Media Bridge Mode Setup

Support for Media Bridge mode started with release 2021.6. The initial setup can be done with the following steps:

1. Go to the Network menu.
2. Scroll down to the section for whatever wireless module you wish.
   For example: “wireless eth2”.
3. From the Wireless Mode dropdown menu, select Media Bridge.
   After doing this, WAN options will be hidden.
   Now, configure the settings there as follows:
4. Set Wireless Network Mode to: Auto (all possible WiFi protocols).
5. Set SSID to whichever SSID you wish (preferably with the least interference).
6. Set Channel to: Whichever WiFi channel you want to use.
7. Set Channel Width to: 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz (your choice).
8. Set Security to: WPAx (Usually WPA2 Personal for home users or small,
   informal offices).
9. Set Encryption to: AES.
10. Set Shared Key to: WiFi password you want to use.
11. Set Group Key Renewal to: 3600 seconds

Still in the Network menu, under LAN Settings:

• Configure bridge “br0” with an IP Address in the LAN you want
  to connect to. (For example: “192.168.1.50”).
• Configure the Default Gateway. In our example: “192.168.1.1
  (If main router's address is: “192.168.1.1”).
• Enter a Static DNS value of 192.168.1.1 (assuming if the main
  router's address is 192.168.1.1).
• Since release 2022.6, selecting “Automatic IP”, will make the router
  obtain IP/Gateway/DNS via DHCP.

Media Bridge (MB) mode has several advantages over wireless Ethernet Bridge mode:

• MB mode will work with SDK7 ARM routers like the AC3200
  or the R8000
  (wireless Ethernet bridge mode isn't possible).
• MB mode will work with SDK6 MIPS routers like the Asus RT-AC66U,
  or the D‑Link DIR‑865L
  (wireless Ethernet bridge mode isn't possible).
• MB mode will work with SDK6 ARM routers like Asus RT-AC68U,
  or Netgear R7000.
  (Wireless Ethernet Bridge mode is also possible).
• IPv4 and IPv6 communication will work.
  (Wireless Ethernet Bridge supports only IPv4, except
  dual-core
  SDK6 ARM models, which support IPv6).

Do NOT use Virtual Interfaces, such as Virtual Wireless networks or VLANs when in Media Bridge mode.

Media Bridge mode (MB) will work for:

• SDK6.30 [MIPS RT-AC] (for example: RT-AC66U, D‑Link DIR‑865L)
• SDK6.37 (ex. RT-AC68U, R7000)
• SDK7 (ex. RT-AC3200, R8000)
• SDK714 (ex. RT-AC5300, RT-AC88U)

Wireless Ethernet Bridge (WEB) mode will work for:

• SDK5.10 (ex. WRT54GL, RT-N16)
• SDK5.110 (ex. E4200v1, RT-N66U)
• SDK6.37 (ex. RT-AC68U, R7000)
• SDK714 (ex. RT-AC5300, RT-AC88U)

In case of issues such as connectivity loss:

1. Try lowering the Wireless Client connection check time (affects Media Bridge mode, Wireless Client mode and Wireless Ethernet Bridge mode). The default is 30 seconds. Adjust this to 15 seconds via the command prompt:
   
   

   root@FreshTomato-WlClientMode:/tmp/home/root# nvram set sta_chkint=15
   root@FreshTomato-WlClientMode:/tmp/home/root# nvram commit
   root@FreshTomato-WlClientMode:/tmp/home/root# reboot

   
   

2. Additional improvements exist. See this Media Bridge mode commit that started with release 2023.4
   Media Bridge Mode (SDK6/SDK7/SDK714): add ARPING (default 180 sec cycle) and improve stability .