TL-WA901ND Wireless Network Bridge is a wireless –n 300Mbps access point wireless transmission rate, Supports multiple operating modes (Access Point, Client, Universal/ WDS Repeater, Wireless Bridge) and up to 30 meters Power over Ethernet capability for flexible deployment
In this article:
- Overview – What this product does?
- How to setup and configure TL-WA901ND
- Work out with wireless router
What this TL-WA901ND Does
TP-Link TL-WA901ND is a wireless N300 access point device powered by 3-external MIMO antenna technology delivering high speeds up to 300Mbps. The AP is powered by CCA technology to automatically avoiding channel conflict and yet improve the wireless performance.
TL-WA901ND allows you create up to four SSIDs. Not many wireless AP devices support multiple SSIDs to segregate the network based on the security needs or based on different services. You can create secure SSID for your finance user group with separate security access.
TL-WA901ND allows you configure the device to work in one of the following operation modes including:
- Access Point
- Wireless Client
- Universal/WDS Repeater
- Point to Point or Point to Multi-point bridge
Access Point and Multi SSIDs
You can connect the TL-WA901ND device to the local network to let you create the wireless network easily. With AP mode you can create up to four SSIDs and VLANs by selecting the Multi-SSID mode.
You can enable the VLAN if your internal network switch supports the VLAN too and you also need to configure the switch with VLAN support. If “Enable VLAN” is checked, the wireless stations connecting to SSID of different VLANID can not communicate with each other
Client Mode
With wireless client mode, you can connect the TL-WA901ND to any types of Ethernet-enabled device to the existing wireless network. You can configure it by entering the MAC address (or the AP) of the AP network you are connecting to.
Repeater Mode
In repeater mode, the TL-WA901ND relays data to a root AP with WDS enabled to which it is associated. The wireless repeater relays signal between its stations and the root AP for greater wireless range. You can configure the device by entering the MAC address of the root AP of which you want to expand the range coverage. If the root AP is WDS-disabled, you configure the device as the Universal Repeater.
Bridge Mode
You can configure the TL-WA901ND as the bridge mode either in Point-to-point or Point-to-multipoint mode. This mode can bridge the AP and up to 4 APs also in bridge mode to connect two or more wired LANs.
For the wireless connection security, you can easily setup a WPA encrypted secure connection at a push of the QSS button. It also supports Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) to assure the quality of VoIP and multimedia streaming.
How to Setup and Configure TL-WA901ND
Installation and setting up are easy tasks to do with the included installation wizard. Wireless client connection is easy with QSS button, it’s like WPS button in wireless broadband routers in general. The Ethernet port supports power over Ethernet (POE) capability up to 30meters to let you place the device in area where power outlet is not available.
Configuration
To configure the TL-WA901ND you need to connect it to a computer with NIC adapter enable. The default IP address of the TL-WA901ND is 192.168.1.254 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0. Therefore you need to provide static IP address to the computer with a unique IP address in the same subnet with the AP, for example 192.168.1.100 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0. How to configure the computer, you can click the DAP-1360 setting up here to see more detail similar task to change the static IP address.
Figure 2 Configuration diagram
Figure 2 shows you a connection diagram between the computer and the TL-WA901ND using the UTP network cable. To make sure that communication can take place between the two devices, use “ping” command from the DOS prompt.
C:\> ping 192.168.1.254
You should see the reply response with 0% loss.
With this connection diagram, you can start launch the web-based configuration utility by typing the TL-WA901ND default IP address 192.168.1.254 from your browser. The logon window will appear, enter the default user-name “admin” and the password “admin”.
You can start the configuration by selecting one of the operation modes based on your need. If your existing network segment of the router is different than the AP, you need to change the IP address of the TL-WA901ND with the unique IP address in the same network as the router. For example if your router IP address is 192.168.2.1 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0 then you have to change your AP with the IP address on the same subnet for example 192.168.2.254 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0.
To configure the WA-901ND as the wireless access point, you can change the operation mode of the device to the Access Point from the web-based menu and then disconnect from the computer. Then connect the AP to one of the router Ethernet ports using the UTP network cable.
To configure the device to work as the repeater to extend the network coverage of your current router for example TL-WR941ND wireless N300 router, from the web-base configuration menu change the operation mode to the repeater and type in the MAC address of your router. You can locate the MAC address (hardware address) of the router which is typically printed in the back of the router.
Connection Diagram
The figure 3 below shows an example of the deployment of TL-WA901ND which is configured as the wireless access point to create a wireless network and share the internet connection and the other device is configured as the repeater or Wireless Network Bridge to extend the network to different rooms.
Figure 3 tl-wa901nd in point to multipoint diagram
With your DSL modem with router feature or Cable modem with router feature, connect the RJ-45 Ethernet port of the modem with UTP cable in one end, while the other end to the Ethernet port of the WA-901ND which is configured as the wireless access point. With this wireless network you can extend the network to the other longer distance rooms with other WA-901ND which are configured as the repeater or the wireless network bridge.
For longer distances of the outdoor wireless access point such as metropolitan network, you can use the new version of outdoor TP-Link TL-WA5210G 2.4GHz High Power Wireless Outdoor CPE.. Or you may consider new Outdoor 5GHz wireless AP – TL-WA7510N 5GHz Outdoor N150 access point
See also:
- DAP-1350 Wireless access point and router feature
- DAP-1360 Wireless range extender by D-Link
- HOWABN1 Wireless access point, client and bridge
- Wireless access point Vs wireless router – major different
- How to choose the best wireless router for gaming
- Netgear Wn3000rp range extender
ADS:
I have the router TP-LINK TL-WR941ND and i would like to buy a access point (bridge) to reproduce router signal.
Can i use TL-WA901ND to reproduce TL-WR941ND using wireless feature (no ethernet conection between)?
Regards,
Hi Bruno,
yes you can deploy the tl-wa901nd as the wireless repeater for your tl-wr941nd
regards,
Ki
But there is another side to this question: I think what Bruno means is not reproducing wireless signal on the air but to receive signal from the router and forward it by ethernet cable the ethernet ports of the receiver and /or TV. That’s what I am interested in.ty
on Bruno’s case, the signal TX/RX is transmitted without Ethernet connection.
Victor’s case needs an Ethernet device to be connected wirelessly to the existing wireless network – in any wireless access points, you can configure the device as the bridge.
But the good solution for connecting any HDTV and blue-ray players to wireless is the Universal WiFi Internet Adapter WNCE2001 – in amazon
I have curiosity on how to extend wireless coverage. As I know we can apply repeater to reproduce signal, but is it a must to set up access point first in order to deploy repeater. Another question is what are the different function between wireless router and access point since both them are actually to broadcast local network wirelessly.
Regards
Hermen Ag
A repeater is just to reproduce the existing ‘wireless’ signal to go further – longer distance coverage. You need ‘wireless’ either from your wireless router or wireless AP and repeat the signal using the ‘repeater’. Many AP devices have multifunction operation modes including wireless AP, bridge, repeater, and wds bridge.
The main different between the wireless router and the wireless AP is about security and the ‘NAT’ function to share a single internet connection. Read more detail about AP Vs wireless router. Both create wireless LAN, but you cannot deploy wireless AP direct to a modem. You can connect the AP to the modem with routing function.
Ki
if I have a adsl modem router at my bedroom and I have no way to connect the network with the cable from my living room, is Bridge with AP mode the right one?
in my living room there are 3 devices:
-ps3
-dell zino for my boxee
-whs for the storage
can I connect this 3 devices with my gigabit switch then to TP WA901ND ?
If yes, should I set it up as bridge?
Need suggestions. I’m not too familiar with accesspoint or bridge. it all looks similar.
Yes you can configure the TL-WA901ND as the bridge and connect to the switch where the 3 devices are connected to it. Or you can also consider the following:
Airstation WLI-TX4-AG300N Wireless N Dual Band Adapter or TEW-640 300Mbps Wireless Media Bridge. Both have 4 Ethernet ports to let you connect up to 4 ethernet based devices to the wlan.
Ki
pls can u tell me the range of TL-WR941ND and TL-WR841ND in metres. thank you.
The TL-WR941ND spec doesn’t specify specifically for the range coverage, but it includes 3x 3dBi Detachable Omni Directional Antennas for better range and speed. In the real world of wireless, the wireless routers never reach the ideal speed they specify in the manufacturer’s specs. Speed and range depend on many environment factors.
Boa tarde
Comprei um 901nd para usar como repetidor. ocorre que não consigo configurar. O sinal que chega fraco esta protegido po senha, já até tirei a proteção da rede mas nada de funcionar. Tem como ensinar passo a passo?
Obrigado
@Gilberto: Can anyone translate this comment please …I have no idea what language it is?
What if i want to use it as a repeater and client mode for my xbox at the same time? Possible? Maybe another firmware
@frank:
sounds great idea, two operation modes work at the same time. Theoritically you can’t unless you can tweak it with dd-wrt (probably) because in wireless repeater you leave the ethernet port open.
Actually there couple of devices that work as wireless repeater and include five ethernet ports for wired connection to the repeater: Amped SR300 or SR150. Or you can also consider D-Link wifi booster dap-1525
Ref. Gilberto:
Neither portuguese nor english is my native tongue but I will try to translate Gilberto’s question:
——————-
Good afternoon,
I bought a WA901ND to use as a repeater and I have problems configuring it. It came with a weak protection of the signal so I increased the protection but nothing works. Can you, please, help me with a step by step instruction on how to configure it?
Thanks
——————–
Torsten
@Torsten: thanks for the translation Torsten. I think the article has been update with the configuration steps.
1. record your router IP address (as the default gateway)using ipconfig command and also record the MAC address of the router (gnerally printed beneath the router)
2. connect the device to the computer using UTP network cable configure the davice as the repeater – enter the MAC address of the router.
3. place in dead spot area within the router coverage
These steps sholud be appropriate and make sure you have the user manual with you for detail instructions
I have a question of my own. I have recently bought a TP-Link WA901ND access point that have a few interesting tricks up it´s sleeve. I would like to use it in “Client Mode” which is like a reversed access point mode. You connect an ethernet enabled device (f.ex. computer or NAS) to it and that connects the device to your wireless network. Typically you do this to avoid installing cables to remote areas of your house. The thing is that it doesn´t work! On paper it´s dead easy. My question is: have anyone ever got the WA901ND to work in Client Mode and if so, how?
wireless client mode is nearly the same as the wireless bridge mode, pointing the device to the AP MAC address you would like the client to connect to. Which part is “failed”? Generally the problem exists if the subnet network is different.
@John: The wireless networks to chose from shows up and I select mine (one of them) and the device fills in SSID and MAC automatically. The computer that I connect to the WA901ND doesn´t get and IP address and I can´t ping the WA901ND, router or anything. The same happens if I give the computer a static IP address, I have also tried both DHCP and static IP for the WA901ND. It seems like the WA901ND doesn´t connect to my wireless network. Yesterday I tried it as an AP and that worked perfectly.
@Torsten:
did you check the default gateway? it should point to the IP address of your router /AP which your AP connect to? Make sure the IP address in the same subnet as your network and if static address is used, make sure this ip address is excluded from your router dhcp server. And the gateway is filled with the ip address of your current router.
Today I set the WA901ND up as a Universal Router, which achieved what I wanted, and that worked like a charm. The odd thing is that the settings are exactly the same as for the Client Mode. It seems like Client Mode is a non functioning mode!
Hi,
Thanks for the article,
I have just purchased a TL-WA901ND but a little unsure on the correct mode of operation to use.
I have a netopia router and a netgear switch for some various LAN devices around the home. I got the TL-WA901ND as the wireless signal wasn’t reaching downstairs from the existing router.
What i want to do is connect the TL-WA901ND to the switch (so it can communicate with the router and receive a broadband connection)
This physically is not a problem as the house is wired for cat5e anyway.
I just seem unsuccesful at setting the correct mode for the TL-WA901ND!
my router address is 192.168.1.254 – i changed the TL-WA901ND to 192.168.253 so fine no conflict there.
i would prefer the TL-WA901ND only use one ip address with the router for cclients and manage dhcp itself instead of the router taking on all the work of LAN devices and the wireless connections- is this possible?
Anyway if you could point me in the right direction with the mode that would be super! thank you kindly
@Jasper:
Since you allready have lan cable infrastructure in place, you better configure the TL-WA901ND in wireless AP mode downstairs.
you can manage TL-WA901ND dhcp enable for clients with ip scope not to overlap with the router dhcp scope. for example the TL-WA901ND scope is 192.168.1.70 until 192.168.1.100 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and gateway 192.168.1.254 (your router ip).
dhcp for router scope 192.168.1.1 until 192.168.1.60 subnet mask 255.255.255.0 – that will not overlap each other. see how it goes
Hi,
@Jasper
@Levy,
what types of switch did you use? or did you use the router that support vlan? is there any router which the switch-ports support vlan? I read the review somewhere about buffalo wzr-hp-ag300 that supports vlan, not sure.
Hi friends, help please – which mode to connect 2 TL-WA901ND to TL-WR941ND to make access control for hosts on TL-WR941ND ? Access control on TL-WR941ND don’t work for hosts connected to TL-WA901ND on mode acces point. Sorry for my english !
Thanks in advance
@Victor:
Do you mean to extend the coverage of your existing WR941nd wireless router by using tl-wa901nd? Instead of configuring the tl-wa901nd as the wireless access point by connecting it using the ethernet port, why don’t you just configure it as the wireless repeater?
@Jack:
“Do you mean to extend the coverage of your existing WR941nd wireless router by using tl-wa901nd?”:
- This is the first ! Second, i want to run acces control on 951 for hosts connected on 901.
“Instead of configuring the tl-wa901nd as the wireless access point by connecting it using the ethernet port, why don’t you just configure it as the wireless repeater?” :
- I read documentation and i see WDS technology run only using wifi, i am using ethernet cable to connect 901 to 951 because 1-901 too far from the 951 and especially 2-901!
@Victor:
I assume the wr941nd (not 951)in your statement. Ok, controlling the access for wa901nd as the wireless access point from the wr941, I think the easiest way you should logon to the wa901 from your PC connected to your wr941 via the internet browser. If you did’t not change the default ip address of the wa901 it should be 192.168.1.254. You can control the access for wireless clients connected to wa901 based on the MAC address filter.
You can enable the filter and add the MAC adderss for clients to grant access to your wa901nd.
This what I can figure out with your problem, or I miss-understanding with you.
@Jack:
I’m sorry I was wrong, of course, 941.
“You can control the access for wireless clients connected to wa901 based on the MAC address filter.”
I need to control access to the Internet of hosts connected to 901(Access Control Rule Management) on 941
@Victor: I don’t think you can manage access control for wa901 clients (which is configured as the AP, right?) on wr941 because each router and wa901 has their own SSID. In repeater mode the SSID is the same, but not in AP mode.
@Jack: Thank you very much for answering my comments !
My problem is close by Jack !!!
Hi, Ive got this Ap and a tplink adsl wireless router. However i am trying to setup the wa901nd as a wireless bridge but also as both a wireless and wired access point. I have tried all the configs and the AP mode works best but what i dont understand is why i cant enable wpa security? The options are there to select when you input the main routers details but it wont connect if wpa is enabled on the main router….as it has to be in open or shared mode? the only encryption available is wep, but that drops the signal down to 54g only! it may be ab issue with the main tp link adsl router.
hopefully a firmware update will reoslve this as i dont see the point of a n speed router that you cant enable wpa on or run a n speeds!
regards
Hayy guys i have this router
But can any one tell how th eport forwarding works because i cant find it :S
@Josh:
You mean TL-WA901ND access point or other router? If the wireless access point (TL-WA901ND), I don’t think that the wireless AP device has port forwarding feature, but the router has port forwarding and or DMZ feature. Because port forwarding relates to NAT or firewall that maps internal address to public address, or maps internal port to public ip address. Tell me if I am wrong …!
Hi guys. I purchased 2 of these TL-WA901ND today becouse I’ve installed a new network printer on my wife’s desk which is far away from my network equipment. What I did was to configure one WA901ND (the one close to my router/switch) as the AP and the other one (with the wired printer) as a Client. At first it went smooth but after half an hour, the Client begun to run very slow, to the point where I had to bring it to my desk, reset it to its default values and start over. Please correct me if I’m wrong about the following settings:
- Both APs with static IPs using my router’s IP address as the gateway
- Both APs with DHCP disabled
- Router’s DHCP server enabled providing static IP addresses to all devices (but APs as they have static IPs)
Does this sounds right? I think they do but still, 200ms of latency (with luck) and 3 minutes to start printing a single page on a brand new laser! And of course trying to configure it wirelessly took forever.
Hi Cesar:
1. assure that both static iP address are unique (default is 192.168.1.254) and at the same subnet as the router.
2. the other w901nd with the printer, you should enable the dhcp – your printer need an IP address. Is the printer include an ethernet port? if so, it has a default IP address, make sure the ip address of the printer is within the same subnet and unique with the same subnet mask as other clients.
hi everyone
i bought a WA901ND, how do i connect WA901ND to my main router (DLink DIR615) wirelessly. Because i have 1 unit of CCTV recorder which located at ground floor, Network cable cannot reach from cctv to Router (DIR615). So that
i need to connect my cctv to nearest WA901ND LAN port and IP address should follow the main router because of portfowarding only support on main router. please advice
DIR 615 : 192.168.0.1 (Main)
WA901ND : 192.168.1.254 (secondary)
@Steve, to connect your CCTV, normally you can configure the wa901 as the wireless bridge with the MAC address of your router as the target MAC. but firstly you need to configure your wa901nd to have the IP address with the same subnet as the router for example 192.168.0.254
(Jack
November 16th, 2011 at 12:25 am
@Steve, to connect your CCTV, normally you can configure the wa901 as the wireless bridge with the MAC address of your router as the target MAC. but firstly you need to configure your wa901nd to have the IP address with the same subnet as the router for example 192.168.0.254)
DIR615 192.168.0.1 (Main)
WA901ND 192.168.0.2 (Wireless Bridge)
im still facing problem with my CCTV connection, MAC Address done already.
1)do i need to set both Router wireless security to WEP and Same Password ?
2) do i need to disable DHCP on WA901ND ?
@Steve:
You have already changed the IPs. Now, security yes you need to make them matched and if you are not sure if the bridge has been functional or not, you can test with your laptop as the wireless client and “ping” to the router IP address, see if it is successfull with no rto (request time out).
2. dhcp? can you review your cctv what the ip address is? is the cctv ip address can be changed? if so, you can change the ip to be in the same subnet as the current network, say 192.168.0.3 for example. I’am not sure if your cctv can be a dhcp client, but having a fix ip address of the cctv is a best practice for administration purposes. if you can configure with the static ip address, you have no reason enabling the dhcp server in wa901.
Hi,
Can anyone give details on how to make power over ethernet work for the WA901ND?
This is what I did, but it does not work (no power light on the AP):
1. Connected the POE box that came with the AP to my ISP router on the LAN port.
2. Connected the AP to the POE box on the POE port (via a 10m cable inside the walls).
3. Provided the POE box with power from a normal power outlet.
Is that how it should be done?
Could it be that the cable in my walls is not good enough?
Thanks.
br
Jorgensen
@Jorgensen:
normally POE configuration should be like this:
1. one POE box is connected to the router – plug POE to the power outlet and UTP cable from POE to the router LAN port.
2. Plug the other POE box to the power outlet, connect the LAN port in POE using UTP cable to the AP ethernet port
3. typically there is a sync button to activate the connection
This AP device should be configured first to work as the wireless AP.
Jack: Thanks for your answer. There was only one POE box included. I think it is an POE injector. br J.
Jorgensen: I apologize for the answer, I was not with you. I was thinking it was powerline adapter, I am sorry. It is a POE injector right? It should work with your configuration if that in the wall cable is OK …test the cable with your laptop and the other end to the router LAN port and see if it works.
Please let me ho to configure WA901ND as repeater mode i have 4
access point to boost the signal. for all i have to set one access point or different base point.
Ramesh, you have four APs to cover large area or what? If you would like to cover large area with your four APs, you can configure them as WDS bridge or point-to-multipoint bridge as shown in the above diagram.
Hi, I have the WA901ND which is used as an access point for my Onelink modem which is not wireless. I am having a problem. I cannot seem to connect all of my computers (only one at a time). Does this have to do with the router.? We had called onelink and they saidthe router is the problem. Please help..
knowing that you have only one connection at a time, your modem is the modem-only device. which means the modem does not have the routing function. Make sure that you have the modem with routing function. The modem-only device should connect to the wireless router, not a wireless AP.
Explain it to me in plain english please xD. I know I do not know you but I will be willing to give you my number for better help. I didn’t quite get it. It the first time I use the Tp-link as a AP.