WiFi base station, WiFi repeater, and WiFi
bridge requirements
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 two access points in a WiFi repeating setup with a WiFi base
station on the left side and a single WiFi repeater on the right side.
3
3
4
5
1
2
Figure 10. WiFi bridge configuration between two access points in the 5 GHz radio band
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 one access point as a WiFi base station and another
access point as a WiFi repeater:
•
WiFi base station: The base station is connected over Ethernet to a network switch
(usually with an Internet connection) and bridges traffic to and from the repeater.
The base station also handles local WiFi and wired traffic. To configure this mode,
you must know the MAC address of the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz radio on the repeater.
•
WiFi repeater: The repeater sends all traffic from its local WiFi or wired devices to
the WiFi base station. Similarly, the repeater receives all traffic for its local WiFi or
wired computers from the base station. The repeater is connected to the network
User Manual
200
Set up a WiFi Bridge
Insight Managed WiFi 6 AX5400 Access Point Model WAX628
