Friday, 07 June 2013 20:50
Extend WIFI Range with Another Router
With AP client router mode, it can connect to a wireless network and share the connection to its clients (see picture above). So you can use a router to extend the WIFI range.
Prerequisite
- Primary wireless router configure as AP. If you already setup a wireless internet connection in your house, usually your modem is configured as AP mode.
- Secondary wireless router (TL-WR1043ND or other DD-WRT compatible router) flashing with DD-WRT
Settings
Please use settings as shown in table below as guideline
|
|
Primary wireless router |
Secondary wireless router |
|
|
Router |
TP-LINK TD-W8961ND |
TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND |
Virtual Interface |
|
Firmware |
Factory |
DD-WRT |
|
|
IP |
192.168.1.1 |
192.168.0.1 |
|
|
DHCP |
Enable |
Enable |
|
|
Wireless Mode |
AP |
Client |
AP |
|
SSID |
ABC |
ABC |
123 |
|
Channel |
6 |
6 |
|
|
Security Mode |
WPA2 Personal |
WPA2 Personal |
WPA2 Personal |
|
Security Key |
12345678 |
12345678 |
abcdefgh |
|
WPA Algorithms |
TKIP |
TKIP |
TKIP |
Setting up secondary router
- Wired network connection between secondary router (TL-WR1043ND) and computer
- Open up a browser and navigate to http://192.168.1.1 which is your router IP
- Select Setup from the DD-WRT menu and log-in to router
- Select Basic Setup and enter Local IP address as shown in figure below
- Click on Save button without Apply Settings
- Select Wireless>Basic Settings as shown in figure below
- Make sure Wireless Mode is in Client mode, Wireless Channel and SSID follow your primary router
- Click on Save button without Apply Settings
- Select Wireless>Wireless Security as shown in figure below
- Make sure Security Mode, WPA Algorithms and WPA Shared Key follow your primary router
- Click on Save button and Apply Settings button
- All your settings is take effect after reboot and your router IP address is changed to 192.168.0.1
- Turn on primary router and make sure it is online
- Make sure your secondary router still wired (not WIFI) to computer as shown in figure below
- Turn on your computer and secondary router
- After everything is ready, your computer is able to surf internet without using WIFI
Access internet through WIFI
To access internet through WIFI, you must add a Virtual Interface (SSID) to secondary router
- Select Wireless>Basic Settings and click on Add button as shown in figure below
- Select AP from the Wireless Mode combo box, and enter a new SSID (here is 123) as shown in figure below
- Click on Save button without Apply Settings
- You may want to set the wireless security for Virtual Interface (new SSID). Select Wireless>Wireless Security as show in figure below
- Select whatever Security Mode as you like
- Click on Save button and Apply Settings button
- The router will reboot and your secondary WIFI is ready
