First i would like to say hello, I’m new to this forum.
My old Linksys (running tomatousb) died due to the thunderstorm, so I have to choose new hardware.
My current network: gigabit 8 port switch (linksys)
My ISP provides me internet through WIFI (5GHz) at 20Mbit/s speed.
He’s aerial is just 50-60m from my chimney. I have static public IP.
I want to have at home both 5GHz and 2.4GHz (for old hardware)
First option is to choose RB433L, RB433GL or RB435G board and 3 wifi cards + aerials
second is to split for one board as wireless client (1 mPCI + 1 LAN) + another (2 mPCI 2 LAN) as AP.
As I understand wireless client should pass public IP to AP and should work as bridge?
Does wireless client board need to have 2 LAN interfaces? (for management purposes) Or it can bo done other way?
To access multimedia from my NAS (NAS > LAN > AP > WIFI > laptop) should I choose to connect AP to switch by gigabit?
Could you please advise me some hardware?
And sorry for my english.
i would recomend the 435GAUH is a super powerful unit that will let you take advantage of the 20mb/s for your isp that will be natted and your lan/wifi bridge, i would recomend getting an nice r52hn radio card for local wifi, with the correct antenna array, maybe an ceiling mount MIMO 2.4ghz antenna. and also an nice r52HN radio for your wifi isp.
Its great hardware, i would also just bridge wlan2(homewifi) and Lan, then NAT the lan range to the internet.
the 435 also has an Gigabit ethernet port, so it will work well with your infrastructure.
Do take note that on 5GHz band there is substantial loss of signal in the coax cable and that good coax cables + connectors cost a lot and are very sturdy. If you run more than 10m this can be an issue and you can easy loose more of the signal in the cable than antenna gain will give you. Maybe a combination of SXT 5HnD (no need for G at 20mbit/s) and another routerboard unit (RB433GL or 435G + 2 minipci wifi cards for your local networks) would be better solution. You can also power SXT over UTP cable with passive POE.
Yes, wireless client (SXT in this case) can be run in bridge mode and second RB will take care of routing/nat/fw … 1 LAN interface is OK, you can take care of security with firewall and vlan (if your switch supports it) no need for seperate LAN just for management. Gigabit models for second RB are welcome since this way you will take full advantage of your switch and also wireless N speed (up to 300mbit/s).