Combining WPA and WDS on a wireless network?

November 4, 2006 7:11 AM

I have: a Linksys WRT54G and an AirPort Express. I would like: WDS with WPA encryption.

WRT54G is running HyperWRT-thibor, but that's negotiable. It's currently in a WDS with the AirPort Express. I can set up WPA on each one separately, breaking the WDS, but not combine the two. Has anyone managed it?

posted by holgate to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

Here is a link for an article I found on modding the WRT54G firmware. I know I have seen personalized versions of this firmware on independent coder's pages, I just can't remember which ones... So, good luck...
posted by owalt1 at 8:42 AM on November 4, 2006

You have to make sure to disable the use of WPA2 in your WDS. There is a bug in the firmware for the broadcom chips that makes the connection of WPA2 in a WDS impossible. I don't know about the Airport settings (I did have one some time ago, not anymore) but you should be able to disable WPA2 and use only WPA1. If not get Openwrt.
posted by Napierzaza at 9:24 AM on November 4, 2006

WDS plays nicely with WPA2 with just Airport products. I have an Airport Extreme and Airport Express in such an arrangement.
posted by NucleophilicAttack at 2:47 PM on November 4, 2006

From Tom's Networking How To: Setting up WDS

"Dynamically assigned and rotated encryption keys are not supported in a WDS connection. This means that Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and other dynamic key assignment technology may not be used. Static WEP keys only may be used in a WDS connection, including any STAs that associate to a WDS repeating AP."

posted by doomtop at 1:54 PM on November 5, 2006