Static WDS Setup

by: Tesserax

Last modified: Mar 7, 2021 5:34 PM

2 4836 Last modified Mar 7, 2021 5:34 PM

You will want to use a static Wireless Distribution System (WDS) whenever you need to extend an AirPort's or Time Capsule's wireless range with another AirPort or Time Capsule without using wires. This type of WDS supports a single Main and up to four Remotes or a single Main with up to four Relays connected to the Main, and up to four Remotes connected to each Relay.

A static WDS applies for the following scenarios:
1) Both of base stations are 802.11b/g models, or
2) One of the base stations is a 802.11b/g model and the other is a 802.11n model.

Note: You will want to use a dynamic WDS when both base stations are 802.11n versions.

Static WDS Setup
(Note: If practical, to facilitate the WDS set up, temporarily connect the Remote (& Relay) base station(s) to the Main base station by Ethernet during the set up phase, and then, relocate them to the desired location(s) when complete. Also, be sure to jot down the AirPort IDs (wireless MAC addresses) for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS. The AirPort ID and is printed on the label on the either the bottom or side of the base station. The setup steps below require the use of AirPort Utility v5.x)

Main Base Station Setup

Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the base station you want to set up as the Main base station.
Open the AirPort Utility (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh computer, or in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows).
Select the Main base station, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base
Station menu.
Enter the base station password if necessary. If the base station is using the default password of public, you will not be prompted for a password.
Click Wireless in the toolbar, and then, choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu. (Note: You will need to hold down the Option key in order to get this option on the 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn), the 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn), or on the Time Capsule (TC).)
Click WDS and then, choose “WDS main” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
Select the “Allow wireless clients” checkbox if you want client computer to connect to this base station.
Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the base station you want to connect to this base station. Depending on your WDS requirements, you could be adding up to four Relay or four Remote AirPort IDs.
Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.

Remote Base Station Setup

Open AirPort Utility; select the Remote base station, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
Enter the base station password, if necessary.
Enter the same network password as the Main base station, if necessary.
Click AirPort in the toolbar, and then, click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then, choose the same channel as the Main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
Click WDS and choose “WDS remote” from the pop-up menu.
Enter the AirPort ID of the Main base station in the WDS Main field.
Click Update to transfer the settings to the base station.

Relay Base Station Setup

Open AirPort Utility; select the Relay base station, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
Enter the same network password as the Main base station, if necessary.
Click AirPort in the toolbar, and then, click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then, choose the same channel as the Main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
Click WDS and choose “WDS relay” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
Enter the AirPort ID of the Main base station in the Main AirPort ID field.
Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the Remote base station that will connect to this Relay base station will connect to. Note: You could enter up to four Remote base station AirPort IDs here.
Click Update to transfer the new WDS settings to the Relay and Remote base stations.

(ref: For additional information, check out pages 42-46 of "Designing AirPort Networks.)