Question to netgear: wds and wpa

What do you define as "expected usage" for a wireless access point?

A wireless access point is intended to be used to link a wireless network to a wired network - that is it's sole function in life - as far as I know the WG602 does that. Any other expectation on your part MAY be inappropriate.

Yes - Netgear does advertise that the WG602 can be used as a repeater and/or a bridge, and specifies the security modes in which those functions can be used - the inability to handle WPA in repeater mode is documented - should you define this as a bug or is it an inappropriate expectation.

Perhaps a little more diligence on your part should be expected ;)

jba wrote:

I own a DG834GBv3 router and a WG602v3 access point which I want to use as a repeater. However, even when using the latest firmware, this is not possible, when wpa encryption is selected. I found this problem addressed in many discussions in this forum. So, my question to netgear is: Please tell me, if there are any plans to provide firmware files to remove this bug? When will the customers be able to use their bought products as expected? Juergen

WG602v3 = WPA supported with WDS DG834GBv3 = only WEP supported in WDS you see the accesspoint is perfectly fine.. the problem lies with the dg834GBv3. wds was a very lately added function and it wasnt even advertised ever. you should probably be glad that the dg834gbv3 supports wds at all.

fordem wrote:
What do you define as "expected usage" for a wireless access point? A wireless access point is intended to be used to link a wireless network to a wired network - that is it's sole function in life - as far as I know the WG602 does that. Any other expectation on your part MAY be inappropriate.

After reading product data on the german netgear site, I dont know why I should not expect DG834 and WG602 work together with wds/wpa:

http://www.netgear.de/Produkte/Router/ModemGatewayRouter/DG834GB/datenblatt.html

Technische Daten

Wireless:
- ...
- WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPA-802.1x, WEP
- ...
- Wireless Distribution System (WDS) mit Repeating- und Bridging-Modi

http://www.netgear.de/Produkte/Wireless/802_11g/WG602/index.html

Leistungsmerkmale

- ...
- WPA-PSK oder WEP-Verschlüsselung mit bis zu 128 Bit
- ...
- Bridging- und Repeating-Modus
- ...

fordem wrote:
Yes - Netgear does advertise that the WG602 can be used as a repeater and/or a bridge, and specifies the security modes in which those functions can be used - the inability to handle WPA in repeater mode is documented - should you define this as a bug or is it an inappropriate expectation. Perhaps a little more diligence on your part should be expected ;)

There may be some hints in howtos that it does not work, but these can only be found, when you really have a problem. Before buying a product, I read what the product description says and I think this is clear (see above).

Besides 'beisser' tells us that the wg602 works with wds/wpa and the dg834 is the problem.

Juergen

beisser wrote:
WG602v3 = WPA supported with WDS DG834GBv3 = only WEP supported in WDS you see the accesspoint is perfectly fine.. the problem lies with the dg834GBv3. wds was a very lately added function and it wasnt even advertised ever. you should probably be glad that the dg834gbv3 supports wds at all.

It was and is still advertised:

http://www.netgear.de/Produkte/Router/ModemGatewayRouter/DG834GB/datenblatt.html

Technische Daten

Wireless:
- ...
- WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPA-802.1x, WEP
- ...
- Wireless Distribution System (WDS) mit Repeating- und Bridging-Modi

And yes, I am glad. But wouldnt you also expect to able to turn on air con and radio in your new car at the same time, when it was advertised with air con and radio? ;)

As a moderator you might have some insights in future releases. Could you please tell us if we can expect a new firmware for the dg834gbv3 that supports wds/wpa?

I would appreciate any hint.

Juergen

do you see anywhere on your box an advertisement of WDS? the link to the german website goes to the DG834GB as a model series. this series includes dg834gbv1 (no wds), dg834gbv2 (no wds), dg834gbv3 (wds only with latest firmware) and dg834gbv4 (capable of wds by default). the datasheet contains all the functions the current model delivers (which would ne the v4 not the v3). your statement would be correct if your box had stated that wds with wpa is beeing supported. but you wont find wds anywhere on the v3's box. so far none of the netgear routers do support WPA/WPA2 in wds mode.. the only 2 devices capable of that yet are the wg602v3/v4 and the wg302v2.

beisser wrote:
so far none of the netgear routers do support WPA/WPA2 in wds mode.. the only 2 devices capable of that yet are the wg602v3/v4 and the wg302v2.

Do you have any information if a future firmware for the dg834gb may support wpa/wpa2 in wds mode?

Juergen

jba wrote:
Do you have any information if a future firmware for the dg834gb may support wpa/wpa2 in wds mode? Juergen

to be honest i would love it too, but im already glad i can use wds at all..

beisser wrote:

do you see anywhere on your box an advertisement of WDS? the link to the german website goes to the DG834GB as a model series. this series includes dg834gbv1 (no wds), dg834gbv2 (no wds), dg834gbv3 (wds only with latest firmware) and dg834gbv4 (capable of wds by default). the datasheet contains all the functions the current model delivers (which would ne the v4 not the v3). your statement would be correct if your box had stated that wds with wpa is beeing supported. but you wont find wds anywhere on the v3's box.

Seems we have a different opinion what 'advertised' means ;)

And you are right, I found nothing about wds on the box. But there is also nothing written about wpa and wep. I should be glad to be able to use wep/wpa at all. ;)

I think I will try to use wep with wds now. And I will have a look at www.netgear.de every month. Maybe we are lucky and the next firmware will solve the problem.

Regards,

Juergen

beisser wrote:
WG602v3 = WPA supported with WDS DG834GBv3 = only WEP supported in WDS you see the accesspoint is perfectly fine.. the problem lies with the dg834GBv3. wds was a very lately added function and it wasnt even advertised ever. you should probably be glad that the dg834gbv3 supports wds at all.

Took me some time to find out that this is bullshit.

I now have a tp-link repeater that works perfectly with the DG834GBv3 with wds and wpa2. Seems to me that the WG602v3 or the combination DG834GBv3/WG602v3 (whcih would be really stupid as both devices are from the same brand) that caused the problems.

jba