This table contains information to help you choose the appropriate Wireless Interface Mode for your network's needs.
| A/P Mode | WDS Mode | Wireless Client Mode | Client Bridge | Repeater | Repeater Bridge | Two routers (1 Client Mode, 1 AP Mode) | |
| Requires admin access for all routers. WDS implementations must be compatible on all routers involved. | • | ||||||
| Doesn't require control over host APs/routers. You can connect to a host for which you don't have admin access. | • | • | • | • | • | ||
| Supports multiple wired client devices | • | • | • * | • | • * | • | |
| Supports multiple wireless client devices | • | • | • * | • | |||
| Bandwidth is halved for wireless clients | • | n/a | n/a | • | • | Not if you use two channels | |
| All routers and clients share the same subnet | in LAN mode | • | • | ||||
| Each router is on its own subnet with its client devices | in P2P mode | • | • | • | |||
| Creates a true transparent bridge compatible with all protocols | • | ||||||
| Uses MAC address translation (MAT/proxy ARP). Some applications and protocols that depend on MAC addresses may be incompatible and not function properly) (potential ARP problems) * | • * | • * | |||||
| Allows different SSID on a repeated network | depends on encryption choice | n/a | n/a | • | • | • | |
| Supports encryption | WEP, WPA2 (caveats) | any | any | any | any | any | |
| Can repeat signal from a wireless ISP - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? | • | • | • | ||||
| Can repeat a weak wireless signal in a hotel - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? | • | • | • | • |