router WDS functionality is not only simple, improve the wireless coverage, but also save you a new capital investment, is a good way to save money and effort to expand the wireless signal. Do you have a kungfu to understand the functionality, configuration, and use of WDS in depth? What are you waiting for? Get started with the practical WDS experience.

Reproduced WiFi has a dead angle? Skillfully extending coverage with old wireless routers