DIY Wireless Repeater | 75% Signal Boost

With the magic of DD-WRT, turn your older router into a range-expanding repeater to cover everywhere you need a Wi-Fi connection.

See instructional video here

Popular DDWRT Supported Devices:

• D-Link DIR 600 - http://amzn.to/25ctCM7
• TP-Link TL-MR3220 - http://amzn.to/25cu0Kv
• TP-Link TL-WDR4300 - http://amzn.to/1RX2KWI
• Linksys WRT54G - http://amzn.to/1RX2QxA
• Linksys Cisco E3000 - http://amzn.to/1Rsr0pu

Step 1: Find and Fix Wi-Fi Dead Spots

Let's face it, Wi-Fi is of course a service we can't do without these days and it hurts to have a crappy service.

Now, using an old router that you have laying around with the DDWRT firmware, here's an easy way to create a powerful wireless repeater for your home or office.

Popular DDWRT Supported Devices:

• D-Link DIR 600 - http://amzn.to/25ctCM7
• TP-Link TL-MR3220 - http://amzn.to/25cu0Kv
• TP-Link TL-WDR4300 - http://amzn.to/1RX2KWI
• Linksys WRT54G - http://amzn.to/1RX2QxA
• Linksys Cisco E3000 - http://amzn.to/1Rsr0pu

Step 2: Log Into Your Main Router and Write Down the Settings

• The channel your router is broadcasting on
• The exact name of your Wi-Fi network also known as your SSID
• The current wireless security mode - WEP, WPA or WPA2
• The wireless broadcast mode - B/G, N, B/G/N, A/C
• Your Wi-Fi password
• Your Router's LAN IP address

Step 3: Do Google Search for DDWRT

Do Google search for DDWRT then select "Router Database"

Step 4: Search Through the Listing

Search for your brand and model router, the one you're gonna use as the repeater of course, find the latest firmware for your router and download the file(s).

Step 5: Proceed to Flash the Old Router

Start up your router (the one to be used as a repeater) and head to the administration tab or wherever the option for "Firmware Upgrade" is on your device.

Choose the DDWRT flash file you downloaded and then click "upgrade" or "update" to start the flashing process.

Step 6: Enter a Username and Password After Flashing Is Complete

After your router has restarted and your new DDWRT firmware is loaded, you will have to enter a username and password to start. I just use admin for both.

Step 7: Start Configuring Your Repeater

Once in, you just need to focus on these tabs:

• Setup
• Wireless
• Wireless Security
• Advanced Routing
• Services
• Security

Go to the Wireless Tab first and for wireless mode select either repeater or repeater bridge

I normally go for repeater bridge why? The ports on the repeater are made active so you can plug a device in and still get internet. If you select repeater by itself then those ports will be dead.

Next -
Make the wireless mode the same as your main router so if its broadcasting on B/G/N, then make the repeater B/G/N or mixed

For the wireless network name or the SSID give it the exact name as your main router so exact case, spacing, everything should be exactly the same

Then..... choose the very same channel that your main router is broadcasting on and click save don't click apply just yet just save it.

Next -
Go to the wireless security tab select the very same security mode as the main router so.... if it's using WPA2 AES select the same for your repeater and use the same wireless password

Next -

You're gonna head over to the setup tab remember that IP address from your main router? Choose an IP address in the same subnet for your repeater For example, here my router's IP is 192.168.0.1 so i'll use something like 192.168.0.10 for the repeater. For the gateway and the DNS put in the same IP as your router in both sections, save this.

The rest is even easier -

Go to the advanced routing tab change operation mode to "Router" and then save

Go to services tab and disable DNSmasq then also save

Lastly -

Head to the security tab disable everything except "filter multicast" then at the top for SPI firewall select disable then save this

Now you can apply settings and reboot the repeater

Step 8: Check Your Wi-Fi Network

Use a tool such as inSSIDer or Wi-Fi Analyzer to see what's going on with your Wi-Fi network and that everything is functioning.

Check the result from your repeater and how they match up with your existing (main) router.

Step 9: Conduct Speed Tests

Use an app such as speedtest.net to see how well your repeater is performing.

If the speeds are slow compared to your main router, you will probably need to move the repeater to a location where it communicates better with your existing router.

Step 10: Make That Location Final

After you've conducted sufficient speed tests and you're satisfied with the results between your repeater and main router. Set it, forget it and enjoy the improved wireless service for your home/office.

See instructional video here

Comments

[jb1984]

Had a version myself. I used a TP-Link WR802n nano travel router for this, as it has a wireless repeater bridge option - otherwise known as a hotspot repeater. It receives a wireless WiFi signal boosts it, and rebroadcasts it.

Other neat features was the “ghost” ability. I could sign up for xfinity hotspots, which allows for one device. I just made sure that whenever I bought a week (or had an existing customers password) I logged into the router, and THROUGH the router accessed the splash page and did all the formalities. Then xfinity had the routers MAC address on file. I could “hide” two smartphones, a laptop, a Roku, and a wireless printer behind the travel router and Xfinity just saw the one MAC address.

They already are BUILT for WiFi and have great range, but it’s never enough. Using a clamp-on spotlight reflector shield from Lowe’s, a TP roll, and some hot glue, I built a reflector and mounted the travel router board at the focal point. Using this device, I could pull in WiFi from up to 3 miles with line of sight. Later, another DIY external antenna increased the range by about 1/3. I even pointed it (see photo) at neighbors houses, if they had xfinity home WiFi service.

A small usb outlet was all that was required to power the unit in my truck to go mobile.

[megsmagik]

How is the security of the secondary router?

[RecarroJames]

Well it's secured with the same password as the main router if that's what you're asking.

[RecarroJames]

Sorry about the late reply. Are you also using the DDWRT repeater configuration?

That Linksys seems badass btw.