Many Internet users are interested in what WDS is and what are the benefits. The Wireless Distribution System, or WDS, is a wireless technology that is used for the following purposes:
- network coverage increase - this is done by combining several Wi-Fi points into a common network, they operate in repeater mode;
- Association of wire segments in a common local area network.
How to expand network coverage?
So what is WDS? Modern technology allows you to expand and expand the coverage area, amplify the signal and bypass obstacles. Most often, NanoStation M2 and NanoStation M2 Loco access points are used for these purposes. In the case when you use the Ubiquiti M-series device, and subscribers use equipment from other manufacturers, you must disable the AirMax option, which is located on the first tab.
To disable AirMax technology, you need to do the following steps:
- Go to the tab with the Ubiquiti logo.
- Select the AirMax field and uncheck the box next to Enable.
- To change the settings, click the Change button.
- For the set parameters to take effect, click Apply.
How to configure the first access point?
To specify the necessary parameters for the first point, you must open the WIRELESS tab. In the Wireless Mode list, you need to find the Acces Point WDS mode. If the firmware is AirOS 5.5, select AP-Repeater mode. Enter the MAC address of the second point in the WDS Peers field. You can find out the MAC address in the settings by going to the MAIN tab.
- Access points operate in the WDS repeater mode with the WEP encryption type. You can install it in the Security list.
- The access point name must be entered in the SSID field.
- In the Country Code menu, you need to select a country.
- In the Channel Width list, you need to set the channel width to 20 MHz, since not all client adapters support a higher width.
- In the Frequency Mhz tab, you need to set the frequency at which the access point will operate. At the first and second points, this value should be the same.
- In the Security window, select the WDS WEP encryption profile, as in the repeater mode other types of encryption will not work.
- The password must be entered in the WPA Key field. It must be 10 characters long.
- Settings will be saved after pressing the Apply key. To change all settings and parameters, click the Change button.
Network Settings
WDS is configured in the NETWORK tab. Here you can set all the necessary parameters. To do this, do the following:
- First, in the tab, you need to set the Bridge mode.
- You can determine how the point will receive the settings in the Bridge IP field. If the checkmark is set opposite Static, then the settings need to be entered manually. The DHCP option allows you to receive all settings from the server automatically.
- To save the settings, click Apply. You can make changes using the Change button.
After the settings take effect, the server will determine a new IP for the point. Therefore, the user will not be able to enter the network at the old unique address. To make it easier to find a new address, it is advisable to use a special utility.
Encryption mode and type
After the user has figured out what WDS is and how to configure the first access point, you can proceed to configure the second point. All necessary parameters are entered in the WIRELESS tab.
If AirOS 5.5 firmware is installed, select AP-Repeater mode in the Wireless Mode menu. With AirOS 5.3 firmware, the mode should be Acces Point WDS.
The MAC address of the first point must be entered in the WDS Peers field. You can find out the address in the settings by going to the MAIN tab.
If the WDS Peers fields are not active, you need to determine the type of WEP encryption in the Security list. Otherwise, the access points will not work.
By analogy with the settings of the first access point, the second is configured. The channel width is also set to 20MHz.
How to configure a second access point?
- In the Network Mode section, select the “Bridge” mode.
- In the Bridge IP field, specify how the point will receive settings.
- When you click Apply, the settings will be saved.
When all parameters are set, it is necessary to check whether the points are connected to each other in repeater mode. At each point, go to the MAIN tab and select Stations. If everything is done correctly, the address of the connected access point will be displayed in the list.
How to configure TP-Link router ?
When a person understands what WDS is, he can easily amplify the signal in the house. For example, when the router is installed in one part of the apartment, and in the other the signal is very weak, you can correct the situation using the access point. It will transmit the wireless connection further, so you can access the Internet from your phone or tablet. The point will have a WDS-mode of operation "repeater" (repeater).
This configuration method is valid for almost all TP-Link router models. The external interface may vary slightly, the number of options and functions, as well as the quality of the connection, but all other parameters are almost identical.
To set the parameters of the router, you need to enter the groups of numbers that are indicated in the documentation or on the back of the device. After entering the login and password, you must open the main tab. In the SSID line, you need to write the network name.
Next, go to the “Wireless Mode” menu and activate the WDS mode. By clicking “Connect”, you need to check the box next to a specific network and select the type of encryption. To protect the network, go to the Security tab. A password is entered in the PSK line, which should be quite complex.
In the last column you need to enter a password, and then specify the channel number. It should be the same as the selected network. If there is a notification that the network channel does not match the Wi-Fi channel, you need to change it to the correct one. After that, you must reboot the device.
The WDS TP-Link Router is connected using a twisted-pair cable. Network card settings should be set by default. After entering all the data, the cable between the computer and the router can be disconnected.