NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500v2 User Manual

Customizing Your Network Settings

5-21

v1.0, May 2009

Wireless Repeating (Also Called WDS)

The WNR3500v2 router can be used with a wireless access point (AP) to build large bridged

wireless networks. Wireless repeating is a type of Wireless Distribution System (WDS).

The following figure shows a wireless repeating scenario:

In the scenario shown, the following conditions must be met for both APs:

•

Both APs must use the same SSID, wireless channel, authentication mode (if any), and

encryption mode (see information about WEP in

“Configuring WEP Wireless Security” on

page 2-6”

).

•

Both APs must be on the same LAN IP subnet. That is, all the AP LAN IP addresses are in the

same network.

•

All LAN devices (wired and wireless computers) must be configured to operate in the same

LAN network address range as the APs.

Warning:

If you use the wireless repeating function, your options for wireless security

are limited to None or WEP. For more information about wireless security, see

Chapter 2, “Safeguarding Your Network.”

Figure 5-10

Wireless Router WNR3500v2 (AP 1)

Internet

PCs

AP 2 is in Repeater mode.

This wireless computer is

associated with AP 2.

This wireless computer is

associated with AP 1.

Modem

is in Wireless Base Station mode.

NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500v2 User Manual

5-22

Customizing Your Network Settings

v1.0, May 2009

Wireless Repeating Function

You can view or change wireless repeater settings for the wireless router. From the main menu,

under Advanced, click

Wireless Repeating Function

to display the Wireless Repeating Function

screen.

The wireless router supports two modes of the wireless repeating function, and allows you to

control wireless client association:

•

Wireless Base Station mode

. The wireless router acts as the parent AP, bridging traffic to and

from the child repeater AP, as well as handling wireless and wired local computers. To

configure this mode, you must know the MAC addresses of the child repeater AP.

•

Wireless Repeater mode

. The wireless router bridges the traffic between its local wireless,

wired computers, and a remote AP. To configure this mode, you must know the MAC address

of the remote parent AP.

•

Disable Wireless Client Association

. Usually this check box is cleared so that the router is an

access point for wireless computers.

If this check box is selected, the router communicates wirelessly only with other APs whose

MAC addresses are listed in this screen. The router still communicates with wire-connected

LAN devices.

Figure 5-11

NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500v2 User Manual

Customizing Your Network Settings

5-23

v1.0, May 2009

Setting Up the Base Station

The wireless repeating function works only in hub and spoke mode. The units cannot be daisy

chained. You must know the wireless settings for both units. You must know the MAC address of

the remote unit. First, set up the base station, and then set up the repeater.

To set up the base station:

1.

Set up both units with exactly the same wireless settings (SSID, mode, channel, and security).

Note that the wireless security option must be set to

None

or

WEP

.

2.

From the main menu of the browser interface on the wireless router base unit, under

Advanced, click

Wireless Repeating Function

to display the Wireless Repeating Function

screen.

3.

Select the

Enable Wireless Repeating Function

check box and the

Wireless Base Station

radio button.

4.

Enter the MAC address for the repeater units.

5.

Click

Apply

to save your changes.

Figure 5-12

Note:

The wireless security options WPA2-PSK[AES] and

WPA-PSK[TKIP]+WPA2-PSK[AES] are not available when you enable the

Wireless Repeating Function. If you are using one of these security options,

please change the security setting before you enable the Wireless Repeating

Function.

NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500v2 User Manual

5-24

Customizing Your Network Settings

v1.0, May 2009

Setting Up a Repeater Unit

Use a wired Ethernet connection to set up the repeater unit to avoid conflicts with the wireless

connection to the base station.

To configure a WNR3500v2 router as a repeater unit:

1.

If you are using the same model of wireless router for both the base station and repeaters, you

must change the LAN IP address for each repeater to a different IP address in the same subnet

(see

“Using the LAN IP Setup Options” on page 5-1

).

2.

Check the Wireless Settings screen, and verify that the wireless settings match the base unit

exactly. The wireless security option must be set to

WEP

or

None

.

3.

In the Wireless Repeating Function screen, select the

Enable Wireless Repeating Function

check box.

In the

Repeater IP Address

field, the router’s IP address is automatically filled in. This IP

address must be in the same subnet as the base station but different from the LAN IP of the

base station.

4.

Fill in the

Base Station MAC Address

field.

5.

Click

Apply

to save your changes.

6.

Verify connectivity across the LANs.

A computer on any wireless or wired LAN segment of the wireless router should be able to

connect to the Internet or share files and printers with any other wireless or wired computer or

server connected to the other AP.

Note:

If you are using the WNR3500v2 router base station with a different model

wireless router as the repeater, you might need to change additional configuration

settings. In particular, you should disable the DHCP server function on the wireless

repeater AP.

Note:

Failing to change the LAN IP address will cause an IP address conflict in the

network because the factory default LAN IP is the same for both units.

6-1

v1.0, May 2009

Chapter 6

Fine-Tuning Your Network

This chapter describes how to modify the configuration of the RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit

Router WNR3500v2 to allow specific applications to access the Internet or to be accessed from the

Internet, and how to make adjustments to enhance your network’s performance.

This chapter includes the following sections:

•

“Assessing Your Speed Requirements” on page 6-2

•

“Optimizing Your Network Bandwidth” on page 6-3

•

“Optimizing Wireless Performance” on page 6-5

•

“Changing the MTU Size” on page 6-6

•

“Quality of Service” on page 6-7

•

“Using Universal Plug and Play” on page 6-13

Common connection types and their speed and security considerations are:

•

Broadband Internet

.

Your Internet connection speed is determined by your modem type,

such as ADSL or cable modem, as well as the connection speed of the sites to which you

connect, and general Internet traffic. ADSL and cable modem connections are asymmetrical,

meaning they have a lower data rate

to

the Internet (upstream) than

from

the Internet

(downstream). Keep in mind that when you connect to another site that also has an

asymmetrical connection, the data rate between your sites is limited by each side’s upstream

data rate. A typical residential ADSL or cable modem connection provides a downstream

throughput of about 1 to 3 megabits per second (Mbps). Newer technologies such as ADSL2+

and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) will increase the connection speed to tens of Mbps.

•

Wireless

.

Your RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500v2 provides a wireless link

rate of up to 300 Mbps using technology called multiple input, multiple output (MIMO), in

which multiple antennas transmit multiple streams of data. The use of multiple antennas also

provides excellent range and coverage. With the introduction of the newer WPA and WPA2

encryption and authentication protocols, wireless security is extremely strong.