HWBA54G as WDS repeater

[kwzahn]

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I just bought a Hawking HWBA54G (not rev M) wireless Access Point. I bought it to extend the range of my wireless network. My router is the Hawking Wireless G Router and I bought the corner antenna.

The problem I'm having is I can't figure out how to make the AP work as a repeater/extender, even though there are diagrams on the Hawking website showing this configuration and they market it as a repeater. They simple say to use the Setup program and set it into WDS mode. I don't see this mode at all. There is only AP mode and Bridge mode and neither works as a extender.

I've emailed tech suppotr, but have not received an answer and from what I read, I probably won't get a good answer. I hear they have very poor tech support.

Anyone have any ideas or experience with the HWBA54G ?

[kwzahn]

Well, I ended up figuring it out. I had to put the Access Point in AP mode and then I found a check box to enable WDS. After I enabled the WDS and put in the MAC address of my router, it worked like a champ.



The funny thing is after I got this all working last night, I get this message from Hawking Tech support :





The repeater only work for WDS mode with another HWBA54G on WDS mode,
it will not repeat any other wireless device.
Best Regards,
Hawking Technology (N)

I guess it's just like I heard, very poor tech support. And the support from their website is pretty bad.

I also am not impressed with the antenna I bought from them. For being a 15dBi antenna, it sure doesn't seem to add any more range than my Linksys wireless router already had.

[Bobafettness]

Hi kwzahn,

I too have been frustrated by the HWBA54G. I've tried every which way possible to get it to work as a wireless bridge but despite the fact that it tells me that it is 'associated' with the wireless network I want, I cannot get any kind of access.

The instructions in the user guide are useless, the software on the CD makes mine (and many other users) PC crash and as you say, technical support is appalling.

In the end I setup a web page and welcome emails about this issue, see http://hwba54g.threemedia.com/

Bob