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Internet & Networking => Networking => Topic started by: ravikiranac on April 09, 2015, 02:22:46 PM

Title: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: ravikiranac on April 09, 2015, 02:22:46 PM
sir,
I am ravikiran from Bangalore,i recently came accross an article which said that I could use an old router as a repeater to extend the wifi signal,so I went ahead and did some research on youtube,Wikipedia etc and got the instructions and did as mentioned,my primary router is a DLINK DSL 2750U(which i'm using right now) and my old router is a TP-LINK WR 740 N.i went ahead and checked the support for it in DD WRT website and found it to be supported and I even downloaded factory-to-ddwrt.bin file and also the tl wr740nv4-webflash.bin and upgraded the firmware of my old router and also flashed it to the latest v24 sp2(Atheros) and followed the instructions as follows with the screenshots:
1)CHANGED THE USER NAME,PASSWORD AND CONFIRM PASSWORD TO admin-admin-admin,SYSTEM INFORMATION WAS SHOWN,AUTHENTICATION SCREEN CAME UP AND I ENTERED-->admin-admin AS USER NAME AND PASSWORD
2)SETUP-->BASIC SETUP-->CONNECTION TYPE-->DISABLED,ROUTER NAME-->RK,LOCAL IP ADRESS-->192.168.1.100,SUBNET MASK-->255.255.255.0,GATEWAY-->192.168.1.1,LOCAL DNS-->0.0.0.0,ASSIGN WAN PORT TO SWITCH-->TICK MARK(CHECKED),DHCP TYPE-->DHCP SERVER,DHCP SERVER-->ENABLED,START IP ADDRESS-->192.168.1.100,MAXIMUM DHCP USERS-->50,CLIENT LEASE TIME-->1440,USE DNSM FOR DHCP-->CHECKED,USE DNSM FOR DNS-->CHECKED,DHCP AUTHOR-->CHECKED
3)SETUP-->ADVANCED ROUTING-->OPERATING MODE-->ROUTER,REST-->AS IT IS
4)WIRELESS-->WIRELESS PHYSICAL INTERFACE ATH0[2.4GHZ]-->WIRELESS MODE-->AP(SAME AS PRIMARY ROUTER),WIRELESS NETWORK MODE-->MIXED,CHANNEL WIDTH -->FULL 20 MHZ,WIRELESS CHANNEL -->AUTO,WIRELESS NETWORK NAME(SSID)-->RAVI'S WIFI(SAME AS PRIMARY ROUTER)WIRELESS SSID BROADCAST-->ENABLED,VIRTUAL INTERFACES-->WIRELESS MODE-->WDS AP,WIRELESS NETWORK NAME(SSID)-->REPEATER1,SSID BROADCAST-->ENABLED,NETWORK CONFIGURATION -->BRIDGED
5)WIRELESS-->WIRELESS SECURITY-->SECURITY MODE-->WPA2 PERSONAL(SAME AS PRIMARY ROUTER),WPA ALGORITHM-->AES(SAME AS PRIMARY RFOUTER),WPA SHARED KEY-->PASSWORD(SAME AS THE MAIN ROUTER),VIRTUAL INTERFACES ATH0.1SSID[REPEATER1]-->SECURITY MODE--> WPA2PERSONAL,WPA ALGORITHM-->AES,SHARED KEY -->PASSWORD
6)SECURITY-->FIREWALL-->DISABLED,EVERYTHING UNCHECKED EXCEPT FILTER MULTICAST,
7)STATUS-->WIRELESS-->SITE SURVEY
8)SHOWS ALL THE AVAILABLE NETWORK INCLUDING MINE "Ravi's Wifi"(second one from top)
Until this step everything is fine,but when i try to join the site it just doesn't join Ravi's Wifi,but when i try to join other wifi available in the site survey it joins easily(i have screenshots of those as well)Well my question is why is it not joining my network whereas it can join all others in the neighbourhood?I am including the screenshots of the step by step methods I used.Please reply to this mail with the solution as I had contacted some network professionals who all suggested that I buy a cheap repeater instead but i dont want to throw away my old router.so please any help will be appreciated.
My computer configuration is as follows:
Operating system : Windows 8.1 Pro
Processor : intel Core i5-3570K [email protected] 3.80GHz
Memory(RAM) : 4.00(3.90GB Usable)
System Type : 64 bit operating system
thanking you
Ravikiran.AC

[attachment deleted by admin to conserve space]
Title: Re: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 09, 2015, 07:06:22 PM
Begin dictation.
Allow me to answer your question about the use of the DD-WRT
router firmware. There is a very simple answer to your question, but first I want to make a few general observations. Many other people read these posts and want to understand what is happening, so I will try to elaborate on some of the things that cause confusion.
Some of the terminology used in DD-WRT may seem confusing because some terms might be used in two different ways. However, the documentation for DD-WRT is consistent with itself.

AP mode. This is when the router will allow computers to log on.
Client mode. This is when the router logs onto an AP mode device.
Repeater. This extends the range of a network using a second AP.
Bridge. This allows one network to be connected to another network.
Security. There are different levels of security. Ssome are not available.

Of course, more documentation and clarification can be found on the website of this nonprofit organization :
http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index

I wish to commend you for your good use of screenshots and attachments. This makes it much easier to follow what you are doing with your converted router. However, your post was rather difficult to understand in some areas, nevertheless your question was why could you not log on as a client on one specific network. The simple answer is that you cannot sign on to your own network because you are already on your own network.
I hope that answers your question.  :D

EDIT: Other router firmware projects:
List of wireless router firmware projects (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wireless_router_firmware_projects)
Title: Re: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: ravikiranac on April 10, 2015, 05:55:24 AM
I understand but how else would I join in to my own network with a second router(which is a dd wrt repeater in this case)but you said I am already on my network but the computer I am connected to is not connected to my home network which is also away and disconnected from my repeater,in other words it has nothing to do with my primary network except that I have to join it in the site survey column for extending the range of the primary router.i hope that elaborates the problem I'm facing,anyway thanks and also give me a solution for this if possible step by step instructions so that I could use my second router as repeater/range extender.
thanks
bye
ravikiran
Title: Re: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 10, 2015, 09:07:46 AM
Repeater:
Quote
A wireless repeater (also called wireless range extender) takes an existing signal from a wireless router or wireless access point and rebroadcasts it to create a second network.
The above definition is not exactly good. It implies this is a normal behavior for routers. It is not.
Quote
Since only one wireless device can transmit at once, wireless transmissions are doubled (router to repeater and then repeater to client versus just router to client), and so:
    Wireless throughput is reduced by at least 50%.
    Wireless interference (e.g., with other networks on the same channel) is at least doubled.
You can not be a client to a network that is already on the local cable.

As mentioned, the Client Mode is to join to a wireless router and provide an Ethernet connection to another network. In that mode it is not a range extender.

Client Mode is to help computers that do not  have a wireless connection and are to far away to run an Ethernet cable. Or when  the Ethernet cable is not allowed to cross over a driveway or property line or go thru a wail. The client  provides an Ethernet connection for computers not close to the main  Ethernet cable.

By use of a high gain antenna, a client mode router can bromide network connection over very log distance, up to 1300 feet (or 400 meters) in some cases.

A wireless bridge / repeater system  makes use  of two routers, in addition to the main router. The second trouper is a Client and the  third counter is an AP. If both the second and third routers r are in the same area, a different channel has to be used for the third router.

Nearby computers only connect wireless on the third router.
 Some bad information has been given about using one device as both a client and a AP at the same time. Only a few devices can do that. This is similar to the 'ad-hoc' method or the mesh network method.

Quote
A wireless ad hoc network (WANET) is a decentralized type of wireless network. The network is ad hoc because it does not rely on a pre existing infrastructure, such as routers in wired networks or access points in managed (infrastructure) wireless networks.

Both Ad-Hoc and Mesh network are not compatible with most routers. These types of networking have lower performance levels and are often avoided.

Does this help any? The terminology is confusing. Repeater should have only one meaning, but it does not.  :D

This is by no means an comprehensive coverage of the subject.  What you need to know is that only some routers can extend the wireless range with only two routers.

In by case, I use three routers to reach my objective. The main router, is connected to the Internet. Second is a client, which feeds Internet traffic over cable to the third router, which is AP on another channel.

My Roku picks up from the third router. The Roku can not get stable reception from the main router. And I can not run a cable over the property line.
And the Roku does not have a cable connection.
Only the second router is DD-WRT.   :)

EDIT: A reference:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/network-wifi/3494655/how-set-up-router-as-repeater/
After you read the article  you will see that some readers had some questions abo0ut the procedure.
Title: Re: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: ravikiranac on April 10, 2015, 05:43:44 PM
If anyone gives me step by step instructions from scratch to make my second router(dd wrt firmware flashed) into a repeater/range extender that will be well appreciated. 
Title: Re: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 10, 2015, 09:39:10 PM
You can also look at:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Universal_Wireless_Repeater
Quote
A repeater is just a very normal client which, at the same time, can also be an access point, independent of the SSID and type of encryption used.
Title: Re: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: ravikiranac on April 12, 2015, 02:20:18 AM
I visited the above wiki webpage and found that my DDwrt control panel doesn't look like the one that's shown there itis atheros version and the "repeater"option is not available in mine I have only "router","AP"etc.
Title: Re: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: ravikiranac on April 12, 2015, 02:25:33 AM
I just want to use my old tp-link router as my repeater/range extender .right now I have flashed it using dd wrt atheros (you can find the complete description in my first post in this thread),I dont mind flashing the firmware again with similar versions as dd wrt.but I want it to be able to work as a repeater as I have seen it work for many people but not for myself which is frustrating :-[
Title: Re: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 12, 2015, 11:41:15 AM
Ravikiranac,
I am sorry to hear that you're frustrated.  I have been using the DD-WRT router for several months to help may have entry  the Internet using wireless inside my home.  It was very frustrating to get it to work because some  of the information published is either out of date or is not clearly explained.
If English is not your native language, it can be very hard to comprehend what has gone on with the wireless industry in the past seven years.**  (Even hard for native speakers.)  New protocols and abilities have been added to the wireless system and we used to connect computers into a network.  The DD-WRT was a practical solution to solve a problem one could not wretch with slight of  hand on commercial wireless routers he sold four home use.  This firmware would allow a router to be used to become the AP mode or a client mode wireless device.  I used one router as a client mode and on other router asset and AP mode in order to extend my neighbor's wireless to to my home.  This works very well for me and gives  suitable performance level without reducing the performance of my neighbors network.
Let ma briefly review what I did.  My neighbor has a very good connection to the Internet and has a wireless range with a signal that is rather low.  My wireless devices in my house are not able to reliably receive the week wireless signal from my neighbors router.  That is why I  put  up a router with the DD-WRT firmware to capture the weak signal from my neighbors router.  Another router is connected by a short table and works as a local AP mode wireless.  It transmits on a different frequency  and has a different identification.  My neighbors router only has to provide one connection to my DD-WRT router.
What that means is that I am not really using the DD-WRT  thing as an automatic repeater.  Instead, my solution now needs two separate routers connected with a short piece of Ethernet cable.  Both are standard, shelf contained routers with their own power supplies.  One is DD-WRT.  They are not USB Devices.  They perform their job even when no computer is connected to them.  I have a Roku device that can access my local network using wireless.  I do not have to have a desktop, laptop or tablet connected in order to use my Roku wireless device.
Of course, there are now more modern ways to accomplish this same task with less the equipment.  But I wanted to use equipment that I have on hand and that would work without making any adjustments to my neighbors router.  He is letting me access the wireless using the password for the guest account.  Thus  I have to use what works for me.
But at you may wonder why I am not using the router in the automatic repeater mode.  That mode is more difficult to set up because of the age  of the router. The new standard requires the use of both the 2.4 and the 5.8 GHz wireless bands.  But my equipment does not work on the higher frequency.
The DD-WRT has alternative firmware that allows an the router to be used as a automatic repeater, but as documented, it is not easy to do.  In fact, many people have trouble using that form of DD-WRT.  Now if there's anybody here on the form that thinks it's very easy and can be done with older equipment, please speak up and and tell us how to do it.
I personally have spent several weeks doing research on the automatic repeater mode and were not able to get to work right on the equipment I have at hand.
Part of the problem is poor documentation with the expressions " repeater" and "extended" when applied to one wireless router.

Please, if anybody on this form believes it is easy to setup any older  router as a automatic repeater on wireless, speak up here -
and tell us how it's so easy. :D

** See this article from 2008
The Best Wi-Fi Yet (http://www.pcworld.com/article/145098/new_80211n_routers.html)
Title: Re: DD-WRT repeater help needed
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 25, 2015, 04:26:24 PM
Have not heard back from the OP.
As a follow up on my research into repeaters and range extenders, here are some reports that confirm I am not the only one having trouble. Part of the
confusion comes from advertising PR  says it is so simple. No, it is not so simple.
Fro similar posts, search for
Repeater wireless Extender not working
Links:
WiFi repeater not working (http://www.wirelessforums.org/network-troubleshooting/wifi-repeater-not-working-124927.html)
Quote
Repeaters are in the grand scheme of wireless  networking kind of dumb. You need to get the repeater communicating on the network, with the proper network ssid, proper encription and password etc, with it's own IP address that will not cause  conflicts and it will work properly.
Wireless repeater not working (http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/37649-43-wireless-repeater-working)
No solution given.

Repeater No t Working (https://community.verizonwireless.com/thread/807627?start=0&tstart=0)
Quote
Good luck.  My has been in/out working for weeks. 
Verizon, has been zero help.  I went as far as to contact my salesman and he initially said he would help, even offered to bring new one in a
said it would be no charge.  Well, 10 days later,
...zero response. 

Universal Repeater not working  (http://www.wirelessforums.org/network-troubleshooting/wireless-range-extender-universal-repeater-not-working-120280.html)
Quote
I can still see the network. The signal in the back
room is perfect, however when I try to connect to
it then I just keep getting the exclamation mark to
say that there are problems, with "No Internet
Access", despite that it says "Connected"....

Moral: If  you buy a wireless repeater, try to read  the manual. If you don't understand it, send it back to the vendor.

The thread may be closed soon.  8)