Help with wired connection from RTN-66W to WRT54g ddwrt.

[Rick Dean]

Hello all. New to networking. Got a RTN-66w 192.168.1.1 in the basement for the kids. Wireless in upstairs back bedroom was slow so I ran a wire thru the floor and tired to connect my ddwrt WRT54g 192.168.1.2. Initially connects at 48-54 then drops down to below 10 mbps. According to my cell phone app.

DHCP server disabled on Linksys. Modem - RTN-66w - switch - Linksys Lan port is how my setup is.

Any comments would be appreciated.
Rick

 

[JJ Duru]

So the Asus RTN-66w is your gateway, correct?
Is the WRT54G setup to run in Access Point mode? I'm assuming yes if you said that its DHCP server is disabled.
If you make a wired connection to the WRT54G while it runs in AP mode, do you get your full speed for the internet access? If yes, that means that the linksys wireless is at fault and you need to find a better version of DD-WRT firmware for the WRT54G in the hope it fixes/improves its wireless throughput.
If not, the problem the problem is upstream of the WRT54G and look closer to your setup.

Your other far better bet is a Ubiquiti Networks Enterprise AP Unifi (UAP), $63 on amazon prime.

 

[CaptainSTX]

The 54G is a very old router with a B/G only radio. To get higher WiFi speeds using an AP you need to find an AP or router you can repurpose as an AP with at least a N radio on the 2.4 Ghz band and ideally the 5 Ghz band also.

The maximum link rate on the old Linksys regardless of what firmware you run is 54 Mbps. This means that at best you will get an actual speed of 40 - 50% of this rate. With a N radio you should get 2x - 3x that speed depending on many factors.

Just be sure whatever you do you use different channels on your main router's WiFi and your basement AP so they don't interfere with each other.

 

[Cloud200]

You are doing everything right.
I would try using stock firmware first up until you can get a replacement Access Point upstairs.
Echoing @CaptainSTX, I would suggest something dual band (2.4 and 5ghz) over a single band like the gen 1 UAP.

A decent bang for buck would be the tp-link Archer c5

Something for convenience would be a POE powered WAP. One caveat; if you are putting the injector in the basement get an active POE standard that says 48v 802.3 at or after. If the injector is upstairs, 24v is fine as well. The only reason is just in case someone wants to connect through the same port with a different device you want the POE delivery off.