How to connect remote device into the LAN over WiFi?

I have some printers in the hall that I need to connect over WiFi, so they would appear they are connected to the local wired lan.

I got RB2011UiAS-2HnD-IN and three cAP lite, but I don’t know what to do now; I only have a general idea how to do this.

Any points appreciated!! Thanks!

You can use your wlan1 as WAN port and wireless mode station-pseudobridge on remote Mikrotik. Do not forget to synchronise time of remote device.

Or below is what I use reliably with Mikrotik on both ends:
On your Mikrotik router
/interface wireless
set mode=ap-bridge ssid=YOUR-SSID wds-default-bridge=bridge-local wds-mode=static-mesh
/interface wireless wds
add disabled=no master-interface=wlan1 wds-address=xx.xx.xx.xx.xx.xx (MAC of remote Mikrotik)

On your remote Mikrotik clean/remove setup (especially disable DHCP, NAT, edit firewall) and put all interfaces to bridge, set DHCP client on bridge and add your security profile and change wifi mode:
/interface wireless
set frequency=auto mode=station-wds ssid=YOUR-SSID

All LAN ports on remote Mikrotik are now wireless connected to your LAN.

Thanks a lot Pea!

What about security? I presume I can use normal WiFi security (psk2, etc)?

I am just going to power up everything and first update and prepare everything before trying this.

Sure, WPA2-PSK as security profile and optionally disable PMKID.

Simplified description:
Run your secured WiFi normally on your router, add settings for WDS, add static WDS interface with MAC of second device.
On other device start without any setup. Add bridge and DHCP client on bridge. Add security profile, change wlan1 mode to station-wds.
After connection you will see on router in log …connected, wants wds. That’s all.
Then think about some firewall, etc. on other connected device.

Maybe a stupid Q, but do I have to lock to a specific channel when I use WDS, or I can select auto?

OK, I got it, it works on auto :slight_smile:

What about WiFi standard? To leave it on BGN? Or select just N only? I am not sure how WiFi behaves when connectivity start to deteriorate - does it persist in, say, N, or reduces standard?

Remote device keep on auto, it will act as client and take frequency from AP.

If you do not have any 802.11b only device (and you probably don’t) try this:

/interface wireless
set band=2ghz-g/n channel-width=20mhz bridge-mode=disabled country="your country" distance=indoors frequency-mode=regulatory-domain installation=indoor mode=ap-bridge rate-set=configured basic-rates-a/g=12Mbps basic-rates-b="" supported-rates-a/g=12Mbps,18Mbps,24Mbps,36Mbps,48Mbps,54Mbps supported-rates-b="" wireless-protocol=802.11 wps-mode=disabled adaptive-noise-immunity=ap-and-client-mode antenna-gain=4

Will do!

Thanks a lot Pea, I really appreciate the help.