Thursday, July 4, 2013

Configuring Linksys WRT54G router as AP




One of the advantages that wireless internet has brought is to reduce the messy laying of cable around one's premises. With Wi-Fi wireless connections, one can easily connect to the router without the hassle of laying CAT5/CAT6 ethernet LAN cables.

However, there is some downside using wireless. When one moves around the house or office, there are certain spots where the wireless signal gets weaker especially when once moves away from the router and behind a wall. This is explainable as wireless signal will loose its signal strength when it travels through a concrete wall.

I have been thinking of improving the wireless signal at my home. One way is to purchase a stronger wireless router, a newer model, Wireless N. However this doesn't seem to help much. I was told that certain models router that have 9dbi signal capability are able to boost its signal. I have not tried those however review seems true.

Here's the setup to configure a Linksys WRT54G as a AP router. Importantly you need to disable the DHCP in the AP router. This is because DHCP is already been used in the primary router. The connection between the two routers are via ethernet LAN cable. And they need to be connected in the LAN port not the WAN.



 Click on Setup --> Advance Routing.
Drop down box, select "Router" instead of "Gateway".
RIP: Both
Interface: LAN& Wireless

You are done! Reboot both router.

As for Wireless configuration, Use the same SSID, different channel, preferably Channel 2 & 5 or Channel 3 and 6. You need to set the same authentication method ie. AES or TKIP if you using WPA2-Personal encryption.

I have some issues with the WPA2-Personal encryption with my 2Wire router. I need to get to WEP-Open in order to get both routers working with one as the AP.

Let me know if you have any issues if I can help.


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