Bridge Topologies
Point-to-point configuration

When using point-to-point wireless bridges, two LANs can be located up to 40 km (25 miles) apart, as shown in Figure . However, the antennas must have line-of-site with each other. Obstacles such as buildings, trees, and hills will cause communication problems. The activity will demonstrate the necessity for line-of-sight between bridges.

In this configuration, the Ethernet segments in both buildings act as if they are a single segment. The bridge does not add to the Ethernet repeater count because this segment is viewed by the network as a cable.

Set one bridge to Root = ON and the other to Root = OFF, to enable the bridges to connect to each other.

Many corporations would like to have more bandwidth between two locations, than the 11 Mbps provided by the 802.11b standard. Currently, with Cisco IOS, it is possible to use Fast Etherchannel or multi-link trunking, to bond or aggregate up to three bridges together. This gives the customer the potential for 33 Mbps. This is illustrated by Figure .


Interactive Media Activity

Interactive Activity: Line of Sight of the Bridge

This activity demonstrates the concept of the line of sight of a bridge, or the Fresnel Zone.