Help with WAP11 as Access Point Client 1

[sagobogger]

I have a mixed wired and wireless network using a version 2.2 WAP11 as the WAP. I have a second WAP11 (version 2.8) that I would like to use as an access point client to add a couple of PC's in a non-wired location.

I've followed all the instructions I could find to make this work, but I can't get a connection to the network from a PC connected to the 2nd WAP11. I've emailed linksys twice with no response (whatever happened to 24 hours?).

Does anyone have this configuration working?

Thanks

 

[bcastner]

On the downstream Access Point where you connect to the remote LAN segment, you should configure it as an Access Point Client and put the MAC address of the upstream Access Point in the field called the preferred BSS. The MAC is a 12-character address and can be found in its Status screen (shown in the field called Ethernet address) or printed on a label under the WAP11. Access Point Client mode is a recently added feature so you'll need to make sure you have firmware version 1.4i1 or newer to take advantage of it. The WAP11 will only work as an Access Point Client with other WAP11 access points. It won't work downstream from any other wireless devices, even with the Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless router.

If you have a single Ethernet device you want to bridge into your network, you'll need to use a crossover CAT5 cable between it and the remote WAP11. However, if there are other devices you would also like to network in the same location, you can use regular CAT5 cables and a hub such as the 5-port Linksys EFAH05W to get all the devices connected to the hub and then to the remote WAP11.

 

[sagobogger]

So far as connection (I used a hub) and set up that's exactly what I did.

Regarding the firmware, do you know if the version requirement applies to both the WAP and the Client, or just the Client? I'm wondering if maybe the older version (2.2) of the WAP could be the problem?

 

[bcastner]

The WAP11 2.2 uses a TI chipset instead of the ATMEL chipset used in all other versions. Originally, it would not act in client mode for the WAP 1.1 version, but that was supposedly fixed in firmware.

Update both WAP11s to current firmware, and test again:

http://www.linksys.com/download/firmware.asp?fwid=11

 

[sagobogger]

It worked, thanks! Updated firmware and then got it working as a replacement WAP first, so I knew the all the settings were OK, then converted it to a client.

 

[bstrom53]

Hi Sagobogger,
I have the identical setup and experienced the same probs. Did you load the same firmware into both the 2.2 and the 2.8 using the link from bcastner? Linksys shows the newest firmware for the 2.2 is ver. 1.1. The link shows version 1.4i.1. Is this for the 2.8 only?
Could you tell me which firmware version went in which wap?
Thanks a bunch! bstrom

 

[bcastner]

Yes, upgrade both to the newer firmware. Linksys a while ago began the process of creating reference firmware (so that it was hardware version independent). This has worked for many (not all) of their product line.

Do the firmware standardization I recommended above.

 

[sagobogger]

I'm not much of a networking expert and I think the real key for ME to get this working was to set up the second WAP as a WAP first, and then change its settings to be a client. I think there may be a conflict or "who's on first" issue that I was not smart enough to recognize or resolve when trying to put it unconfigured on the network and immediately get it working as a client. I'm not at that site so I can't tell you the firmware versions, they were the latest available for each model acc to linksys, I don't think they were the same though.

 

[bcastner]

I do not question what worked for you.
I have rolled out a ton of these boxes in client mode, and what confounds many users is the device has several MAC addresses.

You want the Wireless one.

 

[sagobogger]

Oh, I know I must have screwed it up and then got sidetracked on the version thing instead of proceeding logically...

Do you mean the "Remote AP MAC Address"? Isn't that just the MAC off the label?

 

[dishinstallers]

OK i need a little help. I downloaded the link that was provided to upgrade to 1.4i1, but have yet to figure out how to actually apply the upgrade to the wap11. I have 2 wap11 2.2's and one wap11 v 2.8. I am trying to get my satellite internet signal across the yard into my neighbor's house. I am not sure what settings I need to use on the 2 units I end up using. The neighbor will be using a laptop at their house. Any specific instructions on how to complete the upgrade would be helpful. Thanks.

My wap11's are connected to my network via cat 5 cable to my netgear router.

Thanks!