WAP11 for X-mas, but not sure it was what I needed. 1

[zenenigma]

My situation - I currently have a BEFW11S4 set up downstairs that is hardwired into the cable modem (of course), ReplayTV, & PS2. So I need to keep it downstairs. Also downstairs are 2 wireless PC's. They both work fine.

My problem is - upstairs the signal goes in and out in the back part of my house. When reading around, I decided to ask for a WAP11 for Xmas to put upstairs at a midway point between the router and where I lose connection.

So I unwrap, set it up, and start reading. And it seems the WAP11 will not go into repeater mode with anything except another WAP11 (meaning it won't repeat my BEFW11S4 signal). I also have another wired Linksys 4 port router that's just sitting around.

So, I need advice:

Suggestion 1) Costly - buy another WAP11. Set up my current BEFW11S4 as a non-wireless router, and hardwire it to the WAP11. Then use the second WAP11 upstairs.

Suggestion 2) Someone here will come up with a brilliant plan that involves some combination/setup of the equipment I have (BEFW11S4, Linksys 4-port wired router, and WAP11) to solve all of my problems. Which results in me making multiple screen names on this board and giving them the maximum number of starts humanly possible.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I think my wife will be rather upset if the gift she got me is now "useless".

 

[bcastner]

1. It will only repeat another WAP11

You want WDS. For this feature you need to take it back to the vendor, and purchase a WRT54G.

Then see the notes here: thread916-837246

 

[zenenigma]

Thanks for the reply. I'm off to return the WAP11 for the WRT54G.

My only concern is that the people in the thread you mentioned were using 2 WRT54G's, not a WRT54G & a regular wireless router (BEFW11S4). I assume it will work just as well (the BEF will just be doing it's normal job, whereas all the changes will be on the WRT54G).

Crossing my fingers.

 

[zenenigma]

Well for the past few hours I've been fiddling with this and it's bugged me to the point that I'm posting again.

First of all - reading what was in the other thread - I upgraded to the Sveasoft firmware for the WRT54G. Lots of new options and such in the config. However it freaks out whenever I try to change the router IP to anything other then 192.168.1.1. My other router (the BEFW11S4) is set to 192.168.254.1 - and i was hoping to do something similar to the new one.

Either way - within the documentation, I'm lost. I have my old router set up the way it needs to be. And I have it's Mac address. Finding a way to use this new WRT54G as a repeater for my old router has been hopeless so far.

Any further help would be appreciated.

I really hope I don't have to go back and make another return for more equipment.

 

[bcastner]

Rethink this issue.

Have the WRT54G as the primary router.
Your older BEFW11S4 as the repeater. DHCP disabled.

Rethink the IPs. 192.168.254.1 is not a great idea. (It is a different subnet).

WRT54G as 192.168.1.1
BEFW11S4 as 192.168.1.2

 

[zenenigma]

The BEFW11S4 can act as a repeater? That's the first time I've heard that was possible.

Do you know of a thread or somewhere that can help me set up my BEF as a repeater?

 

[bcastner]

I think you are right, it cannot act as a repeater.
My bad,

 

[zenenigma]

So I have my new WRT54G, my BEFW11S4, and my WAP11 (They wouldn't let me return it because it was opened, and I had no receipt because it was a gift). You'd think the WRT54G and WAP11 could communicate since the router is rather new and I have the Sveasoft firmware in it.

Is there any way of making this work? Or should I just set up the WRT54G as my router and pray the Sveasoft firmware's signal/power boost will let it reach the room upstairs?

 

[zenenigma]

Bumping this just once to see if anyone can help me out before i go out and buy a second WAP11. Which I really don't feel like doing.

 

[pronet74]

Get rid of the Sveasoft software. I heard this will stop the APs from using repeater mode successfully.

 

[zenenigma]

But will that even help? I mean can I use the WAP11's repeater mode to receive the WRT54G Signal?

 

[aglen]

I need some help on this same problem, except I just have a BEFW11S4 and a WR54G. Which one should I use as the repeater? Any other special settings I need?

Thanks

 

[bcastner]

It is not possible to use a mix of WRT54G and BEFW11S4 as a wireless repeater. You can, and thousands do, use the WRT54G series in a WDS setting.

The closest you could come would be to purchase a WET11 or WET54G (wireless to ethernet adapter), and feed the BEFWS114 through this device.