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magness · 12:47 AM

I've just received a motorola SBG900 wireless cable modem (and am about to plug it in). I also have an Airport Extreme network (connected to an ADSL modem) at home with a Airport Express hanging off of it via WDS.

I'm getting rid of ADSL but our cable connection is nowhere near the basestation and for other reasons I don't really want to move it.

OR at least use the AEBS as the main base station and user the wireless cable router to provide internet access to the rest of the network WIRELESS-ly without having to change bloody networks.

Is it possible to get the Airport Express to repeat the motorola SBG900's internet ala WDS?

I just hope this isn't a stupid question... Thanks

John Strung · Jul 22, 2005, 08:32 AM

That depends on whether the Motorola supports MDS. Some third party routers do, some don't. Check the specs for the Motorola on their web site or try some googling.

magness · Jul 22, 2005, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by John Strung

That depends on whether the Motorola supports MDS. Some third party routers do, some don't. Check the specs for the Motorola on their web site or try some googling.

is MDS an equivalent of WDS?

John Strung · Jul 22, 2005, 12:49 PM

Sorry, I meant WDS. Brain cramp!

[APi]TheMan · Jul 22, 2005, 01:59 PM

Sure, people are extending 3rd party routers with Airport basestations these days. It can definitely be done using firmware hacked Linksys WRT54G routers:

http://vafer.org/blog/tcurdt/archives/000184.html

I haven't tried it only because of a strange living situation for the summer, but if you want to wait three weeks I'll let you know.

magness · Jul 22, 2005, 09:54 PM

Thanks for that guys...
Does anyone know of any Third party base stations that support WDS ?

[APi]TheMan · Jul 24, 2005, 05:21 AM

Originally Posted by magness

Thanks for that guys...
Does anyone know of any Third party base stations that support WDS ?

You mean one that you don't have to hack?

I know that each vendor has their own way to do it. Like, Belkins can extend Belkins. Dlinks can extend Dlinks... but I'm not too sure about any kind of standard yet. Maybe the industry has standardized by now, I'm not sure.

ghporter · Jul 24, 2005, 09:36 AM

While [APi]TheMan mentions "hacked" firmware, there are several sources of "enhanced" firmware (not "hacked" but actually new products based on the same open source core as the "official" firmware). Sveasoft is one source, and their products are both free and reliable. In addition, Linksys has specifically "authorized" the use of third party firmware on some of their products-most of the newer designs, in fact, are so authorized.

Also, the use of third party firmware is useful because the various vendors want to encourage people to buy all of their networking equipment, and none from other sources, so they build the "I'll work with my own kind" stuff into their firmware. You have the option to tell them what to do with that attitude. Further, it's easy to change the firmware from the browser-based interface on Linksys boxes, and probably just as easy from other manufacturers' interfaces.

magness · Jul 24, 2005, 08:44 PM

Thanks for that guys. As per usual, you guys are all great helps. If only PC people were this friendly. :-)

ghporter · Jul 24, 2005, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by magness

If only PC people were this friendly. :-)

They're too busy working on their own problems!

[APi]TheMan · Jul 26, 2005, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

While [APi]TheMan mentions "hacked" firmware, there are several sources of "enhanced" firmware (not "hacked" but actually new products based on the same open source core as the "official" firmware).

I suppose "enhanced" is a safer term.