NETGEAR WAC505 User Manual page 64

Insight Managed Smart Cloud Wireless Access Point WAC505 User Manual
If the access point is connected to the Internet over a wired connection, the access point can function as
the WiFi base station for up to four other access points that function as WiFi repeaters. The access point
itself can also function as a WiFi repeater if it is connected to another access point that functions as a WiFi
base station.
A WiFi base station connects to the Internet, wired and WiFi clients can connect to the base station, and
the base station sends its WiFi signal to one or more access points that function as WiFi repeaters. Wired
and WiFi clients can also connect to a WiFi repeater, but the repeater connects to the Internet through the
WiFi base station.
The following figure shows a WiFi repeating scenario with a WiFi base station on the left side and a single
WiFi repeater on the right side.
Figure 6. WiFi bridge configuration between two access points
To use a WiFi bridge, you cannot use the auto channel feature for the access point and the SSID broadcast
must be enabled.
For a WiFi bridge, you must set up a WiFi base station (the master) and a WiFi repeater (the slave):
• WiFi base station. The access point functions as the master that bridges traffic to and from the repeater
access point (the slave). The base station also handles local WiFi and wired traffic. To configure this
mode, you must know the MAC address of the repeater access point. The MAC address is listed on on
the product label or on the WiFi bridge configuration page of the local browser interface.
• WiFi repeater. The access point functions as the slave and sends all traffic from its local WiFi or wired
computers to the WiFi base station (the master). To configure this mode, you must know the MAC
address of the base station.
By default, the access point functions in dual-band concurrent mode. If you enable the WiFi repeater in
either radio band, the WiFi base station or WiFi repeater cannot be enabled in the other radio band. However,
if you enable the WiFi base station in either radio band and use the other radio band for either client access
or as a WiFi base station, dual-band concurrent mode is not affected.
Before you can set up a WiFi network with WDS, your configuration must meet the following conditions:
Manage the Advanced WiFi and Radio Features
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