Connecting Ethernet devices to the internet using a wireless Ethernet bridge

In our house the PS3 is not just for gaming. It’s used as a media center, web radio (Pandora.com works nicely), and DVD player among other things (it only does everything, remember?) We rent movies from PSN, use PS3 Media Server to download or stream music, video, and pictures from a Windows PC, and yes, sometimes we actually game (or I do.) At first we used the PS3′s built in wireless to connect to the access point, a Linksys WRT54GS v1 running Tomato 1.27. The problem is the PS3 sits in a cabinet on the opposite floor/wall from the office where the AP resides. Basically, it’s as far away as you can get in a 2500sq² house. Because of this, throughput was averaging 5 – 8Mbps with ~70ms ping times. This is (barely) adequate for gaming, but not much else. Downloads from the PC or internet took seemingly forever, and whenever we rented a movie from PSN we had to wait 20 minutes before we could start watching lest we be interrupted when the buffer ran out. What could be done to improve this?

In my quest for faster throughput I had some alternatives:

1. Hardwire Ethernet from my office to the PS3
2. A Powerline Network Adapter Kit (Ethernet over your homes existing electrical wiring)
3. Get a gaming adapter such as the Linksys WET610N
4. Get a Linksys WRT54GL and use it to extend the wireless network
5. Get a Linksys WRT54GL and use it as a wireless bridge

Hardwiring wasn’t really an option since the areas I would need access to were unaccessible. I tried the powerline adapter route, but the throughput was terrible. I also didn’t want to spend $80+ on a gaming adapter with only one port and limited functionality in case I decide to connect our satellite receiver or some other device (a switch would work, but that’s more clutter). This left me with option 3 or 4. I decided to get the WRT54GL and try both.

I purchased the WRT54GL ($60 new at most places), flashed it with Tomato 1.27, and went to work. First, I placed it halfway between the AP and PS3 and configured it as a wireless repeater. The results were disappointing to say the least. Throughput to the PS3 (connected to the repeater) was 3 – 5Mbps, and seemed very unstable. I continued to tweak the config, but couldn’t do much better. The problem with a repeater is it has to send and receive to/from the AP as well as the destination (the PS3.) This means that throughput is essentially cut in half. I knew this beforehand, but was hoping the extra boost would compensate.

I didn’t have high hopes for the Ethernet bridge approach. How much more signal could the router pull as opposed to the PS3? I configured the router to act as a bridge, connected it to the PS3, fired up the PS3 web browser, and browsed to speedtest.net. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. The ping was 35ms, and the speed gauge shot straight to 23Mbps before backing down to 20Mbps (the speed of the cable internet connection.) I ran some more tests and the results remained pretty consistent. Pings were 30 – 40ms and throughput was 18Mbps – 23Mbps. Throughput from the Windows PC was close to 25Mbps. We had a winner. Of course this would also work with any device requiring Ethernet (such as an XBox 360, network printer, etc.)

I’m planning to include the steps on how to do this, but so far I haven’t had the time to write them up. In the meantime I’ll point you to the tutorial I followed (and the best I found) which is over at WI-FI Planet. Take a look, and if you have any questions leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.