Wireless Ethernet Bridge is an easy way to expand your network without having to run a long Ethernet cable between devices. This mode is not available for all routers supporting FreshTomato. However, Media Bridge mode can serve as an alternative.¹⁾ For more details about these modes, see the Wireless Mode tables on the Network page.

You are advised not to use Virtual Wireless interface(s) alongside a physical interface in Wireless Ethernet Bridge mode. Nevertheless, it may still work properly. However, doing this is not possible in Media Bridge mode. Please also be aware that some routers can't pass IPv6 traffic in Wireless Ethernet Bridge mode.²⁾

For this HOWTO, we will:

• Call the network you want to expand the “primary router” network.
• Call the router in Wireless Ethernet Bridge mode the “secondary” router.
• Use 192.168.1.1 as the primary router address and 192.168.1.2 for the secondary router.
• Perform all steps on the secondary router, (the one you wish to use in Wireless Ethernet Bridge mode).

1. First, configure your PC with a static IP address in the same subnet as the secondary router (e.g., 192.168.1.33).
   
2. Go to the Network menu. In the IP Address field in the LAN section, assign the router an address in the same subnet as the primary router, but outside the DHCP pool of your network. We will use 192.168.1.2. Uncheck the DHCP checkbox and click OK. Click Save.
   
3. Log on to the secondary router via 192.168.1.2. In the Network menu, set the settings of the interface that match the primary router Wifi network you want to bridge (i.e., 2.4GHz or 5GHz) with:
   • Wireless Mode: Wireless Ethernet Bridge
   • Wireless Network Mode: Auto
   • SSID: WlanSSID_you_want_to_connect_to (i.e., the primary router Wifi SSID)
   • Channel: Auto or must match the primary router setting
   • Channel Width: Must match the primary router setting
   • Control Sideband: Must match the primary router setting
   • Security: Must match the primary router setting (usually WPA2 Personal)
   • Encryption: Must match the primary router setting (usually AES)
   • Shared Key: WlanPassword_you_want_to_connect_to (i.e., the passphrase of the primary router Wifi)
   • Group Key Renewal: Must match the primary router setting (usually 3600 seconds)
4. Save your settings! Then, still in Basic > Network, in the LAN section set:
   • Default Gateway: Must be the primary router IP address, for this guide let use 192.168.1.1
   • Static DNS: Can be the primary router IP address, for this guide let use 192.168.1.1
   • Starting with release 2022.6 the FT user can select the option “Automatic IP” and your router will obtain IP/Gateway/DNS via DHCP (if possible)
5. Save one last time and you're done! You should now have a working Wireless Ethernet Bridge! Don't forget to set your computer back to it's previous network settings.