08-12-2007, 02:12 PM | #1 (permalink) |
Go faster!
Location: Wisconsin
|
Wireless expansion ?'s
I currently have a Linksys WRT54G router in my house for two machines that are wireless in the house. I have a detached garage that is definitely getting weak reception. What I WANT to do is run a Cat6 cable out there, because I am going to put another desktop machine out there. But, if I have people over working on cars, I'd like to be able to have 'em be able to hook up to the network wireless.
Can I put another wireless router out there, and hook up the cable from the router in the house to the WAN port on the router in the garage, and have it get an IP address automatically (I am using DHCP), and then have it set up like normal from there? I need both wired and wireless if I'm gonna do what I want. Thanks.
__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised. |
08-12-2007, 02:28 PM | #2 (permalink) |
Adequate
Location: In my angry-dome.
|
Yes, it'll work but use a different SSID on a channel at least two away from your first radio.
Alternately you could set up a distributed system where the 2nd WAP is essentially a repeater of the first. Experiment with positions, maybe even up in the attic to improve the reception from the first radio. That would save you the effort of cabling and you would have one larger wireless network at the expense of slightly reduced bandwidth and security. For WDS you need to buy a WDSable access point (Special Linksys or other). That usually means using an alternate firmware. Most of the current store-stocked units besides Buffalo are cost-reduced versions that can barely count to 10. Buffalo has great options at good prices. For instance, the WHR-G54S can usually be had for $39, flashed with Tomato or alternate at which point they really come to life.
__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195 |
08-12-2007, 03:15 PM | #3 (permalink) |
Go faster!
Location: Wisconsin
|
How do you set up a second WAP to be a repeater? Does it get wired in?
What is WDS? I know Newegg has a Linksys WRT54GL that is based on Linux. The one I have now is a fifth revision which is NOT a Linux powered box.
__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised. |
08-12-2007, 03:34 PM | #4 (permalink) |
Adequate
Location: In my angry-dome.
|
No wires required. WDS (wireless distribution system) is used to repeat the network one or more times. It works nicely to wirelessly extend a WLAN, but:
- Each hop halves the bandwidth. Your scenario would burn 1/2 the natural bandwidth moving the extra traffic. (not a big deal unless you're sharing files locally) - Many implementations are stuck at weak WEP encryption (Dynamic keys are out altogether unless you go with an enterprise solution) (This wasn't really handled well in 802.11 so fixes are best effort or proprietary) I can't remember now if the the WRT54G v5 can serve a Tomato radio with WPA encryption but the GL version can, using alternate firmware. Buffalo radios have become popular because they're faster, a bit more reliable, have more RAM, are less expensive, and have more features even with the stock firmware.
__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195 |
08-12-2007, 05:19 PM | #5 (permalink) |
Go faster!
Location: Wisconsin
|
OK. I'll look at the Buffalo solutions, then. If nothing else, I don't have a problem running Cat6 out to the garage to another wireless router. If I only needed one or the other connectivity options, this would be easier. I'll definitely look at the unit you told me about. Thanks.
__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised. |
08-12-2007, 06:47 PM | #6 (permalink) |
Kick Ass Kunoichi
Location: Oregon
|
I have a Buffalo wireless router: http://www.buffalotech.com/products/...-gain-antenna/
...love love love it. I can get the signal anywhere in my house and at the coffeeshop across the street. We use it as both a wired and wireless router. I've used the Linksys WRT54G, and found it gave a weak signal by comparison. We used it at my former workplace, and it was pretty useless.
__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
08-12-2007, 06:49 PM | #7 (permalink) |
Go faster!
Location: Wisconsin
|
Yeah, my Linksys is only 80' from the garage, and up high. There's only two walls to go through. You'd think it'd do better. It doesn't. Thanks for the info, y'all.
__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised. |
08-13-2007, 06:48 AM | #8 (permalink) | |
Adequate
Location: In my angry-dome.
|
Quote:
__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195 |
|
08-13-2007, 10:31 AM | #9 (permalink) |
Go faster!
Location: Wisconsin
|
Yeah, I'm gonna bury it in conduit. I have some stepping stones out back between the house & garage that the previous owner put down, and they need to come up. When they do, down goes the conduit and Cat6.
__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised. |
08-14-2007, 09:38 PM | #10 (permalink) |
Insane
|
If you already have the WRT54G, you might want to try an alternate firmware that allows you to turn the power up a bit. DD-WRT gives you a bunch of options that the Linksys firmware does not.
If you run ethernet to another wireless router, just plug the cable into one of the switch ports and set up the wireless side. You don't need to set up DHCP or anything on the second router because it will basically just be acting as a switch. |
08-15-2007, 06:53 AM | #11 (permalink) |
Professional Loafer
Location: texas
|
I would suggest installing DD-WRT on the router and then buying two 7 - 9 dBi antennas. I have two 9dbi antennas on my Cisco 871w and can get signal almost a full block away.
__________________
"You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane." |
08-15-2007, 05:11 PM | #12 (permalink) |
Go faster!
Location: Wisconsin
|
As far as I know, there are no alternate firmware versions for the V5 WRT54G. I tried uploading one for a V4, but the V5 isn't Linux based, which throws that out the window. I am still running on the factory antenna. Hadn't even thought about that.
__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised. |
08-16-2007, 07:04 PM | #14 (permalink) |
Go faster!
Location: Wisconsin
|
I see. This, I did not know. I've had the router for a year or so now, so I don't know what is new since then.
I did find some stuff on WRTrouters.com that I am going to try. We'll see how it goes. If I can get more power out of it, and I'll get those antenna, too, then maybe I won't have to worry about much. Though, the machine in the garage won't take a wireless NIC, I don't think. An IBM PC300GL with a Pentium MMX 166 with a 2.4GB HDD, 80MB RAM, and XP Pro... EDIT 1: Tried it...fried it. EDIT 2: Where are you finding the Buffalo WHR-G54S at? Newegg carries them, but is out of stock. Mwave and Tiger don't carry them. I can't believe I bricked a router. That sucks.
__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised. Last edited by DEI37; 08-16-2007 at 08:51 PM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost |
08-17-2007, 07:09 AM | #15 (permalink) |
Professional Loafer
Location: texas
|
The reason the V5 isn't really hackable is because it runs VxWorks, with very minimal hardware. You can though get the WRT54G-5L which runs linux.
I would advise you to look at the following two sites for help with the V5 router. With version 5, you can run DD-WRT micro and the second site below seems to have all of that information. http://www.bitsum.com/openwiking/owb...?WRT54G5%5FCFE http://www.scorpiontek.org/portal/content/view/27/36
__________________
"You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane." |
08-18-2007, 07:03 PM | #16 (permalink) |
Insane
|
Sorry to hear you bricked it. Done that myself and it sucks.
If the box you have has an open PCI slot it will take a wireless card. Damn, running XP pro on a Pentium 166 with a 2.4 gig hard drive... I prefer to run win2k on my slower (less then 600Mhz) machines. I still prefer the WRT54GL's over dlink because I can tweak power and run SNMP along with options that DD-WRT gives you. |
08-19-2007, 10:42 AM | #17 (permalink) |
Go faster!
Location: Wisconsin
|
Hmm. If I can get a WRT54GL, or the Buffalo mentioned, then maybe I'll be alright. Combine it with larger anntanna, and maybe I won't have to worry about it. I'll find out when I replace this brick I made.
__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised. |
09-14-2007, 04:18 PM | #18 (permalink) |
Go faster!
Location: Wisconsin
|
OK...to resurrect this, I am finding a Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 that is recommended over the WRT54GL. Does anybody have ANY experience with this particular router? I'm really looking at it hard, and the price is within a couple dollars either way, so money won't be the deciding factor.
__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised. |
09-16-2007, 06:54 PM | #19 (permalink) |
I'm a family man - I run a family business.
Location: Wilson, NC
|
I may be missing something, but why not just get a Cantenna and aim it at your garage?
http://www.cantenna.com/ Alternatively, you could just get a wireless access point. Both of these solutions seem tons easier than everything mentioned so far. The WAP will only work if you have a pretty good line of sight.
__________________
Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush. |
Tags |
expansion, wireless |
|
|