Combined client/bridge or bridge/access_point

[MortarThePoint]

I want a product that consists of two mains powered units:

  1. Connects to WiFi and has a wireless bridge 

  2. Connects to wireless bridge and has a WiFi access point (WAP)

Clearly the units could be the same hardware configured to different roles. Ideally, you'd tell end (1) the WiFi credentials and end (2) would automatically use those for it's WAP. Then any WiFi device moved between locations (1) and (2) would easily connect.

 

I've seen loads that connect to wired LAN, but not spotted ones that connect to WiFi. This has to be the most common consumer level requirement.

 

[-rick-]

Is this to create one big network? Sounds like it.

 

If so, the modern way to do this is with Wifi Meshing and it's supported by many many devices. Best to use them all of the same brand though to avoid any issues. You can often get them in multiples bundled together.

 

Not recommending anything in particular but:

 

https://www.currys.co.uk/computing/networking/whole-home-wi-fi-systems

 

[crispy_wafer]

I wonder if Ubiquiti would have something, without looking I dont know.  But for the record I've just put in a couple of Wave Pro @ work to bridge a LAN to two in buildings that are on different sides of a road.  Most bridge units use POE so the wired LAN is made use of for more than just comms.

[MortarThePoint]

43 minutes ago, -rick- said:

Is this to create one big network?

 

Not so much. It's to connect between two buildings about 100m apart which is a common requirement (e.g. garden office, garage, workshop, barn etc).

 

36 minutes ago, crispy_wafer said:

Most bridge units use POE so the wired LAN is made use of for more than just comms.

A good approach, but I have convenient mains sockets and not ethernet sockets. This must be a common scenario for the domestic market as most people have housewide WiFi rather than ethernet.

[-rick-]

3 minutes ago, MortarThePoint said:

Not so much. It's to connect between two buildings about 100m apart which is a common requirement (e.g. garden office, garage, workshop, barn etc).

 

Oh in that case the Ubiquiti suggestion is a good one. Building to building links is one of their business focuses. A number of other companies in the space too but the names escape me right now.

[-rick-]

Microtik is the other name I was thinking of, not necessarily for the non-technical.

 

https://mikrotik.com/products

 

You can do this on a lot of home routers too but its not necessarily well documented. OpenWRT supports doing it if your hardware does so a router that can have that installed is an option. But if you have 100m to traverse you should be looking at specific point to point antennas which pushes you towards the ubituiti/microtik type options.

[Alan Ambrose]

100m sounds more like a microwave link rather than wifi - I can’t imagine you would get the bandwidth you want with wifi. Maybe I’m wrong:

 

https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/products/47399-ubiquiti-lbe-5ac-gen2-ptp-pnp/specifications/#content

[-rick-]

2 minutes ago, Alan Ambrose said:

100m sounds more like a microwave link rather than wifi - I can’t imagine you would get the bandwidth you want with wifi. Maybe I’m wrong:

 

https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/products/47399-ubiquiti-lbe-5ac-gen2-ptp-pnp/specifications/#content

 

That is just a point to point antenna for wifi. I agree that you likely need a directional antenna each end for a good link over 100m but 100m isn't that far in the scheme of things. People are running wifi links measured in kilometers at decent speed.

 

Psst: wifi signals are microwave signals 😛

 

[MortarThePoint]

I couldn't find anything that combined a long range wireless bridge and WiFi access point / client into a single product that only takes a power connection. I didn't want the hassle of Ethernet to a wireless bridge at each end, so I've actually kind of done the opposite since I already had the bits:

 

    WiFi Range Extender with Ethernet port <--> 100m Ethernet Cable <--> WAN Ethernet port on a WiFi Router.

 

The WiFi Range Extender with Ethernet port is a TL-WA850RE V6 by TP-Link and the WiFi Router is a 4G+ Router (B535-333) that I am no longer using for 4G. In theory, that could provide 4G backup as well, but I don't have a SIM in at the moment. Cost is minimal at £75  (£14 for TL-WA850RE, ~£50 for 100m of Kenable direct bury cable, £20 on eBay for the4G+ Router). Hopefully it won't get struck by lightening as I have just draped the cable along the ground. I think I could have a WiFi Range Extender with Ethernet port at each end, but I didn't have two.

 

Manuals for TL-WA850RE if needed.

1910012385_TL-WA850RE_UG_REV6.0.1.pdf 1910013049_Range Extender Setup Help_REV1.0.0.pdf 7106508795_TL-WA850RE(EU)_QIG_REV7.0.1.pdf

Edited 22 hours ago by MortarThePoint

[Kelvin]

What you’ve done is the best approach. I did similar into my garage using BT Wholehome discs to extend the WiFi into the garage and for the Zappi to pick up. Cheap to buy second hand although I already had four. 

[JohnMo]

On 31/10/2025 at 12:37, MortarThePoint said:

It's to connect between two buildings about 100m apart

I use a mesh system as indicated by @-rick-. I use an outdoor node as well as indoor ones.

 

I have my main router in a shed, connected to outdoor node, the nodes inside the house are connected via a powerline AC to WiFi adapter.

[-rick-]

8 hours ago, MortarThePoint said:

    WiFi Range Extender with Ethernet port <--> 100m Ethernet Cable <--> WAN Ethernet port on a WiFi Router.

 

Not entirely sure of you overall result here. Neither end is plugged into your home network and is connected to it via Wifi? All bridged networking, no routing?

 

As long as it works, can't complain about the price.