Set-Up Guide Buffalo WGR-G54 BaseStation with Apple Airport Express in WDS mode.
Please note this is a detailed step-by-step guide to setting up a Buffalo WBR-G54 router as a WDS BASE with an Apple AirPort Express acting as a WDS REMOTE. The general concepts layed out here will apply to any WDS set-up regardless of vendor; however the specifics are applicapable to the specific equipment that I own. Enjoy. If you have any questions or comments please direct them to e-mail the author.
Pictures are my property and may not be posted elsewhere without my permission. Thank you and enjoy!
Quick Tips:
My first recommendation is to set-up the network in "open" mode without WEP
FIRST. Then after you get it working you can turn on WEP. Remember WDS does not
support WPA. I am using WEP 128-bit
without any problem.
So some critical settings, I recommend doing all the settings by HAND using the
Airport Admin Utility (AAU) stay away from the APX set-up wizard.
SSIDs need to be the same.
The wireless RF channel MUST be the same on the repeater and the base (e.g.
1-11).
In my set-up the Buffalo Router is the WDS BASE unit and will preform the DHCP routing functions for my network. With this set-up I had to disable the DHCP/NAT services on my APX. You only want one DCHP server on your network subnet so this will require turning off the DHCP/distribute IP/NAT on the APX.
WDS needs to be turned on, on both the Buffalo Airstation and the APX. You will need the
MAC address of both units, I use iStumbler for this purpose, as well as to
monitor the status of the APs as they reboot etc. You add the MAC address of the
Buffalo in the airport admin utility under the WDS tab and you will add the MAC
address of the APX in your Buffalo WLA-G54 web based set-up menus. See
screen-shots below.
Once you do this and apply the settings you should be ready to roll. It really
is that simple AS LONG as you are somewhat savvy with wireless networks.
Now once you have gotten this far you are ready to deploy WEP. I used WEP-128.
You need to enable EXACTLY the SAME encryption method on both the buffalo and
APX (e.g. WEP-128 or 40bit). WPA DOES NOT WORK IN WDS NETWORKS!!! Your passwords
need to be EXACLTY the same on both units as well. I hate having HEX passwords,
to make life simple choose a 13 character ASCII password (e.g. greenapple123).
Apply your settings and wait for the units to locate each other and POW you are
there.
My set-up is working like a charm. MY APX is acting as a WDS repeater and is
extending my network very well. My laser printer is plugged into it and the
print server works great. I also have the optical out connected to my AMP for
AirTunes which also works great. Finally I have a run of cat-5 from my wintel
desktop plugged in the RJ-45 port on the APX and it also doing a great job
acting as a wireless-ethernet bridge. It is doing all of this at the same time
and works smoothly.
Another stunning product from apple and more amazing what a GREAT price! Finally
apple has actually UNDERpriced a product, colour me shocked! Good luck with your
set-up you should have no problems. If run into any problems don't hesisitate to
shout for help!
On to the screen captures...you know what they say a picture is worth a thousand words...
First configure the Buffalo BaseStation
In the above screen shot it is important to use a 13 character ASCII password such as greenapple123 YOU MUST REMEMBER THE PASSWORD EXACTLY
AND USE IT FOR THE APX WEP AS WELL!
In the MAC address screen above you MUST ENTER THE MAC ADDRESS OF THE AirportExpress!!! You can get this with istumbler or it is on the outside of the Airport Express Box!
Turn off RIP reception, it may cause problems with the DHCP server in the Buffalo.
IT SHOULD NOW WORK!!
WooT, it works!