WRT54G spotty connection

[maddawg]

I have a Linksys WRT54G V3 router which is in my basement and I have a spotty wireless connection in my living room on 1st floor. I believe because the router has to go through my concrete wall from my basement. This is the only place I can put my router right now.

I have long range antennas 9dB and am using the latest DD-WRT firmware and still get a spotty connection.

Is there a way to boost my signal?? Longer range antenna which I can put on the main 1st floor?? Get a WAP54G access point/WET54G bridge??
Will Tomato firmware help me???

I also have 2 other routers which I am not using right now 1) D-Link DI-624 and 2) Linksys WRT54G V8...Is there a way I can use one of these as an access point/bridge and if I can, how can I do it.....

Thanks in advance......

 

[JackMDS]

Given what you already did I doubt that there is any "miracle" that would squeeze more out of a single Wireless Router.


The best way is to lay few CAT6 cables to central locations in the house, install Access Points, or Cable/DSL Routers configured as an Access Points ( Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point ), and connect them to the Main Router.

You do not want/can not/hate/your client hate to lay Cables.

WDS is the answer ( http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Modes.html ).

Get a second WRT54G Flash it with DD-WRT and install it as a WDS unit.

Using a Laptop loaded with Netstumbler, do a Wireless survey in the house, http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

According to the Netstumbler's signal strength reading, identify spots that have strong signal. and spot with weak, or No signal.

Evaluate how you can cover the space and start placing WDS units.

Additional Wireless Routers in WDS Mode has to be placed in spots were the signal is good about Half way to the dead spots.

How many WDS units are needed? It depends on your specific environment (that is a good the reason to buying WDS units one at the time, try it, and decide on the Next step).

Otherwise.

Extending Distance - http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html
Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html
Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

You can use wireless repeaters or upgrade to an N router maybe.

 

[maddawg]

Thanks for your advice...

I think I am going to add an access point.

I am looking at the WAP54G OR WAP54GX....

Anyone know the difference between these two routers and if I can still use my DD-WRT firmware with them.....I don't think this will affect either of them, but not sure....

Thanks

 

[Madwand1]

You might be able to run a DD-WRT micro edition on your WRT54G v8.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/ind..._To_Flash_the_WRT54Gv8

Flashing the newer models is more risky though, and some people have reported bricking them. Follow the instructions in detail, including the wait times and maybe your luck will hold.

 

[JackMDS]

Use the v8 as your main Router and Flash the v3 with DD-WRT, and use it as WDS.

 

[Madwand1]

DD-WRT v24 has client mode repeater support, so you wouldn't even need WDS support on the main router, let alone DD-WRT.

I.e. if you have DD-WRT v24 running on a second router, you can configure it first for client bridge mode to link wirelessly to your main router (any standard-g router would do) and then add repeater support to extend the wireless range further. This is like WDS, but without the WDS feature and configuration requirement on the main router.

 

[maddawg]

Thanks guys....This is all like a foreign language to me.........but I'll try it out....

 

[spidey07]

Also make sure the antennas aren't "pointing" at each other, that is the worst antenna orientation. You want the client and AP to be parallel.

 

[blazerazor]

Go to Wikipedia and search your box, you will know exactly how much memory your version has. They are all clearly listed, then get an appropriately sized firmware flash. Some ppl are overvolting them and zip tie'n 80mm case fans to keep it from sizzle'n. Im buying a new router next payday and hope to find a 'good' one with alot of ram to run linux...

 

[blazerazor]

Go to Wikipedia and search your box, you will know exactly how much memory your version has. They are all clearly listed, then get an appropriately sized firmware flash. Some ppl are overvolting them and zip tie'n 80mm case fans to keep it from sizzle'n. Im buying a new router next payday and hope to find a 'good' one with alot of ram to run linux...

 

[maddawg]

Okay, I now have a WAP54G to use as an access point. It will be placed on the main floor that I will be using it mostly to extend the range of my current router.

Can I run the DD-WRT firmware on this???
Do I need to run a ethernet cable to it OR can I do it wireless??

Can someone send me some information in steps on how to set this up correctly. I'm an idiot when it comes to networking - I am unsure on if it should be set up as a repeater/access point/bridge.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: maddawg
Okay, I now have a WAP54G to use as an access point. It will be placed on the main floor that I will be using it mostly to extend the range of my current router.

Can I run the DD-WRT firmware on this???
Do I need to run a ethernet cable to it OR can I do it wireless??

Can someone send me some information in steps on how to set this up correctly. I'm an idiot when it comes to networking - I am unsure on if it should be set up as a repeater/access point/bridge.

It looks like you're in luck -- the WAP54G's manual says that they can be used as a wireless repeater for WRT54G routers.

Some versions of the WAP54G can also run DD-WRT, but it shouldn't be necessary to go into that level of complexity at this point as what you need is supported by the native firmware.

Go to Linksys Support, and enter the following search term:

"How do I configure an access point as a wireless repeater?"

Try it out, and let us know if it works. If it doesn't, note the steps you took and try posting here, or probably better -- try contacting Linksys Support directly.