bridge mode on d7800 nighthawlk x4s

[dave316]

Hi guys
I have on 2600ac nighthawlk x4s and was wanting to buy a 2nd and use as a bridge anyone know if once setup will it show as one complete network on my wireless devices and connect to strongest signal without cutting out

[antinode]

> I have on 2600ac nighthawlk x4s and was wanting to buy a 2nd and use
> as a bridge [...]

   It's not clear that "bridge" means to you what it might mean to
someone else.  It might help if you explained what you are trying to
achieve.  Apparently, you want to improve your wireless coverage by
adding (something like) a D7800.  How did you plan to connect the new
gizmo to your existing gizmo?

> [...] once setup will it show as one complete network on my wireless
> devices

   It should be possible to configure some kind of extender or access
point so that you still have one big LAN which includes client devices
which connect to either gizmo.

> [...]  and connect to strongest signal without cutting out

   That part may depend on the client device as well as the
wireless-access gizmos.

[dave316]

Looking to extend my current network by hopefully using a second Netgear x4s.

Will be attaching it to my existing network using an Ethernet face plate which will be attached to my patch panel.

The reason for the patch panel is due to several ports all over my house

[antinode]

> Looking to extend my current network by hopefully using a second
> Netgear x4s.

   Note that "x4s" is not a model number.  "D7800" or "R7800" is a
model number.  I'll assume that "extend my current network" means
"extend the wireless network coverage".

> Will be attaching it to my existing network using an Ethernet face
> plate which will be attached to my patch panel.

   The wall plates are not the important features; the cables are.  If
you can (effectively) run a cable from the old/main router to the new
extension router, then you'd seem to be a candidate for (configuring a
second router as) a wireless access point.  

   Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in the model number of your
proposed new router, and look for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.
Read.  Look for something like "Set Up the Modem Router as a WiFi Access
Point Only".  If you want to configure a new D7800 or R7800 as a WAP,
then you could to connect a computer (only) to the new D7800/R7800, do
the WAP mode change, and _then_ connect the new D7800/R7800 to your
original main modem+router as the User Manual shows.

   You don't need the DSL parts of a D7800 for this, so an R7800 should
be equivalent for this purpose.  But, if you did use another D7800, then
you'd have a spare DSL modem+router.

[80njc80]

I use two D7800's in wireless bridge mode that work very well as a system.  This application is for direct ethernet connections rather than wifi extension as antinode stated.

[dave316]

Thanks all 80njc80 does your setup show as 3 separate networks do wireless devices have to manually reconnect to the nearest WAP

[80njc80]

The primary D7800 has both WLAN (wireless) and LAN (ethernet) access but, the 'bridged' D7800 only allows direct ethernet access when set to bridge mode i.e. wireless broadcasting is disabled on that router only.  So my main router deals with wireless and directly connected NAS stuff and my bridged D7800 has media players, switch, PlayStation, RPI3 and other goodies directly connected.  There is probably a more technical way of explaining  but that will do.  Refer to the link below.  I think you want another AP connection that has a physical connection between the two D7800's and acts as a reapeater in affect.  Lots of reading ahead of you...

https://kb.netgear.com/25599/How-do-I-set-up-my-Nighthawk-X4-to-Bridge-mode

[antinode]

> I use two D7800's in wireless bridge mode [...]

   Presumably, that's one D7800 as a normal modem+router, and one D7800
as a wireless bridge.

> [...] but Netgear normally uses the term "bridge" for something else.

   This is the "something else" case, not what you seem to want ("extend
my current [wireless?] network").  See "Set Up a WiFi Bridge" in the
D7800 User Manual.  Compare "Set Up the Modem Router as a WiFi Access
Point Only".

> [...] Lots of reading ahead of you...

   Or not much.  Look at the two pictures, and decide which
configuration you're trying to achieve.  Then read about the one you
want.

[dave316]

Thanks all looking like i might go for AP mode, one final question.

Anyone ever used two of these together on the same network one in AP mode how does it show on the network

[80njc80]

I believe you can manipulate that how you want ie show different or identical SSIDs (network names) as both broadcast simultaneously. Wireless devices should just connect to the strongest signal if both are recognised networks on the device. Not 100% sure though.... enjoy the expanded network range.

Big fan of the D7800. Suits my needs.

[antinode]

> Anyone ever used two of these together on the same network one in AP
> mode how does it show on the network

   I've configured routers as access points, but not a D7800.  Broadly
speaking, if you've seen one, you've seen them all.

   The router-as-WAP gets a LAN IP address on the LAN subnet of the
main router(-as router).  This allows you to access its management web
site (from the LAN).  (See below.)

   Wireless client devices see its radios/SSIDs, and connect to it as
they would to the main router's access point.  If the router-as-WAP uses
the same SSID(s) as the main router, then the client device will decide
which signal it prefers.  If the router-as-WAP uses different SSIDs from
those of the main router, then the client device can choose which SSID
(access point) to use.

   Otherwise, the router-as-WAP is approximately invisible.  The
router-as-WAP acts as an extension of the main-router LAN, so all the
client devices (wired or wireless, connected to either router) see one
big LAN.

   When you "Select the AP Mode radio button", you get to decide how the
router-as-WAP will get its LAN IP address.  There are some notes on
choosing a LAN IP address for an access point in this thread:

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1544918#M25015