Router Question

[asterroc]

Okay, maybe not entirely w/o LJ...

In our home network, we have a Linksys WRT54G wireless router named "Highlanders" plugged into the cable modem in the living room. On the entire opposite side of the house in the office we have a Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless router named "Bub". Highlanders' signal is intermittantly spotty in the office where Bub is located, so it would be nice to have Bub act as a repeater. What makes it even more important to be able to do is that my desktop in my office does not have wireless, and therefore has an ethernet cable physically connected to Bub, sitting next to it. It cannot get on the internet as of yet, since Bub is not connected to the internet. The final incentive is that also connected to Bub is a network printer (Brother, though it shouldn't make a difference); I can currently print to it from a laptop anywhere in the house by disconnecting from Highlanders and connecting to Bub and then printing.

What I want is for Bub to be some sort of clone or repeater for Highlanders. Ideally I do not want to see the name Bub at all, I just want to see Highlanders everywhere I am standing, and if the signal from the Highlanders connected to the cable modem is too weak, I want laptops to automatically switch over to Highlanders' in the office. Our laptops are all Macs (2 on OS X.4, two on OS X.3), but I also want PCs to be able to see it (since we have no clue what our upstairs neighbors have and they use it too), and the we want the network to remain wide open. I'm also willing to swap Bub and Highlanders, if that would be easier (since they're different models).

I am guessing there is some setting on Bub that will allow me to clone/repeat the Highlanders network, but I haven't found it yet. A halfway solution would tell me the keywords to look for in Bub's settings, a half-assed solution would tell me keywords to look for online - I've already googled it, and while this appears to be exactly the same question as mine, in exactly the same order, with exactly the same lack of an answer and/or confusion (I don't understand this linked page) that I currently have. A good solution would tell me step-by-step where to go in the menus of the two routers.

Comments

[framefolly.livejournal.com]

Whoa -- wish I had any clue what you are talking about. If it's any consolation, sounds like you have the TechSavvy to make it happen.

Have a great week,
Luddite

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Almost, but not quite. I need some instructions or hints, and then I'll be able to make it happen. I'm good at following directions on stuff like this, but I don't entirely understand networking yet. Which reminds me, one of my coworkers does! I'll ask him. :)

[galbinus-caeli.livejournal.com]

And once you find that out, you can fix my linksys problem.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

I ended up registering for the Linksys forums and posting my question there. It appears that not all routers can do what we want. We'll see if I get any (good) responses.

[galbinus-caeli.livejournal.com]

I just did the same thing. Lets see if something useful results.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

See the comment/link below from seekingferret too, it appears that the firmware for the router we have in the living room is built on Linux, and therefore there exist other firmware packages that would let it do what I want.

[galbinus-caeli.livejournal.com]

I am uncomfortable with a firmware change as this machine is needed to provide my corporate hardware firewall.


Thanks.

[seekingferret.livejournal.com]

Doing a little googling, it seems that repeater mode is not an option with the BEFW11S4 and isn't a default option with the WRT54G (I searched the word 'repeater' in the pdfs of both of their user manuals, among other things). This link suggests that firmware upgrades are available to the WRT54G that would allow you to use it as a repeater. There are easy step by step instructions for flashing the firmware and a list of companies that make improved firmware available.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thanks, I'll have to wade through that.

[kelsin.livejournal.com]

If you have a good version of the wrt54g you can install the "Tomato" firmware. It's my favorite of all of the alternative firmwares for the line of wrt54g's yet. It allows for easy repeating so that both routers can work together.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

T$'s reluctant to change the firmware, as we don't technically own the router, and he's worried that if we mess up the whole unit will be useless. He mentioned getting a bridge for the office. I think he's going to work on it when we get back from our trip to see his family later this week.