Zoom 4403 User instructions

Wireless-N 4-port Router
Setting up Model 4403 as a Repeater
or as a Wireless Bridge

Setting up Model 4403 as a Repeater or as a
Wireless Bridge
This chapter describes how to set up Model 4403 as a Repeater or as a Wireless Bridge.
Repeater mode can be used to extend the range of your wireless network. For example,
if your Cable or DSL connection is located in your basement and wireless devices on
your top floor can not see the wireless signal, you may place the Router on the first floor
in Repeater mode to allow devices on the top floor and first floor access to your wireless
network. You can also plug computers and other devices into the Ethernet port of the
router that’s in Repeater mode.
If instead you want to wirelessly connect 2 networks together, even networks that include both
Ethernet and wireless devices and that may be in different buildings, use the Wireless Bridge mode.
Please note that when using either Repeater or Wireless Bridge mode, there are some security-related
constraints due to limitations in the WDS protocol.. The Repeater or Wireless Bridge must either use
WEP security or no security at all. You cannot use WPA or WPA2, for instance. Normally a router
or modem/router is connected between the Repeater or Wireless Bridge and the Internet, and that
“base router” needs to be in the same security mode, either WEP or no security. Unfortunately this
may mean changing the security mode of the base router and of wireless devices connected to it.
Setting up a WDS network.
The Repeater or Wireless Bridge needs to communicate wirelessly with a base router that supports WDS
(“Wireless Distribution System”). If you have a Cable or DSL modem with a built-in wireless router or if you
have a separate wireless router, the base router may or may not support WDS mode. Please refer to the
instructions that came with your modem/router or router to check this.
If your base router doesn’t support WDS, we recommend that you plug a second model 4403 into
your base router. First setup that second model 4403’s WAN connection to use Dynamic IP
addressing as described in Chapter 2. If you do not have the CD, the manual can be downloaded at
http://www.zoomtel.com/documentation/wireless_n/4403_UserManual_Eng.pdf . Then for
the first model 4403, the one being used as a Repeater or Wireless Bridge, follow the steps below for
Setting Up Model 4403 in Hybrid mode or WDS Only mode

Installing the Model 4403 Hardware for Repeater or Wireless
Bridge Mode
1Place Model 4403 near a computer to be used for setup. This computer needs an Ethernet (LAN) port.
2Turn off the computer.
3Attach the antenna to the Router if the antenna isn’t already attached. (Remove the antenna from the
package. Place the end of the detachable antenna on the open antenna connection port and rotate the
antenna clockwise by hand until it no longer turns easily. It may take many turns before the antenna is
completely connected. Move the antenna into a vertical orientation. The antenna should snap into place.)
4Connect one end of the supplied Ethernet cable to the computer’s Ethernet port and the other end to any
of Model 4403’s Ethernet (LAN) ports.
5Plug the supplied power cube into Model 4403, and then into a power outlet.
Important: Use only the power cube shipped with Model 4403. Other power cubes may damage
the device.
6In the unlikely event that you have been using model 4403 in Router or Ethernet Client mode, you need
to reset the Router to the factory default configuration. Insert the blunt end of a paper clip into the RESET
hole on the back panel of the Router. Press the Reset Button down for at least five (5) seconds.
7Turn on the computer. The connected Ethernet (LAN) port light should start blinking. If the connected
Ethernet (LAN) light doesn’t blink, please see Appendix A: Troubleshooting Tips of the full length
manual on the CD that came with the Model 4403. If you do not have the CD, the manual can be
downloaded at http://www.zoomtel.com/documentation/wireless_n/4403_UserManual_Eng.pdf.

Setting Up the Model 4403 in Hybrid mode or WDS Only mode
To launch the Configuration Manager, please follow these steps:
1In the computer's Web browser address bar, type http://192.168.2.1 and then click Enter.
2When the USER'S MAIN MENU opens, it displays a Status page that lists the current
values for a variety of settings. If the Status page doesn’t appear, please see Appendix A:
Troubleshooting Tips of the full length manual on the CD that came with the Model 4403.
If you do not have the CD, the manual can be downloaded at
http://www.zoomtel.com/documentation/wireless_n/4403_UserManual_Eng.pdf. . If the
Status page does appear, write down the MAC address shown under Wireless Status since
you will need this later.
3In the System Password field, type admin and then click Login.
Note: Later, if you change the System Password, you will use the new password to log in.
4Click on Advanced. Click Enter.
5Click Wireless from the left-side menu.
6At WDS, click Configure.
7On the WDS Settings page, select either WDS Only or Hybrid from the AP Mode drop-
down menu.

Note: Hybrid mode is used when you want Model 4403 to act as a Repeater, extending the
range of your wireless network as discussed above. WDS Only mode is used to create a
Wireless Bridge between 2 networks as discussed above. Most users should select Hybrid
mode.
8From the Scanned AP’s MAC drop-down menu, select the SSID (Wireless Network Name)
of the Access Point (“AP”) you want to connect to. This may be your broadband
modem/router or another router, for instance. We call this your “base router” below. (If you
plugged a second Model 4403 into a base router as discussed above, the second 4403
becomes your “base router”.) The Scanned AP’s MAC drop-down menu displays both the
MAC address and SSID of the Wireless Networks that it has found. Make a note of the
wireless channel and the type of security that are used by the AP you are connecting to.
As noted above, the AP’s security mode needs to be either WEP security (which we
recommend) or No Security unless the AP is a second 4403.
9From the Remote AP MAC drop-down menu, select the number of the field you want the
MAC Address to be copied to, then click Copy to. Most users should select 1 to copy it to
the first field.
10 Click Save to save your WDS settings.
11 Click Wireless from the left-side menu to go to the main wireless page.
12 Select the Channel that the AP you just connected to is using from the drop-down menu.
13 If you are using Hybrid mode, you may want to make Model 4403’s SSID different from
your base router’s. This makes it easier for you to know which router a wireless client is
connecting to. Either one should work, and you normally select the one with the strongest
wireless signal.
14 Select the Security type and enter the corresponding Key. The security type needs to be the
same as your AP. If your AP isn’t a second 4403, you must select WEP Auto security (which
we recommend) or None.
15 Click Save to save your wireless settings.
Disable DHCP on the model 4403 Repeater. Disabling DHCP means that only the base router
built will assign IP addresses.
To disable DHCP on the Model 4403:
•Click LAN Setup from the menu.
•At the DHCP Server, select Disable.
•If you have two Model 4403 routers on your network, we recommend changing the
default LAN IP Address of the Repeater Model 4403 now to 192.168.2.10. If you
do this, we suggest showing the new LAN IP address on the bottom of the
Repeater Model 4403’s case for easy reference. If you make this LAN IP Addresss
change and later need to access the 4403 Repeater’s configuration screens, you will
enter 192.168.2.10. To access the other Model 4403, the base router, you will enter
the default IP 192.168.2.1
•Click Save.
•Click Reboot. At the message prompt, click OK.
•Close the browser. (You do not need to wait for it to reboot.)

Important! Your base router (also called AP or Access Point) needs to be set up properly to work
with the Repeater. Go into the Wireless section of the base router’s configuration page. Turn WDS
on, enable Wireless Repeater, and enter the wireless MAC address of the Model 4403 Repeater. (You
wrote this down in step 2 above.) Make sure that the base router is using the same security type as
the Model 4403 Repeater. (This is normally WEP.) If the base router is using WEP security, the base
router’s security key should be the same as the model 4403 Repeater’s security key.
Note: If you disabled DHCP on the Model 4403 Repeater, reboot any computers that connect to the
Model 4403 Repeater through its Ethernet port or wirelessly. This ensures that the computers
receive the proper IP address from your base router.
If you had to unplug any cables or make any changes to the computer that you used to configure
Model 4403, you now should restore that computer back to its original state.
Congratulations! Your Model 4403 is now setup in Repeater mode and your base router is configured to work
with it.