Ethernet To WiFi Bridge

instructables
Ethernet to WiFi Bridge
by TecnoProfesor
This project will show you how to con gure a Raspberry Pi 4 as a bridge, not as a router.
Why as a bridge? The students at my high schooll can access to internet using a wi network or using a di erent ethernet
network. However the wi network has a lot of problems of stability. One of the solution we thought, was to use a
Raspberry Pi con gured as a bridge to allow temporary our wireless devices to access Internet while the problems of
stability are xed.
In other words, the Raspberry Pi would create a wi network to access Internet through the ISP´s router of our stable
ethernet network.
By de nition, a bridge connects two local networks within a single domain, using Media Access Control (MAC) addresses
to determine destinations. Bridge tra c is non-routable, meaning data cannot move outside of the joined networks, or
domain.
Moreover, this project can be useful if you want to connect wireless devices to a wired network.
Of course, this instructable could be a good STEAM project for your IT students with the following tasks:
Use Tinkercad to design a box for the Raspberry Pi and the 5V charger
Install and con gure the Raspberry Pi OS
Install and con gure RaspAP
Mount the Ethernet to WiFi bridge
Test it
I hope be usefeul for somebody

Supplies:
Raspberry Pi 4
USB-A to USB-C cable (8 inches)
5V 3A USB-C charger
Heatsink case for the Raspberry Pi 4
Ethernet to WiFi Bridge: Page 1

Step 1: Use Tinkercad to Design a Box
The goal of this task is to design a special box for the RaspBerry Pi 4, the charger and the USB-A to USB-C cable
https://www.instructables.comhttps://www.tinkercad.com/things/alTQa2YCSkF

Step 2: Install and Configure the Raspberry Pi OS
Install Raspberry Pi OS using Raspberry Pi Imager

Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager to a computer with an SD card reader. Put the SD card you'll use with your
Raspberry Pi into the reader and run Raspberry Pi Imager.
Download the latest version of Raspberry Pi Imager and install it. Then:
Connect an SD card reader with the SD card inside.
Open Raspberry Pi Imager and choose the required OS from the list presented.
Choose the SD card you wish to write your image to.
Review your selections and click on the Write button to begin writing data to the SD Card.
Step 3: Install and Configure RaspAP

RaspAP is feature-rich wireless router software that just works on many popular Debian-based devices, including the
Raspberry Pi.
Update RPi OS to its latest version, including the kernel and rmware, followed by a reboot:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get full-upgrade
sudo reboot
Set the WiFi country in raspi-con g's Localisation Options: sudo raspi-con g
Install RaspAP from your device's shell prompt:
curl -sL https://install.raspap.com | bash
The Quick installer will complete the steps for you.

After the reboot at the end of the installation the wireless AP network will be con gured as follows:
IP address: 10.3.141.1
Username: admin
Password: secret
DHCP range: 10.3.141.50 to 10.3.141.254
SSID: raspi-webgui
Password: ChangeMe
Your AP's basic settings and many advanced options are now ready to be modi ed by RaspAP.
By default RaspAP con gures a routed AP as its hotspot, but in this project we want to con gure it as a bridge AP where
our upstream router assign IP addresses.
To toggle bridged AP mode we have to do the following:
Using a web browser type the default 10.3.141.1 address (Username: admin, Password: secret)
In the RaspAP web interface, go to Hotspot > Advanced tab,
Slide the Bridged AP mode toggle
Con gure your SSID, Channel, Wireless Mode and your Security Settings (see images)
Save settings
Restart hotspot
Once the Raspberry Pi 4 has been restarted, if you try to access the web interface in bridged AP mode, you will no longer
be able to access RaspAP's web interface using the default 10.3.141.1 address. Instead, access RaspAP's web interface by
entering your RPi's hostname followed by .local. By default this will look like raspberrypi.local.

Step 4: Mount the Ethernet to WiFi Bridge

Step 5: Testing the Device
In this test I have con gurated the Raspberry Pi as a bridge using the wlan0 and eth0 interfaces (SSID: Bridge_Ethe_Wi ).
In the other images you can see how the new WiFi network is available for the wireless devices.

As a 10 year network engineer - PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.
What you're doing here, is telling people how to build an access point that they manage
themselves. In any Enterprise size operation, this would be a MASSIVE security violation. If I
detected one of these on any network I've managed, I'd confiscate it immediately, report it to my
CSO, and we'd likely quarantine any machine that used it. The risks involved with domain joined
machines bypassing all security protocols cannot be understated. This is how cyber attacks and
data breaches occur.
Security vulnerabilities aside, if the environment's wireless coverage is already unstable - then
adding an unmanaged new wireless network will only add to the problem. Yes ethernet will
always be more stable and reliable than ANY wireless connection, but no, adding a new wireless
network will not magically improve wireless.
If your school/business has a problem with wireless, report it to your network engineer. They'll
troubleshoot with you, and figure out what is needed to improve it. If your organization doesn't
staff a dedicated network person, wireless coverage/instability should be addressed using
managed APs, that keep all traffic going out the same router/firewall.
If you want to improve wireless, get another or better access point. Cisco and Meraki (in my
opinion) make some of the best. The Meraki portal is very user friendly, and someone with basic
IP/Network knowledge could design and deploy it.
Very good point. Something like this would have triggered a security breach in my old workplace
too.
Neat..problem is RPi cost over $100 these days...did a quick search on amazon for wifi bridge
module and found a few for like $25...
I sure wish the daggum chip shortage for RPi would end! Especially for the RPi02W
This looks amazing but maybe you can give me some information on how to do this with a USB
3.0 powerd hub
Thank you for your comment.
Yes. You only have to check the electrical features of your powered hub. The outputs must be 5V
and at least 3A (15 W).
Will this work the other way? I will be moving soon and if ethernet is not available I want to be
able to connect the bridge to the existing network and plug my equipment into the ethernet ports
on the bridge.
Beautiful. Really beautiful.
But, here in my country, the Pi is pretty expensive, so I found more affordable to take an off the
shelf chinese wifi router and use it as an AP.
no ventilation? large heat sink, and 2 fans. but no air intake or exhaust? if it actually gets hot, to
need those preventative measures. dont you think it needs a way to get un heated air inside and
let the hot air out?
Thanks for your comment.
If you move the Tinkercad design, you will see the box is opened for one side. This side is
thinking to access to the rest of the connectors of the Raspberry
Anyway you can open several holes on the plastic tape to ventilate.
Excellent write up.

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instructables

Ethernet to WiFi Bridge

I hope be usefeul for somebody

Ethernet to WiFi Bridge: Page 1

Ethernet to WiFi Bridge: Page 3

Install Raspberry Pi OS using Raspberry Pi Imager

Step 3: Install and Conﬁgure RaspAP

Ethernet to WiFi Bridge: Page 4

The Quick installer will complete the steps for you.

Ethernet to WiFi Bridge: Page 5

Ethernet to WiFi Bridge: Page 8

Ethernet to WiFi Bridge: Page 13

Ethernet to WiFi Bridge: Page 17

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