Wireless Bridge Issues/Mysteries

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Hello. I have questions regarding Wireless Bridge functions that hopefully someone can answer.

I have a Cisco WET610N wireless bridge that I connect to a Linksys WRT310N wireless router. The two devices establish a working connection quite easily, never had a problem with that.

The issue I am having is that the devices I am connecting to the bridge, via ethernet cable to their ethernet cards, never show up on my network map. (I use Cisco's Network Magic software which generates a graphic map of the network, devices usually show up immediately when they connect.) I suspect they are "hidden" behind the MAC address of the bridge device. Some of them function okay, laptops seem to be able to web browse etc. all right, but other devices will function only locally on my home network and do not have internet functionality when connected to the bridge. This includes a Samsung Blu-Ray DVD player that I want to use to watch Netflix movies via streaming over the internet, and a TiVo Series 3 unit that I want to also use with Netflix. Both the Blu-Ray and the TiVo have internet/Netflix functionality when connected to my wireless network via proprietary USB wireless network adapters they each have (i.e. a conventional or "non bridged" wireless network connection), and show up on my network map when connected this way.

When the TiVo is connected via the bridge, it has local network functionality in that it can display pictures and play music from my PC across the wireless network, but it can't get onto the internet to use the Netflix service. The Samsung Blu-Ray player likewise does not access the web or Netflix/Pandora services when connected to the bridge, which it can use when connected to the wireless network via a USB wireless adapter. When the TiVo and Blu-Ray are connected via the bridge, they don't show on the network map.

The wireless network is broadcasting in mixed B,G mode with WEP security (this is for compatibility with some of my hardware, save the flames). The SSID broadcast is disabled. The wireless router uses MAC address filtering and the MAC addresses of the wireless adapters as well as the Ethernet adapters (just in case) are entered into the security filter.

The wireless router assigns IP addresses automatically via DHCP, but I reserved fixed IP addresses for the bridge and for one of the laptops for when it is connected via the bridge. These IP addresses are outside of the range of IP addresses that the router's DHCP server is configured to assign. I have also tried allowing laptops to obtain IP addresses automatically via DHCP when using the bridge, they seem to do so and again still function on the Web but don't show up on the network map.

I'm guessing the issue has something to do with the devices connected to the bridge being "seen" by the router behind the bridge. I suspect it has to do with DNS or IP addresses somehow, or somehow Network Address Translation which is something I have little or no understanding of.

I thought the whole concept of a bridge was that a laptop or device connected via the bridge would be treated on both ends (router and device) as if it were connected by a piece of ethernet cable. So I'm not sure why, for instance, my laptop would have an IP address and function via the network and web but not show up on the network map. Is it because the router somehow considers it "hidden" behind the bridge?

Any insight or help is appreciated.

[trotsky]

1. What addressing range are you using on your network?

First thing I'd do is double-check the netmask to make sure every device understands what is a local IP and what is not. Also verify everything is using the wireless router as its default gateway, not the bridge. As far as the network map goes, I've never used that software but depending on what kind of protocol it uses for discovery, the bridge might not be passing it through. Maybe there is something to enable for that?

[Statistical]

2. Sounds like the bridge is misconfigured.

Make sure the router IP address is set as default gateway on the bridge.
Also make sure DHCP is turned OFF on the bridge, and lastly make sure the bridge has same IP range as the router.

This should make everything one large network. The router then should see all devices as directly connected to the router (even though they are not the bridge becomes transparent).

Personally I have found wifi brdige to be too much of a pain.

The newer powerline networking just works all the time. I have one plugged in next to router and other plugged into entertainment center. The entertainment center has a $20 linksys switch and I have Tivo, AVR (receiver), BD player, wii, and 360 all plugged into the switch.

Only downside is powerline is expensive (not sure why).

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. Yeah the powerline concept sounds good, the headaches from wireless are considerable. Once I'm

engrossed in these little puzzles though, I like to solve them. Trouble is, they're not always solvable, LOL.

[Statistical]

6. Yeah I cand understand that.

Likely it isn't a wireless issue so much as a network issue.

Just go over the bridge settings with fine tooth comb.


You want to make sure:
1) the bridge isn't on a different subnet as the "main" network.
2) the bridge is not acting as a DHCP. Just a single DHCP on the router should be fine... to the router the bridge is transparent it will see all clients as being hard connected to the router
3) the bridge has no firewall, NAT, or any other translation junk running.

If you give up this is the powerline adapter I use. This is a pair.
http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-XAVB101-Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/

They work amazingly well (essentially I have an Ethernet jack downstairs for all intents and purposes).
The price is shockingly high but they are for all brands and at all stores. I guess it is an economy of scale thing (not many sold so price per unit is higher).

[DainBramaged]

3. You have an N capable network broadcasting in mixed B,G

Why?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. It's explained in the post. To be compatible with the lamest elements of my network.

TiVos, phones, PDAs.

[DainBramaged]

7. Some of your network devices may just not be recognized by the software

I run into this at work all of the time. Many of our networked printers (especially Lexmark) don't show up on the map except when you ping the IP address, but they function just fine. And I run 6 Cisco SR224 10/100 24 port switches for the various departments through the hub. And we have 2 separate wireless networks (one B, one G) for the two out buildings and a fiber channel network for the body shop.

Maybe you should be happy everything works?

[DainBramaged]

8. Spiceworks

http://www.spiceworks.com/product/