ZyXEL Communications NWA-3163 & NWA-3166 User Manual

Chapter 1 Introduction

NWA-3160 Series User’s Guide

In AP + Bridge mode, the NWA supports both AP and bridge connection at the 
same time.

In the figure below, A and B use X as an AP to access the wired network, while X 
and Y communicate in bridge mode.

When the NWA is in AP + Bridge mode, security between APs (WDS) is 
independent of the security between the wireless stations and the AP. If you do 
not enable WDS security, traffic between APs is not encrypted. When WDS 
security is enabled, both APs must use the same pre-shared key. 

Unless specified, the term “security settings” refers to the traffic between the 
wireless stations and the NWA.

Figure 7   AP + Bridge Application 

A Basic Service Set (BSS) is the set of devices forming a single wireless network 
(usually an access point and one or more wireless clients). The Service Set 
IDentifier (SSID) is the name of a BSS. In Multiple BSS (MBSSID) mode, the NWA 

A

B