Linksys WRE54G & WCG200 HELP!

TJones834

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2006
9
0
18,510
I have been successfully using Linksys WCG200 Wireless Cable Gateway for some time now. I just bought used Wireless-G Range Expander on Ebay WRE54G. I have tried to follow Tim Higgins Sept 2004 article: How To: Manually Setting Up the Linksys WRE54G Wireless-G Range Expander from this site with no luck. I know just enough to be dangerous. Can someone please give me additional assistance in fairly simple terms - or is the WCG200 not WDS-friendly?

Pls advise.

Thanks

Tim Jones
 
G

Guest

Guest
Have you tried Auto-Configuration? Have you tried upgrading the firmware? What happens when you try to manually configure the WRE54G. Both devices are 802.11G so they should be compatiable.

Grumpy
 

TJones834

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2006
9
0
18,510
Thanks for the response. Yes I should have mentioned that I tried the built-in Auto Configure feature. But NO I have not upgraded firmware because I can't figure out how to do that since I can't get the WRE54G to talk to my PC which I figure needs to happen in order for a firmware upgrade - but please educate me and rescue me from my stupidity on firmware if there is some way to upgrade without the WRE54G actually being seen by my laptop.

Thx
 
G

Guest

Guest
Have you connected the WRE54G to your PC using a network cable and run the setup CD? You can also set a static IP address on your PC (192.168.1.10) and connect to http://192.168.1.240 to setup manually.

Grumpy
 

TJones834

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2006
9
0
18,510
I don't see a port on the WRE54G for a hard-wired network connection. I bought this sucker off Ebay - no installation CD. I have tried to set a static IP address as you suggest - but tell me is that in my network settings on my laptop or on my Linksys wireless cable gateway (WCG200) - sorry for stupid questions. If so - could you point me to a very basic step by step - since I have attempted to do this and it didn't work, I must not be doing it correctly.

Thanks for your help and patience.
 

TJones834

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2006
9
0
18,510
Thanks - I downloaded the user guide. And I must have V1 - as there is no version designation. Any ohter ideas? Re-sell it on Ebay?
 
G

Guest

Guest
Do you have a computer with a wireless network adapter? You could set a static IP address in the same range as the WRE54G and change the mode to Ad Hoc to see if you could connect to it. Have you tried resetting it? What IP range is your WCG200 using?

Grumpy
 
G

Guest

Guest
Set a Static IP address of 192.168.1.10 (Netmask 255.255.255.0 Gateway 192.168.1.1) on your laptop wireless adapter and change the mode to Ad Hoc. You should then be able to connect to the WRE54G and change the SSID to match the WCG200 and the IP address to 192.168.0.240.

Grumpy
 

TJones834

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2006
9
0
18,510
OK - this part worked: I set a Static IP address of 192.168.1.10 (Netmask 255.255.255.0 Gateway 192.168.1.1) on your laptop wireless adapter and change the mode to Ad Hoc. My laptop connected wirelessly to the WRE54G.

But then when I type in 192.168.0.240 into either Firefox or IE - I cannot connect to WRE54G - again - sorry - but now what am I missing?
 

TJones834

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2006
9
0
18,510
Not sure how the IP got transposed as I was cutting and pasting it - sorry.

OK - finally got into the WRE54G!!!!! Got the Firmware upgraded to latest I could find on Linksys site Sept 2005..

Now I cannot get WRE54G to link to WCG200 - I'm using same WEP key, different SSID, but same channel per instructions.

Nothing like feeling completely stupid - must be one more step I'm missing here - must be something to change in the WCG200. Not able to change the MAC address on the WRE54G anywhere to match the WCG200 though as Forumz instructions indicate.

If you don't mind Grumpy - I'd appreciate you seeing this thru to end - I'm almost there.

Thx
 
G

Guest

Guest
Now I cannot get WRE54G to link to WCG200 - I'm using same WEP key, different SSID, but same channel per instructions.

Do you really READ the instructions??? THe WRE54G MUST have the SAME channel, SSID and WEP key as the access point (WCG200). You should also change the IP address to 192.168.0.240 to match the IP address range of the WCG200. I don't know why you would have to change the MAC address. The WRE54G connects to the WCG200 wirelessly and rebroadcasts the signal.

Grumpy
 

TJones834

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2006
9
0
18,510
Good thing I finally got it working tonight - sounds like I was on your last nerve. It just wasn't all clicking for me - now it finally makes sense - just dial it in same as WCG200 except for the 240 on the tail end - I'm now able to sit downstairs in fam-room and get signal back thru plaster, lathe and brick back upstairs to the WCG200 - you have been a wonderful, patient counselor, thank you so much!
 
G

Guest

Guest
Glad you got it working. What address do I send my bill to? :lol:

Grumpy
 

TJones834

Distinguished
Nov 23, 2006
9
0
18,510
I can't get an IP address straight an you have the courage to think I could get a snail mail address right - what are you thinking?