Need some help with Wifi

[jessejw]

I got a new net gear router in my house and my dad put a computer in the garage and it's not connected to my house it can see the connection but, its very low an won't let him connect. Is there any way I can set up my old linksys router up as a Repeater?
If there is can you please post a step by step tutorial. Thanks very much - Jesse
Also happy 4th of July!

 

[MvdB]

Jesse, I need a bit more to be able to answer that.. Could you specify:
- net gear and linksys types / versions?
- Distance that you need to cross
- Some idea of what is "in the way"? (Concrete? Wood? lots of metal?)

First off I'd say chances are slim as you state its an old linksys.. but you never know.
Second... if he sees a connection, wireless, it would normally try to connect, however low the signal is. If the signal is too low to function correctyly... it would say so. It would not 'just not connect"...

Do you get an error message when you try to connect? If so, what?

 

[2xg]

Hello,

You may use High Gain Antenna, if your existing router has detachable antennas.

To use your existing router, see is this helps:

How to connect one or more Routers to an existing Router?
This procedure will show you how to connect one or more routers to your existing router if you are planning to expand your network.

The second or additional routers will be converted to a Network Switch to expand the wireless network capability in your home.

You may also use the additional router’s LAN Ports to connect network devices such as Printer, NAS Device, or Game Console, etc.

1. To begin…Leave the current or main router’s configuration as it is. Whether it’s your ISP’s Device or your own Device, there’s nothing to modify.

You will need to configure the IP Address of the second and/or additional router to be in the same Subnet of your first Router. If your main Router has a DHCP Range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.50, you may assign a Static IP of 192.168.1.3, 192.168.1.4 and so on….to another router that you will be adding to your Network.

2. Disable the DHCP Server in your second and/or additional router.

3. On the additional router(s), setup the wireless configuration which is identical to the current or main router. You may use Wireless Channel 1, 6 or 11 which have very good signals. The Network Encryption (WEP, WPA, WPA2) will need to match the SSID (wireless network name) of the main router.

4. Connect a straight/patch network cable from the main router’s LAN port to one of the LAN ports on the second and/or additional router. You may use a cross-over network cable if none of the routers has auto-sensing Ports.

5. Finally, test the network connectivity.

Note: Don’t forget to write down all the IP addresses of your Modem, Router(s), and all the computers connected. You may use these later on if you come across some issues.

 

[MvdB]

Hello 2xg, good info and help... But you assume he can hard-wire the connection. I gathered he asked if he could use it as a wireless repeater... Which not all routers can....

Jesse, can you get a wired connection closer (close enough) to that garage? If so, 2xg's approach is great and easier...

 

[2xg]

Thanks...I think that the setup will be much easier to convert an old router to a Network Switch. Of course there are other alternative methods.

Jesse, can you get a wired connection closer (close enough) to that garage? If so, 2xg's approach is great and easier...

I'd always recommend High Gain Antenna or High Gain Device first, it's actually less hassle to setup and it's not Free.