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Choosing a Wireless Interface Mode

This table contains information to help you choose the appropriate Wireless Interface Mode for your network needs.

	A/P Mode	WDS Mode	Wireless Client Mode	Client Bridge	Repeater	Repeater Bridge	Two routers (1 Client Mode, 1 AP Mode)
Main purpose of this mode. (When is it suitable?)
Requires admin access for all routers. WDS implementations must be compatible on all routers involved.		•
Doesn't require control over host APs/routers. You can connect to a host for which you don't have admin access.			•	•	•	•	•
Supports multiple wired client devices		•	•	• *	•	• *	•
Supports multiple wireless client devices		•			•	• *	•
Bandwidth is halved for wireless clients		•	n/a	n/a	•	•	Not if you use two channels
All routers and clients share the same subnet		in LAN mode		•		•
Each router is on its own subnet with its client devices		in P2P mode	•		•		•
Creates a true transparent bridge compatible with all protocols		•
Uses MAC address translation (MAT/proxy ARP). Some applications and protocols that depend on MAC addresses may be incompatible and not function properly) (potential ARP problems) *				• *		• *
Allows different SSID on a repeated network		depends on encryption choice	n/a	n/a	•	•	•
Supports encryption		WEP, WPA2 (caveats)	any	any	any	any	any
Can repeat signal from a wireless ISP - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?					•	•	•
Can repeat a weak wireless signal in a hotel - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?			•		•	•	•

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