 Re: Dlink DWL-7100AP in Repeater Mode
KA2PFL <ka2pfl@juno.com> wrote:
> Hello Folks,
> I am a noob when it comes to wifi, so please bear with me. What I am
> trying to accomplish is this. I want to use the DWL-7100AP to extend
> the range of my laptop wireless connection, without a wired connection
> between the laptop and the 7100AP. I am going to use it on a boat and
> just hoist it up the mast (with a small battery) when I am in a
> harbor. I was hoping to select the AP I want to access by using the
> site survey tool in the 7100AP by wireless connection. I selected the
> 7100AP because I thought it would be nice to use the A band for laptop
> to the 7100AP, and the G band as the connection to remote AP's (the
> 7100AP has a menu option to allow the exchange of data between the 2
> bands).
<http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=304>
OK. You are using it as a repeater:
: The DWL-7100AP can operate as an Access Point, Point-to-Point Bridge,
: Point-to-Multipoint Bridge, and Repeater.
> First thing I found out the 7100AP has to have an internet or router
> connection to it before I can connect to the web browser to configure
> the 7100AP. Ok, I connect it to my router and set it up as a repeater,
> use the site survey to select an AP to connect to. I can then
> disconnect the 7100AP from my router, and can get the 7100AP to repeat
> a remote AP and I can still access the web browser menu to control the
> 7100AP.
<http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=304>
: Network administrators can manage the DWL-7100AP settings via its
: Web-based configuration utility or though Telnet.
Have you tried using telnet?
> The problem is when I try to use the site survey tool in the web
> browser to select another AP to connect to, I loose the wireless
> connection to the 7100AP. It seems to me that as soon as the 7100AP is
> not connected to something to give it an external IP address, The
> laptop refuses to connect to the 7100AP. The only way I can connect to
> the 7100AP again is to connect it with the Ethernet port to a router.
> I tried connecting a cable between the laptop and the 7100AP (even a
> crossover cable) and I am unable to communicate with it. It seems like
> if the 7100AP is not getting ip information from an external source,
> there is no way to connect to it (wirelessly or wired).
An AP usually has a default ip-address, so you can connect by cable to
the access point without the AP having to be connected to a DHCP server.
I can do that with my DWL-G700AP when in repeater mode.
What does the manual say?
> So my question is this, how do I get the 7100AP to do what I want as
> stated above? Can it be done? Do I need some other equipment to
> connect to the 7100AP? Please help!
<http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=304>
: For advanced configuration, network administrators can deploy
: multimode operation such as using the DWL-7100AP as a 5GHz 802.11a
: wireless bridge while simultaneously providing Access Point
: functionality for 2.4GHz 802.11b/g networks.
I think you should try aiming at setting it up as an access point on the
5GHz band and as a repeater on the 2.4GHz.
That way you should be able to connect by wireless to the default
ip-address of the access point on the 5GHz band and configure the
repeater.
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