WDS on an orange Pi Zero 3 + Asus AC51?

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

I have an orange Pi Zero 3 which has no a currently not supported wifi onboard.
So I bought an Asus AC51, which is supposedly well supported.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work well as WDS client.
It connects to the AP for a few seconds and then disconnects.
This is what I get in the logs:
(Reason: 7=CLASS3_FRAME_FROM_NONASSOC_STA)
Then it retries a few more times and gives up.
Is it a known problem?
Is WDS client mode even supported?

P.S
Currently running 24.10 since it seems to be the only officially supported version of Openwrt for Orange PI Zero 3

2

This begs the question:
What makes you think it's a 'client'?

Therefore, it is recommended to use OpenWrt on both the access point and repeater to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. Most wireless drivers in OpenWrt support WDS mode.

If WDS or 802.11s mesh is not an option due to access point limitations, consider using Relayd - Wireless Repeater/Extender or a simple wireless client.

3

Not sure I understand the question.
There is a main AP (which in my case is Netgear WAX202 running Openwrt (23)
The client is the orange pi zero 3 with the dongle which I am trying to connect to this WDS AP SSID I setup on the main AP.
I tried plain client, but it doesn't connect at all (even briefly like it does with WDS client).

4

It's not a client, its a repeater in WDS mode.

Please read the wiki...

Better yet:
@bluewavenet please introduce the OpenWrt Mesh11sd project.

5

You are confusingly using incorrect terminology.
A WDS link has two "ends":

  1. A logical wireless interface of type AP with WDS enabled
  2. A logical wireless interface of type STA with WDS enabled

The AP with WDS enabled will accept WDS connections from devices in range of type STA with WDS enabled.

So, for clarity, I guess by "main AP" you mean AP with WDS
and by "client" you mesn STA with WDS.

This does not make any sense at all....

1 Like
6

This is outside the context of this thread.
I would suggest you start a new thread entitled "Can I set up an Asus AC51 wireless dongle as a WDS STA?"

1 Like
7

No it is not a repeater.
I am not using the AC51 as repeater.
I merely want to use it to connect to a wifi and simply bridge the lan to wifi connection.
That is I want to use the orange pi with ac51 as wifi adapter for a device that has ethernet but needs to connect to wifi transparently.
I know that WDS has other uses, but this is my usage scenario.

Like I said, putting aside WDS, I am unable to connect with AC51 to a regular WIFI AP either.
It simply won't connect.

8

That is what a repeater is.
If it helps, another word for "repeater" is "extender".
The connection can be by ethernet, wireless, fibre optic, wet string, whatever you like.
There are numerous ways to set it up, depending on your requirements, and whether you have admin type access to the source of the network feed.

You should do some background reading.
A good place to start is:

I still say you should start a new thread, perhaps calling it "How Do I Use an ASUS usb-AC51 with my pi-zero 3?"
Then you are more likely get the help you need from people with specific experience.

9

Well I am aware of the terminology, sorry if my post sounded confusing.
I did open a new thread.
Just to clarify, what does "works in openwrt" mean in this context?
Just usage in AP mode?

10

A list of tested and known good hardware.

Nothing to do with your issues.

11

We're having trouble understanding what you want to achieve.

Let me make a guess. One possibility is that you want to use the usb-ac51, plugged into your "orange pi", as a means of getting an Internet feed from a WiFi signal that you do not have admin access to.

Yes you can do this and it is often referred to as "wireless tethering".
For this, WDS is of no use at all, because that would require that you have OpenWrt on the remote device along with admin access.

If a "wireless tethering" solution sounds like what you are trying to achieve, please say so and we can help.

If this is not what you want, we can try again to understand your requirement.

2 Likes
12

I need to use the ethernet port of the device in order to access (transparently) the same network to which the wifi will connect as a client.
I do have admin access to the wifi signal, it is running openwrt as well.
From all the tutorials I read in the past, it is my understanding that wds is the preferred method.

But to reiterate, I am unable to connect to this wifi signal to either WDS AP running there, or to a regular AP.
With WDS it connects briefly, then disconnects, then repeats a few times and then gives up.
With regular client mode, it doesn't connect at all.

13

WDS (Wireless Distribution System) is required.

You are describing a WI-Fi router /:

14

Exactly.
The only problem is, the device fails to associate properly to the WDS AP.

15

I'm confused about how you are confused.

Why are you using the wrong nomenclature after being corrected multiple times?

If we cannot agree on definitions, how do we communicate?

16

What I understood is:

  1. Op is using Netgear WAX202 with Openwrt as a router
  2. OP wants to connect wireless Orange Pi using USB adapter Asus Ac-51.
  3. OP wants to use WDS bridge, in which Wax is AP and Asus is STA.
  4. He has problem with the usb adapter connecting to the router - Wax.
    I think it is good to see what drivers the OP installed on Orange PI and what Openwrt version he/she is using.
1 Like
17

Confusion.

18

What I read is... connect Orange PI to WAX via WDS and then bridge the connection to Orange PI Lan... but I am guessing...

19

We are all guessing...

@matrix200 Please make a diagram.

20

What @Underworld said is what I need.
I want to connect orange pi to wax via wds and then bridge the connection to orange pi lan.

The problem is the wds connection just won't stay on.
It disconnects just a few seconds after it connects, then tries a few more times and then stays disconnected, until reboot or change in settings.