Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

[cachest]

I just purchased a Vudu box today, and I had some trouble getting network connectivity. I wanted to post the solution in case others run into the same problem. I've got the following setup...

Vudu --- 5 port switch --- WET54G bridge <---> wireless router --- cable modem

The short description to all of this is "find a way to get past step 3 (network test) of the initial setup to get the software update and see if that solves the problem".

For the detail oriented...

Linksys WET54G is running v2.07 fw.
wireless router is Linksys WRV54G

Connected to the switch, I have a XBox360, Slingbox, and HD DVD player (all with static ips - all working as expected).

Even after configuring a static ip for the Vudu box, it kept bombing on step 3 of the setup. I tried pinging the Vudu box from my pc, which is connected to the wireless router, with no success. Customer support had me try the usual (power cycle the Vudu, power cycle the bridge, etc.)...all without any luck.

Eventually, I moved the Vudu to my office, connected it to my pc monitor using a HDMI-DVI connector that I had laying around, and connected it directly to the wireless router (used the same static ip config for the Vudu). Using this setup, I was able to get past step 3. Immediately after step 3, the box does a software update. Once the update was done, I moved the Vudu back to my home theater and was happy to find that I had no more network issues behind the bridge.

As an aside... I've never been able to get dhcp pass-through to work correctly with the WET54G. I recommend always using static ips for devices connected through that particular bridge.

I'm happy that this is now working but am somewhat concerned that a future software update might break the connectivity again. Anyway...hope others find the info helpful! - I'm off to watch a movie!

[Nded]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

Welcome to the Vudu forum - that was a great first post! Please feel welcome to share your wisdom and experience any time.

[HeadHodge]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

That's really a good explanation of why I always take the turnpike instead of the bridge.

[NA9D]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

I'm happy that this is now working but am somewhat concerned that a future software update might break the connectivity again. Anyway...hope others find the info helpful! - I'm off to watch a movie!

I'm sure RonV will jump in here and offer some advice on your setup - he's our resident expert at configuring wireless setups. I know he's pretty insistent typically with only connecting one device to a router set up in WiFi client mode (using something like DD-WRT or Tomato). I'm not sure if this device works the same way.

In terms of a software update breaking your network connectivity - it probably won't happen. You aren't a beta tester. We deal with the connectivity issues for you ahead of time and make sure all those issues are ironed out first so that your experience is painless!

[RonV]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

I am glad it is working for you cachest, we haven't had much luck with the WET54G due to the way it handles network connections. But if it working for you that is great. I would suggest that you report in every once and a while to let us know how your VUDU is working in this configuration.

On the DHCP issue yes that is correct. When multiple devices are hooked up to the WET54G all the DHCP requests look like they are coming from the same mac address and the router hosting the DHCP server just renews to the first device that makes the request though it. Its kinda technical and this is why they only support one device on the WET54G.

[cachest]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

I expect RonV is correct. Ideally (in my opinion), bridges shouldn't rewrite the mac. There are several different types of bridges available though (some rewrite the mac...some don't), and the manufacturers don't often indicate what group their device falls under. I've had the WET54G for a while now, but I remember hoping when I bought it that it was a transparent bridge...no such luck! Maybe one of these days I'll find some free time to sniff the packets from the bridge to confirm. I doubt that will happen if it keeps working w/static ips though!

Thanks for the replies everybody!

[RonV]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

If you look at the ARP table on the router the devices will be listed as having the same MAC address.
This is due to how 802.11 is implemented under WIFI. But somehow the WET seems to have enough "routing" in bridge mode to route the traffic back to the correct device given its IP address embedded in the IP packet. The question is how does this effect features like muticasting, streaming media protocols.

I don't have a WET right now but do you know if it works in WDS mode? If so WDS allows a fully transparent link for hardwired devices and doesn't cause the ARP issues.

[NA9D]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

The problem with WDS though is that it cuts your data rate in half since half the data rate is reserved for the link itself...

[RonV]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

The problem with WDS though is that it cuts your data rate in half since half the data rate is reserved for the link itself...

If you are only using wireless just to bridge the two routers you don't lose the bandwidth. The only time bandwidth is cut in half if you "repeat" thought WDS with another wireless device.

[NA9D]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

If you are only using wireless just to bridge the two routers you don't lose the bandwidth. The only time bandwidth is cut in half if you "repeat" thought WDS with another wireless device.

But wouldn't it still cut your speed down anyhow with other devices? Isn't half that bandwidth always reserved for the WDS link?

[RonV]

Re: Vudu + Linksys WET54G Wireless Bridge

If your AP is configured as WDS and your WET or other devices is configured for WDS and you don't have any other wireless devices such as a Laptop then the links between the two WDS devices is 100% of the bandwidth. Therefore any device plugged into the Ethernet ports of the end WDS device would have access to the full bandwidth.

I have tested this configuration about two years ago to validate and I was able to sustain 32 mbps on the link.