RV130W In WDS Mode

beadams000 · ‎06-08-2015

I am currently using a RV130W as my wireless gateway and router. It resides in the upstairs portion of the building and the signal strength in the downstairs area is low. This causes the throughput to be low also, in the neighborhood of 1 to 5 MB depending. I purchased a second RV130W to use as a WDS repeater and when using it as a repeater in the downstairs area, the throughput is WORSE than if I shut it off and connect to the unit upstairs. Am I missing something? I also thought about connecting it to a wired network switch downstairs and putting it in AP mode, but the manual is so lacking in instruction that I am afraid I will lose access to it when the LAN ports are shut off. There is also no information in the manual about how to reset the unit back to factory default if you lose connectivity to it.

Can you please help? I am beginning to feet like I wasted my money on Cisco.

Thanks,

beadams000

Eric Moyers · ‎06-09-2015

My name Eric Moyers. I am an Engineer in the Small Business Support Center.

I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing this issue.

If you change to AP mode you will not lose access to it. But you will lose the 4 LAN ports. The default IP at that time should be 192.168.1.245, if you can not get to it to reset all you need to do is hold the reset button in the back for 30 seconds or greater. That will return it to router mode.

For the WDS issue What environment is this in? House? What is the construction like? What are the floors made of? How many floors are you trying to span?

What is the speed when you get when wired into the network?

Eric Moyers
.:|:.:|:. CISCO | Cisco Presales Technical Support | Wireless Subject Matter Expert

Please rate helpful Posts and Let others know when your Question has been answered.

beadams000 · ‎06-09-2015

Eric,

Thanks for your response and the information regarding the reset and AP mode. The speed when connected to the wired network is 100 MB as I have fiber directly to my home. I use this in my home office and the structure is Log and the signal must span one floor. If I check my smart phone with speed test while sitting at the primary Cisco wireless router also a RV130W, the download speed is 60MB and the upload is around 20-25MB. Once I go downstairs, the speed drops to anywhere from 1-5 MB down and 6-8 MB up. I have tried allowing the router to select its own channel and it makes no difference. I was hoping to use the second router as an AP in WDS mode, but the speed is worse that way. I thought I would try connecting it to my 1GB switch downstairs and turn it into an AP only.

Does this help?

Brad Adams

Eric Moyers · ‎06-10-2015

Thank you for your reply.

Going through a wooden wall there is an attenuation of about 8 dB or about 1/6th your beginning signal. If your log flooring is thicker than a normal wall (few inches) I don't have actual number the signal loss is greater. With a normal flooring some joist and 1/2' or 3/4" plywood signal would still degrade but not as much as through solid wood.

Long story short, if you already have a switch connection downstairs that you can wire into. That would be the best,then no signal loss.

So, like the other day, if you use AP mode, yes you would lose the 4 LAN ports. An option would be to connect the RV130W using a LAN port to the switch while it is still in router mode. It would still allow you to use the wireless feature of the router and the other three LAN ports.

If you would like to go that route, if you like can call in and open a case and let one of our Engineers assist you with that.

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/web/tsd-cisco-small-business-support-center-contacts.html

Eric Moyers
.:|:.:|:. CISCO | Cisco Presales Technical Support | Wireless Subject Matter Expert

Please rate helpful Posts and Let others know when your Question has been answered.

beadams000 · ‎06-10-2015

Eric,

I was going to try just that but I found no way of making the router know where to go for DNS, etc. There is no place for a LAN gateway IP. I would like to explore that option.

Thanks,

Eric Moyers · ‎06-10-2015

If you are using DHCP from the main router, then with the RV130W downstairs, go under LAN, LAN Configuration, -> under Server Settings select Disable, and let the main router push that info out.

If you are using DHCP from a DHCP server on your network, then go under LAN, LAN Configuration, -> under Server Settings select DHCP Relay and let the that DHCP server push that info out.

That really should be all.

If there is any issue, please let me know.

Eric Moyers

Eric Moyers · ‎06-10-2015

PS, dont forget to change the local IP to something other than the 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.2. I would make it something like 192.168.1.3.

Assuming that you are using 192.168.1.X, if not please change accordingly.

Eric