E4200 as a wireless range extender/repeater

[Aqualung]

I have finally decided to retire my old E4200v1 and switch to Netgear's R7000. I still have some dead spots in the house though, and I was wondering if I could use the E4200 as a wireless repeater to boost/repeat the signal in one of the dead spots. Can the E4200 (stock FW) be used as such? What if I switch it to Toastman's Tomato?

 

[lexist2112]

I have finally decided to retire my old E4200v1 and switch to Netgear's R7000. I still have some dead spots in the house though, and I was wondering if I could use the E4200 as a wireless repeater to boost/repeat the signal in one of the dead spots. Can the E4200 (stock FW) be used as such? What if I switch it to Toastman's Tomato?

Probably check over at DD-WRT i believe E4200 V1 is supported.

DD-WRT Linksys E4200 V1, Click here

Instructions on how to flash E4200 and FW Click here

Your Welcome

 

[Aqualung]

Probably check over at DD-WRT i believe E4200 V1 is supported.

DD-WRT Linksys E4200 V1, Click here

Instructions on how to flash E4200 and FW Click here

Thank you. Flashed it just fine. Now if only I could get some guidance on how to configure it as a repeater, that'd be swell.

 

[krum]

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Repeater_Bridge

 

[stevech]

I have finally decided to retire my old E4200v1 and switch to Netgear's R7000. I still have some dead spots in the house though, and I was wondering if I could use the E4200 as a wireless repeater to boost/repeat the signal in one of the dead spots. Can the E4200 (stock FW) be used as such? What if I switch it to Toastman's Tomato?

Just re-purpose it as an access point (AP). Instructions are simple:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...onvert-a-wireless-router-into-an-access-point

Place it in/near a weak signal area.
Connect it to router via
cat5 (best)
MoCA adapter pair
HomePlug or other IP over power wiring. See cautions re signal-suckers.

(repeater a.k.a. WDS, last resort. Poor performance/reliability)

 

[Aqualung]

Just re-purpose it as an access point (AP). Instructions are simple:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...onvert-a-wireless-router-into-an-access-point

Place it in/near a weak signal area.
Connect it to router via
HomePlug or other IP over power wiring. See cautions re signal-suckers.

(repeater a.k.a. WDS, last resort. Poor performance/reliability)

Many thanks for the suggestion!!! I was going to go with the repeater-bridge scenario, but at your suggestion it dawned on me that I could, in fact, do the HomePlug thingie! Boy, I was so set in turning it into a range extender, that I completely discounted easier (and better) venues.

The only thing now is that I already flashed it w/dd-wrt. Should I revert to stock for the AP scenario? I don't really want to spend much time configuring dd-wrt (which seems to be a configuration nightmare), though it may, indeed, give me better performance. (Or would it?)

 

[jlake]

Yes. Flash stock firmware and then carefully follow the bridge mode instructions in link below to use it as an AP.

http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/GetAr...tting_up_the_Linksys_E4200_in_bridge_mode.xml

Edit: it's best to choose "specify an IP address" as explained in instructions.

 

[Aqualung]

Alright, so I turned my E4200 into an AP via powerline, and I couldn't be happier. Getting very good speeds in what used to be dead WiFi spots. Here are a couple of questions:

1. I gave the E4200 AP a fixed IP outside of the main router's DHCP area. Is that a good thing?
2. What are the pros and cons of giving the E4200 AP the same SSID as the main router's?

Many thanks to everyone for the advice.

 

[thiggins]

I gave the E4200 AP a fixed IP outside of the main router's DHCP area. Is that a good thing?

Yes. It will prevent possible IP collisions. You could also reserve an IP address for it within the server's range. You just want to be able to know where it lives so you can access it reliably.

What are the pros and cons of giving the E4200 AP the same SSID as the main router's?

Pro: don't need to change SSIDs. Con: You can't make the client connect to the AP that has a stronger signal and the client may not be smart enough to.

 

[stevech]

I uses different SSIDs for each WiFi access device... so that the user can choose which SSID/device should be best (proximity). Typical WiFi client devices do NOT do such. Especially when moved from room to room.

 

[Aqualung]

I uses different SSIDs for each WiFi access device... so that the user can choose which SSID/device should be best (proximity). Typical WiFi client devices do NOT do such. Especially when moved from room to room.

Yep, for now I think I will stay with different SSIDs.

Cheers!

 

[sfx2000]

I uses different SSIDs for each WiFi access device... so that the user can choose which SSID/device should be best (proximity). Typical WiFi client devices do NOT do such. Especially when moved from room to room.

That might work - but remember that SSID's represent the wireless LAN, most modern clients these days do "roam" and select the best AP.

 

[minakshi]

Replace your router with digisol repeater

Hi

there is one company that offers 150 mbps wireless repeater which provides good signals. visit http://wifi.digisol.com/product.html URL to have a more details regarding the product.