WDS performance

Not true. In a multiple wireless base station network with an Ethernet backbone the base stations are configured to different channels to reduce/eliminate RF interference.

I thought we were talking about WDS, which all WDS cell operate in the same channel and roaming is possible.

You were talking about WDS, but Duane appears to enjoy changing the subject when he is unable to explain something.

dchao99 wrote:
Anyway, I also thought the new "extending a network" mode is built on top of the WDS protocol. IMO, network layer are exactly the same. The difference is only at the application layer. Instead of user setting up main/relay/remote WDS manually, the new mode let the base station broadcast the WDS service via Bonjour, so the MAC address can be linked up automatically. I might be wrong, but I don't think Apple would reinvent the wheel, they are not really a networking company like Lucent/Agere.

I think the Extend a wireless network is a simplified explanation for the user, but it is WDS/wireless bridging for the 802.11n network.

I think it may be Apple's attempt to avoid confusing networking jargon for the home user. If you go to the AU help database and key text search with WDS you get:

*Wireless Distribution System (WDS)*
+Extending the range of your wireless network+

Click on the link below and you come to:

*Extending the range of your wireless network*

within this page is the following note and link:

NOTE: If you’re extending the range of an 802.11n wireless network, click the link below for simplified instructions.

+Extending the range of an 802.11n network+

which takes you to:

*Extending the range of an 802.11n network*
AirPort Utility makes it simple to extend the range of an 802.11n network if you are connecting another 802.11n base station or a Time Capsule. Connecting two 802.11n devices greatly simplifies the WDS setup process.

To extend the range of an 802.11n network:
1. Open AirPort Utility and select the base station or the Time Capsule that will connect to the Internet... and so on through to...
7. Enter the network and device password if necessary.

But, although they have simplified the terminology, I think it is still clearly described as WDS in the support literature acompanying Airport Utility. However, simplifying the terminology does seems to have confused some.

Message was edited by: Ewen

I should have quoted more of your post. You stated...

Which means, if any base station is talking, no other traffic is allowed on the entire network. This has nothing to do with WDS.

Therefore I posted information on why this was not true when not using WDS.

I agree that using the star WDS configuration that you suggested does free up the wireless network quicker than when using a relay WDS configuration.

I agree that WDS and "extend a wireless network" are similar in the fact that they accomplish the same goal. Just like travelling by train or airplane are similar. Although the same goal is accomplished the mechanics off how it is accomplished is not the same.

The fact remains that AirPort Utility allows you to select one of 3 options.

1. Create a wireless network. Choose this option if you are creating a new AirPort Extreme network.
2. Participate in a WDS network. Choose this option if you are creating a new WDS network, or connecting this AirPort Extreme Base Station to a WDS network that is already set up.
3. Extend a wireless network. Choose this option if you plan to connect another AirPort Extreme 802.11n Base Station to the network you are setting up.

If WDS and "extend a wireless network" were EXACTLY the same there would not be separate options.

Apple's "Designing AirPort Networks using AirPort Utility" document takes pages 42-46 to describe how to configure a WDS connection.

The same document takes only pages 46-48 to describe how to configure using the "Extend a wireless network".

Obviously they are not completely the same.

...but Duane appears to enjoy changing the subject when he is unable to explain something.

Sorry that you misunderstood my post. FYI, if I am unable to explain something or have no useful information I will not post. I am not a newcomer to this area or this technology.

If WDS and "extend a wireless network" were EXACTLY the same there would not be separate options.

They do seem to be different options. The WDS mode seems to take into account legacy 802.11b/g, while extend a wireless network is aimed for 802.11n networking.

It is not so well described in the Apple literature, i.e. strictly speaking both options are WDS, but yet clearly they are aimed at different types of airport network.

"I'd have to write that WDS might be a bit of a Time Machine killer in terms of performance. I tried it , but abandoned it as an option as data rates were much lower, defeating the point imo of having a home 802.11n network. This is why my TC is set in extend wireless network mode , allowing the AEBS to be 5GHz N mode."

Sorry, I didn't know how to do the quote thing:

So does "Extend this Wireless Network" provide better transmit rates than "WDS"? I'm thinking of getting an Express N to extend my TC N network.

I did try both, for me extend wireless network in 5GHz worked much better.