Netgear R7000 Wired Repeater Range Extender

Post by Mickey D
Which mode is used to set up a router as a wired repeater?
I downloaded the manual but it doesn't explain how to set up the
Netgear R7000 as a _wired_ repeater (aka wired range extender).
http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R7000/R7000_UM.pdf
There are four modes. But none say they are a wired repeater.
Router Mode / AP Mode / Bridge Mode / Repeating Mode
Most of the manual shows setup for "Router Mode".
On page 83 is "Set up the router as a wifi access point".
On page 84 is "Set up the router in bridge mode".
On page 86 is "Set up the router as a wifi repeater".
Router Mode:This mode allows you to take advantage of NETGEAR
router functions. The NETGEAR router is set up as a normal
WiFi router behind your existing router or gateway.
This mode requires that all of your devices be connected
to the new NETGEAR router and not to your existing gateway.
AP Mode:The NETGEAR router will function as a wireless
access point.This mode is appropriate for easy setup if
devices are already connected to your existing router or
gateway, or if you just want to use this new NETGEAR router
to extend your WiFi coverage.
Some router functions are not available in access point mode.
Which mode do you use to set it up as a wired repeater range extender?

Page 84.

Big Al

2024-01-21 14:31:29 UTC

Try them. If one works the way you want, mark it in the manual. "Proof
is in the pudding".

--
Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon
Al

Char Jackson

2024-01-21 20:15:37 UTC

Post by Mickey D
Which mode is used to set up a router as a wired repeater?

AFAIK, there's no such thing as a wired repeater. You're describing an access
point (AP).

Post by Mickey D
I downloaded the manual but it doesn't explain how to set up the
Netgear R7000 as a _wired_ repeater (aka wired range extender).
http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R7000/R7000_UM.pdf
There are four modes. But none say they are a wired repeater.
Router Mode / AP Mode / Bridge Mode / Repeating Mode
Most of the manual shows setup for "Router Mode".
On page 83 is "Set up the router as a wifi access point".
On page 84 is "Set up the router in bridge mode".
On page 86 is "Set up the router as a wifi repeater".
Router Mode:This mode allows you to take advantage of NETGEAR
router functions. The NETGEAR router is set up as a normal
WiFi router behind your existing router or gateway.
This mode requires that all of your devices be connected
to the new NETGEAR router and not to your existing gateway.
AP Mode:The NETGEAR router will function as a wireless
access point.This mode is appropriate for easy setup if
devices are already connected to your existing router or
gateway, or if you just want to use this new NETGEAR router
to extend your WiFi coverage.
Some router functions are not available in access point mode.
Which mode do you use to set it up as a wired repeater range extender?

AP Mode.

Mickey D

2024-01-21 23:53:36 UTC

Post by Mickey D
Which mode is used to set up a router as a wired repeater?

AFAIK, there's no such thing as a wired repeater.
You're describing an access point (AP).

Graham J said the same thing, which is there's no such thing as a wired
repeater mode. He also said to set it up in Access Point mode instead.

That might be why I am having trouble finding how to set it up as a wired
repeater (which, to me, was the same as a wireless repeater, only wired).
http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R7000/R7000_UM.pdf

Post by Mickey D
Which mode do you use to set it up as a wired repeater range extender?

AP Mode.

Vlad said to set it up in "Bridge Mode" so can you just let me know what is
the main difference (for my purposes) between Bridge Mode and AP mode?

I also need to use the switches on the router as Ethernet. Will setting up
the Netgear R7000 as an access point allow the four ports (maybe three if
I'm using one of them) to still work as an Ethernet for a nearby desktop?

Char Jackson

2024-01-22 01:01:14 UTC

Post by Mickey D
Which mode is used to set up a router as a wired repeater?

AFAIK, there's no such thing as a wired repeater.
You're describing an access point (AP).

Graham J said the same thing, which is there's no such thing as a wired
repeater mode. He also said to set it up in Access Point mode instead.
That might be why I am having trouble finding how to set it up as a wired
repeater (which, to me, was the same as a wireless repeater, only wired).
http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R7000/R7000_UM.pdf

Post by Mickey D
Which mode do you use to set it up as a wired repeater range extender?

AP Mode.

Vlad said to set it up in "Bridge Mode" so can you just let me know what is
the main difference (for my purposes) between Bridge Mode and AP mode?

In AP mode, multiple wireless devices can connect to it wirelessly, (of course),
and the backhaul connection to your main router is accomplished by Ethernet
cable. This is typical Access Point behavior, and is what most people want.

Bridge mode is the exact opposite, and thus unsuitable for your described
situation. In Bridge Mode, your *wired* devices can be cabled to this Netgear
router, and the Netgear uses a *wireless* connection as its backhaul back to
your main router. I don't think that's what you want. BTW, this mode is more
often called Client Mode, from what I've seen, because the Netgear would be a
wireless client to the main router.

Post by Mickey D
I also need to use the switches on the router as Ethernet. Will setting up
the Netgear R7000 as an access point allow the four ports (maybe three if
I'm using one of them) to still work as an Ethernet for a nearby desktop?

Yes. If you need more ports, just use an additional Gigabit Ethernet switch.

Mickey D

2024-01-22 08:02:43 UTC

Post by Mickey D
Vlad said to set it up in "Bridge Mode" so can you just let me know what is
the main difference (for my purposes) between Bridge Mode and AP mode?

I set up the Netgear R7000 as a wired access point which seems to be
working. Thanks for helping me in that I needed wired Access Point mode.

One question is Netgear complains when I set the 5GHz access point to a
lower-than-149 channel but there's already stuff in the higher channels.

Is it really that bad such that the router complains at channel 38?
The signal doesn't have to go far because that's why I had wired it!

Post by Char Jackson
Bridge mode is the exact opposite, and thus unsuitable for your described
situation. In Bridge Mode, your *wired* devices can be cabled to this Netgear
router, and the Netgear uses a *wireless* connection as its backhaul back to
your main router. I don't think that's what you want. BTW, this mode is more
often called Client Mode, from what I've seen, because the Netgear would be a
wireless client to the main router.

Thank you for explaining that Bridge Mode is the opposite of what I want.

As you explained it, a computer would connect its Ethernet to the router
set up in Bridge Mode, where that router would connect to the main router
over Wi-Fi - which - if correct - is indeed the opposite of what I need.

Yes. If you need more ports, just use an additional Gigabit Ethernet switch.

Thanks. I ended up using one of the four ports on the Netgear R7000 as the
"backhaul" (as you say) from my main router (which used up 1 switch port).

So that leaves me with 3 more open ports, where I will put a piece of tape
over the yellow input port so that I don't accidentally use it by mistake.

Char Jackson

2024-01-22 19:22:29 UTC

Post by Mickey D
Vlad said to set it up in "Bridge Mode" so can you just let me know what is
the main difference (for my purposes) between Bridge Mode and AP mode?

I set up the Netgear R7000 as a wired access point which seems to be
working. Thanks for helping me in that I needed wired Access Point mode.
One question is Netgear complains when I set the 5GHz access point to a
lower-than-149 channel but there's already stuff in the higher channels.
Is it really that bad such that the router complains at channel 38?
The signal doesn't have to go far because that's why I had wired it!

Thank you for explaining that Bridge Mode is the opposite of what I want.
As you explained it, a computer would connect its Ethernet to the router
set up in Bridge Mode, where that router would connect to the main router
over Wi-Fi - which - if correct - is indeed the opposite of what I need.

Yes. If you need more ports, just use an additional Gigabit Ethernet switch.

Thanks. I ended up using one of the four ports on the Netgear R7000 as the
"backhaul" (as you say) from my main router (which used up 1 switch port).
So that leaves me with 3 more open ports, where I will put a piece of tape
over the yellow input port so that I don't accidentally use it by mistake.

I assumed you knew that you should use a LAN port and not the yellow WAN port,
so thanks for confirming that. I also assume that AP Mode automatically disabled
the DHCP server in the R7000. If not, you should manually disable it.

Mickey D

2024-01-23 09:45:58 UTC

Post by Mickey D
I ended up using one of the four ports on the Netgear R7000 as the

Post by Mickey D
"backhaul" (as you say) from my main router (which used up 1 switch port).
So that leaves me with 3 more open ports, where I will put a piece of tape
over the yellow input port so that I don't accidentally use it by mistake.

Well, the previous Linksys WRT54Gv5 had the WAN port covered with tape
which was my reminder to set up the R7000 the same way. I actually tacked
on the Linksys WRT54Gv5 to one of the three available LAN ports on the
R7000 which I didn't even test to see if that access point is working as a
result, as I was going to just give it to the local thrift shop otherwise.

The 1st thing I did was set the static IP address of the R7000 to one more
than the static IP address of the Linksys WRT54Gv5 so they don't clash.

As for the DHCP server in the Netgear R7000, let me log into it to check
because once I set it up as a wired access point, most of the settings
became grayed out so there wasn't really all that much to deal with.

In "Setup", "Internet Setup", "WAN Sertup" and "LAN Setup" are all grayed
out, so there's only "Wireless Setup" for choosing the access point stuff.

There's nothing you can do with DHCP anywhere, so I can't even tell you
what the default is that setting it to "AP Mode" set the Netgear N7000 to.

I'm surprised it was so easy to set up - where the main stumbling block was
I was trying to find a step by step guide under the name of a wired
repeater, but you (and Graham) showed me that such a thing doesn't exist.

Graham J

2024-01-22 08:36:52 UTC

Post by Mickey D
Which mode is used to set up a router as a wired repeater?

AFAIK, there's no such thing as a wired repeater.
You're describing an access point (AP).

Graham J said the same thing, which is there's no such thing as a wired
repeater mode. He also said to set it up in Access Point mode instead.
That might be why I am having trouble finding how to set it up as a wired
repeater (which, to me, was the same as a wireless repeater, only wired).
http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R7000/R7000_UM.pdf

Post by Mickey D
Which mode do you use to set it up as a wired repeater range extender?

AP Mode.

Vlad said to set it up in "Bridge Mode" so can you just let me know what is
the main difference (for my purposes) between Bridge Mode and AP mode?

Bridge mode is a private wireless connection between two devices (often
to cross an obstruction such as a road or railway) so that Ethernet
devices on one side can connect to Ethernet devices on the other.

In AP mode you can do exactly that: the Ethernet ports on the device are
all connected to the same internal switch.

--
Graham J

Mickey D

2024-01-24 00:48:37 UTC

Post by Graham J

Post by Mickey D
Vlad said to set it up in "Bridge Mode" so can you just let me know what is
the main difference (for my purposes) between Bridge Mode and AP mode?

That gives me an idea, which I implemented because it was so easy once you
explained that a bridge wireless client is a link between two Ethernets.

In my spare-parts box was an old Netgear WNR834Bv2 doing nothing.
https://www.netgear.com/support/product/wnr834bv2

Next to it was an old Windows 10 upgraded PC that can't get to Windows 11.
It doesn't even have a wireless Wi-Fi card so it's only good for Ethernet.

Hey! Remember what you told me? The main Netgear N7000P has Ethernet.
And this newly wired N7000 access point has Ethernet.

Instead of connecting the Ethernet output of the desktop PC to the Ethernet
input of the Netgear N7000, I set up that Netgear WNR834Bv2 as a wireless
bridge client. Ethernet <=== Wireless Bridge ===> Ethernet

It's got DD-WRT v3.0-r51937 mini (03/05/23) on it now set up as
Basic Settings
Radio Mode = Repeater Bridge
Network Mode = N Only (I wasn't sure if I should mix the rest in or not)
Network Configuration = Bridged

It's access point (or whatever it's called) is the "virtual" interface
(whatever that's supposed to mean) named "Virtual Interfaces wl0.1 SSID".

Post by Graham J

In AP mode you can do exactly that: the Ethernet ports on the device are
all connected to the same internal switch.

It worked. All I did was plug in another access point and another router
set up already as an access point and everything worked just fine for me!

Thanks for getting me past the initial hurdle of where to start the setup
so that I could repurpose the old router as a wireless access point range
extender (which I'd call a wireless repeater but nobody else calls it
that).

Graham J

2024-01-24 08:21:02 UTC

Post by Graham J

Post by Mickey D
Vlad said to set it up in "Bridge Mode" so can you just let me know what is
the main difference (for my purposes) between Bridge Mode and AP mode?

That gives me an idea, which I implemented because it was so easy once you
explained that a bridge wireless client is a link between two Ethernets.

[snip details]

It's worth mentioning that "bridge" operation can be further split into
two modes.

1) Dedicated bridge: two similar wireless devices with a private
wireless network between them. One might be defined as "master", the
other as "slave". These are often sold as a single product containing
both devices. An example might be:

<https://www.engeniustech.com/engenius-products/wi-fi-6-outdoor-ax1200-5-ghz-wireless-bridge/>

The issue is further confused by describing the system as either
point-to-point or point-to-multipoint.

2) Access Point and Client: two (possibly quite different) devices. The
access point is often built into a router and allows clients such as
laptops to connect wirelessly (to get their internet connection). The
client may be a router or a wireless access point CONFIGURED IN "CLIENT"
MODE. The Client is configured to communicate with the Access Point
simply by specifying the SSID and security key, in the same way as you
would specify those parameters in a laptop or smartphone.

Several client devices can work with the same Access Point. Client
devices communicate only with the Access Point, but because the access
point behaves as a network switch traffic passes through it so that any
client can (potentially) connect to any other (subject to firewall
settings in the laptop or smartphone.

--
Graham J

Mickey D

2024-01-24 22:33:49 UTC

Post by Graham J
It's worth mentioning that "bridge" operation can be further split into
two modes.
1) Dedicated bridge: two similar wireless devices with a private
wireless network between them. One might be defined as "master", the
other as "slave". These are often sold as a single product containing
<https://www.engeniustech.com/engenius-products/wi-fi-6-outdoor-ax1200-5-ghz-wireless-bridge/>
The issue is further confused by describing the system as either
point-to-point or point-to-multipoint.
2) Access Point and Client: two (possibly quite different) devices. The
access point is often built into a router and allows clients such as
laptops to connect wirelessly (to get their internet connection). The
client may be a router or a wireless access point CONFIGURED IN "CLIENT"
MODE. The Client is configured to communicate with the Access Point
simply by specifying the SSID and security key, in the same way as you
would specify those parameters in a laptop or smartphone.
Several client devices can work with the same Access Point. Client
devices communicate only with the Access Point, but because the access
point behaves as a network switch traffic passes through it so that any
client can (potentially) connect to any other (subject to firewall
settings in the laptop or smartphone.

That reminds me, while I was setting things up, the option popped up
somewhere to make a choice between wireless bridge client and wireless
bridge client repeater (or something like that) which, as I understood it
(and I might not have understood it) allows other clients (like cell
phones) to still connect to the access point coming off the main router.

Main Router Switch <===> RJ45 <===> Access Point <===> Bridge <===> PC

I just logged into the WNR834Bv2 to get the exact words DD-WRT uses:
Radio Mode = Repeater Bridge

I think that means I have two things (actually three?) going on:
1. The WNR834Bv2 bridges the PC Ethernet to the Home Router Ethernet
2. The WNR834Bv2 is also acting as an access point
3. The wired Access Point that the bridge connects to is also an AP

Does that sound about right yet?

Graham J

2024-01-21 21:13:21 UTC

There's no such thing.

You need WiFi Access Point. Your signal arrives on the wire and is
broadcast out of the WiFi transmitter.

--
Graham J

Paul in Houston TX

2024-01-23 04:07:16 UTC