[Ham-Computers] RE: Wireless Extender for Bellsouth-AT&T?
Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)
aaron.hsu at nbcuni.com
Thu Jul 10 13:37:34 EDT 2008
This is a very common setup - you basically are adding an additional access point to your existing network. You can either pick up a dedicated wireless "Access Point" (AP), or an additional wireless router and not use the routing functions. The AP method is preferred, but AP's for home use are not that common and thus are usually more expensive than a wireless router. Here are the basic setup steps for both.
Wireless AP:
* Attach AP to existing network via wired connection - most AP's only have one ethernet port, but some will also have a built-in switch.
* Configure a computer to be on the same IP address as the new AP. Note: some AP's ship out-of-the-box in DHCP mode, so it will pick-up an address from your network's DHCP router.
* HTTP or Telnet to the new AP and configure it with an unused IP address that's outside the range your DHCP server covers. For example, if your DHCP server assigns xxx.xxx.xxx.100 to xxx.xxx.xxx.150, then assign something like xxx.xxx.xxx.200 to the AP. The subnet mask should match the configuration of your existing router and the default gateway will be the IP address of your existing gateway/router.
* Configure the AP with the exact same BSSID as your existing wireless network, but use a different wireless "channel". Most wireless routers use either 1, 6, or 11 as these channels don't overlap. So, if your existing wireless router is on channel 1, then assign 6 or 11 to the new AP. You can also use the same channel as the existing AP, but then you'll get some cross-interference.
* Configure the AP with the same encryption type and key as your existing wireless network. This this and the last step will allow your wireless "clients" (PC's) to seamlessly "roam" to the stronger AP.
* Turn off all other wireless AP's and test a wireless connection with the new AP.
* If everything is working, re-enable the existing wireless AP's and install the new AP wherever you need it.
The setup for a wireless router (to be used as an AP only) is the same plus:
* Before connecting the new router to the network, connect it directly (wired) to a computer to do the steps listed above.
* Disable the DHCP server function on the new router.
* Disable the WAN/Internet port on the new router.
* When connecting it to the wired network, use one of the LAN ports, not the WAN/Internet port.
That should do it. I think I covered everything - if it seems that a step is missing, please let me know.
Oh, I would also suggest you replace the existing router/modem with a newer one. If anything, disable the wireless function in the existing router and setup a new wireless AP in it's place with better encryption.
73,
- Aaron, NN6O
BTW, the wireless setup at my church consists of one wireless router/AP (Netopia 3387) and two additional AP's (Netgear WG302). The church was built in the early 1900's primarily of concrete and rebar - near impossible to get wireless to go more than a couple rooms over. So, the router/AP covers the church office (plus the rooms above and below the office (2nd floor and basement), one AP covers the Sanctuary, and a third AP covers some additional rooms on the 2nd floor.
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 7:19 PM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] Wireless Extender for Bellsouth-AT&T?
We have Bellsouth-AT&T at the church.
We'd like to add a router/wireless-rebroadcaster
at the end of a long cable from the office on down
the hallway - to get a better wireless signal to
the back and to the next building.
Bellsouth-AT&T provides a kinda junky older
model modem/router (wired and wireless) and we
were told that there may be problems activating
WEP.
What can we use that will also allow us to turn
on WEP (and hopefully better security) the same
as we now have with the Bellsouth-AT&T box in the
office.
--
Thanks! & 73, doc, KD4E
Have you tried 6m & 10M lately? Wow!
Free OS : http://www.PuppyLinux.com
Personal: http://kd4e.com/kd4e.html
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