Campground WiFi Solution

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lagmandan

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Jul 24, 2013
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I'm in the process of setting up a solution that will hopefully help me pull in WiFi signals better when in campgrounds with WiFi service. My plan is to use a TP-Link TL-WA500G in Client Mode to connect to the campground's WiFi, then connect a Linksys router running DD-WRT via ethernet to the TP-Link and allow my wireless devices Internet access via the Linksys router. The picture I attached should describe what I am trying to do.

I can get the TP-Link to connect to the WiFi (verified in the TP-Link config page), but I can't seem to get the Linksys router to provide Internet connectivity to my wireless devices. How should the TP-Link and Linksys be configured? Should DHCP be done on one or the other (or both)? Should the output of the TP-Link go to the WAN port of the router or the LAN port? What should I identify as the gateway?

camper_network.jpg


Any help you can provide would be very much appreciated!
Thanks,
Dan
 
Solution
A
First of all, you just need one or the other, not both.
Option one is: just setup the WA500G in repeater mode.
See here for instructions: http://www.tp-link.us/article/?faqid=151 .

Option two is:
You could just use the Linksys E1200 Router, DD-WRT, and some basic tech knowledge.
You'll need to flash it with DD-WRT. After that it's all easy sailing. You can just select "bridge mode" in wireless settings, pick the SSID you want to extend and also pick the SSID you send out to your devices. It's quite easy and you'll find DD-WRT also helpful for other things such as MAC-address kicking, data usage tracking, RAM usage, and even up the power sent to your antennas to increase the signal strength.

Do be advised that flashing a router with...
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alpha12903

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Dec 24, 2011
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First of all, you just need one or the other, not both.
Option one is: just setup the WA500G in repeater mode.
See here for instructions: http://www.tp-link.us/article/?faqid=151 .

Option two is:
You could just use the Linksys E1200 Router, DD-WRT, and some basic tech knowledge.
You'll need to flash it with DD-WRT. After that it's all easy sailing. You can just select "bridge mode" in wireless settings, pick the SSID you want to extend and also pick the SSID you send out to your devices. It's quite easy and you'll find DD-WRT also helpful for other things such as MAC-address kicking, data usage tracking, RAM usage, and even up the power sent to your antennas to increase the signal strength.

Do be advised that flashing a router with DD-WRT can be risky with limited understanding and could potentially brick (render useless) your router.

Do the first one if you're looking for a basic quick setup and don't have much tech experience.
Do the second one if you have a good understanding in tech and are willing to risk bricking your router (I've flashed DD-WRT many times and all went well). You'll get many more settings with the second one.

I personally would just falsh DD-WRT and just return the access point.
 
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