Turning a WRT54G2 v1.5 into a repeater

By Grinch
in Smart Home, Network & Security

 Share

Recommended Posts

Mentor

Grinch

Posted
Posted

Hello Neowin!

I kind of need help here. I have a WRT160N as my main router and a WRT54G2 as a spare router. I've looked around and DD-WRT and Tomato do not support the WRT54G2 v1.5.

All I really need is to make it so it can repeat a signal for me, that simple. The WRT160N is to far away to run a line to so no one suggest that please. If anyone has a solution for me, please let me know.

Thanks,

Steve

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted (edited)

Well if does not support 3rd party firmware, and the native firmware does not support repeater mode, then your out of luck.

edit: I fail to understand why people continue to buy hardware that does not support they common features.. Sell that junk on ebay to some other sucker and and buy a router that either supports the features you want natively - or purchase a router that supports 3rd party.

  • Cupcakes and Grinch
  • Like 2
Mentor

Grinch

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well if does not support 3rd party firmware, and the native firmware does not support repeater mode, then your out of luck.

edit: I fail to understand why people continue to buy hardware that does not support they common features.. Sell that junk on ebay to some other sucker and and buy a router that either supports the features you want natively - or purchase a router that supports 3rd party.

For the record, it was the router Comcast gave me and I upgraded that piece of junk to a WRT160N. I'll likely just buy another and turn that into a repeater.

Thanks anyways.

Mentor

Grinch

Posted
  • Author
Posted

So you got it in some promotion they were doing when you signed up or something? Not even worth using when you get it for FREE ;) hehehehe

Comcast was trying out different router models in my area (as opposed to other areas that only offer one specific model) and that was the best of the 3 they were offering. I went to Bestbuy and bought myself a WRT160N which is all I really needed. Was hoping to get 'some' use out of the WRT54G2.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Well if you could wire it you could use it as just an accesspoint to extend your wireless coverage - but until it gets 3rd party support (if it does) advanced features prob out of the question.. I don't recall linksys ever really adding features to their firmware - mostly only bug fixes, etc. and as soon as next model comes out they pretty much never update past products firmware unless its a major bug ;)

Your best bet would prob get a few dollars for it - and then put that towards some hardware you can use 3rd party on.

Mentor

Grinch

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well I went out and purchased a second WRT160N v3 and installed DD-WRT onto it (the main router is staying default linksys firmware for now though).

To give you a basic (Very basic) idea of the main router..

Model: WRT160N v3

Security: WPA2 AES

-

Now I would prefer both the repeater and the main router to keep Security on them. If you could provide simple step-by-step instructions, that'd be most helpful. I tried instructions I found online but generally when I connected to my 'repeater' it was throwing DNS errors.

Mentor

Grinch

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Here are the instructions for setting up dd-wrt as a repeater.

http://www.dd-wrt.co...reless_Repeater

Those were the first instructions I tried. Didn't seem to accomplish much with them. :|

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted (edited)

Well you prob did it wrong then ;) Are you looking to setup repeater more or WDS

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/WDS_Linked_router_network

You might want to check the forums -- bridge mode/repeater mode, etc. might have issues with WPA2??

Mentor

Grinch

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well you prob did it wrong then ;) Are you looking to setup repeater more or WDS

http://www.dd-wrt.co..._router_network

Would the main router having WPA2 Personal as security cause any issues?

I want a repeater, my goal is to get the signal further into my house so I may enjoy the sweet bliss of WiFi in my room.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted (edited)

WDS does the same thing as repeater mode -- the accesspoints are tied together wireless to give you larger coverage area. And yes check the forums on the dd-wrt site there might be some issues with wpa2??

Also -- just get rid of the native firmware to be honest.. There is no point to keeping it on your device -- prob what is causing you your problem ;)

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Posts

    • Creative Sound Blaster AE-X PCIe review: your headphones will love it

      By +Warwagon · Posted

      256 times the quality of an audio cd? I think audio cd's sound good so even twice as good as that would be something.
    • Traffic has a surprisingly unexpected impact on your surroundings

      By ExPat · Posted

      It’s not about the NOx. It’s about the electrical field.
    • Microsoft confirms Windows 11 26H2, urges IT admins to prepare for release

      By +TRS-80 · Posted

      FIFA cup is a worldwide event. Total global engagement — FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (official FIFA report) 5 billion people https://theworlddata.com/fifa-...-cup-viewership-statistics/ U.S., Canada, Japan drive vast World Series viewership for Games 1 and 2 In Japan despite a 9 a.m. local start time, Game One averaged 11.8 million viewers on NHK-G https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-...ching-large-global-audience There are also millions of annual viewers of the World Series in Latin America, especially Venezuela and the Domincan Republic due to the large number of players from those countries playing in the Major Leagues.
    • The Microsoft Office feature that time forgot

      By MrElectrifyer · Posted

      The original word arts were far more awesome! With their own preconfigured fill patterns, 3D layout, etc, with options to fine-tune their size and colors as desired. I especially loved the ones circled below and still miss them from my primary school years: I frankly use them less these days 'cause the new one isn't as straightforward fine art as what we originally had, taking time and effort to get back to the same graphics quality as the original offered, which I simply don't have enough of for merely fine-tuning my presentation titles. Same with the built-in picarts selection. Bring back the original pre-configured options for word art then I'll be using them far more frequently in my presentations even today.
    • Why you need to take back control of your synced passwords and how to go about doing that

      By +Good Bot, Bad Bot · Posted

      What didn't you understand about that was mainly referring to Google, Microsoft, etc. keeping your passwords. Password Management is a key service of Bitwarden and it's not going anywhere. In any case they do offer export to other Password management services, backup/download of passwords, and the already mentioned on-prem option. I don't agree with the OP to use the free option as it's better to be an actual customer IMO. They don't just don't delete accounts like the big tech companies with no recourse which was the main concern of this article. I was confused if the author was trying to sell this setup? It should be obvious to anyone reading this article this solution is overly complicated and overkill for most users.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      JuvenileDelinquent earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • First Post
      DrWankel earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      DrWankel earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Week One Done
      Supreme Spray LV earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Genuinetonerink- Dubai earned a badge
      Week One Done

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      504
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      163
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      91
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      75
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      72
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!