Wireless bridge devices are used to connect two separate networks in order to allow them to share resources and internet access. They are particularly useful when linking two physically separated networks when installing a cable between them is difficult. In the usual configuration one uses two wireless bridge devices: one connected to each network and configured to create a bridge between itself and the other.

Normally, a single wireless bridge has lots of modes – wireless bridging being only one of them. These modes tend to be wireless router, wireless range extender or wireless bridge. There are, however, a small amount of good devices on the market that are committed bridges. These are often very easy to configure (compared to a multi-mode device that likely needs more in-depth set-up work).

Does your home or office have multiple isolated wired networks (on different floors perhaps)? You could find a wireless bridge helpful. bridges are often deployed when several non-wirelessly capable devices need to be linked up to an existing wireless network somewhere else in the building. In that case, all the cabled devices are linked to a bridge device, which is then configured to connect wirelessly to the primary router.

Some crucial features you would want to look out for when searching for a wireless bridge are compatibility, range and ease of setup. The next level in high-speed wireless communication is Wireless-N. This technology has the range and capacity to support the high bandwidth usage of game consoles and streaming high-definition video. Some wireless-ready devices are not Wireless-N compatible, however; in particular older devices will only work with a bridge that’s Wireless-B or Wireless-G compatible. It’s a good idea, then to buy backwards-compatible wireless bridges to avoid problems (most are, but just in case).

While shopping for a wireless bridge, knowing the length needed for the bridge is important. If the distance in question is fairly small (for example, in cases where the wireless signal already gets to the area in question but there are non-wirelessly capable devices) this wouldn’t matter much, but in the case of bigger distances for the signal to bridge a higher-quality device with good range would be in order. The best measure for this tends to be looking over user reviews to get an idea what other people have been able to achieve with a given device.

And last, it’s recommended to find a device with fairly simple installation procedures if you can. Sometimes the documentation can be slim, and if you’re not too technical minded it could end up in a real headache. Once more, this is a place where reviews by other users are a helpful place to look; additionally, sometimes looking for help on the internet will get you a good comprehensive outline to first configure your wireless bridge if you’re running into problems.