On Fri 16 Mar 2018 at 12:49:16 (-0700), Don Armstrong wrote: > On Fri, 16 Mar 2018, David Wright wrote: > > On Fri 16 Mar 2018 at 10:24:36 (-0700), Don Armstrong wrote: > > > The software might not support it, but if openwrt or ddwrt can run > > > on the hardware, they should support bridging. > > > > I can make sure the router I buy can run openwrt or ddwrt, but it > > would be handy to know if I need to buy two or whether the current one > > can at least do the job at one end of the diagram. > > It's likely that they can run ddwrt or openwrt, but you'd have to check. > > > > I suggest that you instead run the second router as a switch with an > > > attached wireless AP instead, > > > > So you're saying that a router can run as a switch. This is presumably > > by just ignoring the WAN port and using just the LANs?¹ > > Yes, assuming you disable the dhcp server on the second router. [Or you > could bridging the WAN port into the lan bridge, and use all of the > ports. You'll need openwrt to do that; most router firmware doesn't > support that setup.] > > > And what does buying a WAP do that the wireless on the router can't > > cope with? > > Nothing; my point was just that's what you should do with your existing > equipment. [IE, totally ignore the router functionality of the second > router.] > > > Let's just imagine there's a wireless-proof gauze screen between the > > two halves of the house. One router in each half is up to the task of > > covering its half but no more. At the moment, one half of the house > > (ironically the side with the modem) has next to no coverage. > > > ¹ ie what's outlined in this one > > http://smallbusiness.chron.com/setting-up-wireless-routers-same-ssid-68675.html > > Right; this is basically how you cover areas where a single AP won't cut > it.
That's all been a great help, thanks. I think I can see paths forward. I'm going to be reading a lot of specs. Cheers, David.
