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R8000/R7900: No Wireless Bridge Mode?
Surprised to see that there is no bridge mode option in R7900/R8000 admin settings. The only feature that's available is the Wireless AP mode. Is this correct? Am I missing something? Even on the...
Hi ZackM,
It is how bridge mode works. The router when set to bridge mode connects to the main router via wireless. The purpose for bridge mode is for wired devices connects wireless via the router. For more info you may check the KB below.
https://kb.netgear.com/24105/What-is-bridge-mode-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Nighthawk-router
Here is the advertised feature:
Which isn't actually available on Netgear's more expensive nighthawks. Very odd.
Yeah if you click on This answer applies to the following products you'll see that it doesn't apply to the R7900/R8000. I can kinda understand why Netgear doesn't offer wireless bridging on these models. It's a waste to use a tri-band router as a wireless bridge. Only 1 Wi-Fi band can be used.
I actually think tri-bands are excellent as bridges. You use 1 5Ghz band to connect to the other router, and you still have two radios to repeat your own subnet. With the R7000, once you use up your 5Ghz radio, your local clients can only use 2.4Ghz.
But shouldn't that be left up to the user? It doesn't make sense that a lower-powered router with less bands has more features.
I might be encouraged by the "currently" in this response in their FAQ:
Is the WDS/Repeater mode available on the R8000?
Currently, the WDS/Repeater mode feature can only be supported without security. Therefore, we have removed this feature from the R8000.But this answer has been around for many years now, so it doesn't seem likely to change. If Netgear tracks feature requests, +1 from me for bridge mode on the R8000/R7900.
In Netgear-speak, a wireless bridge is different than a wireless repeater (aka range extender). A wireless bridge only supports wired clients.
If you were really thinking of wireless repeating, then Netgear has made it clear by their actions (i.e. removing WDS from virtually all of their routers) that they want you to buy a range extender.
