Attached file? Don't see one.
Consider the following diagrams, with "====" being a wired connection and "(())" being wireless:
upstairsComputer (()) upstairsRouter (()) downstairsRouter ==== modem
You can't do the system described above with 2 WRT54G routers. First, there is no repeater mode in the router's firmware. Second, if the upstairs computer can't connect to the downstairs router, an upstairs router would probably have a hard time connecting, too.
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upstairsComputer (()) upstairsRouter ==== downstairsRouter ==== modem
upstairsComputer (()) upstairsAccessPt ==== downstairsRouter ==== modem
You can do either of these by connecting the two floors by ethernet. An expensive solution would be to use one of those systems that turn home wiring into ethernet to connnect the two routers. If using two WRT54G's, then A) turn off DHCP upstairs, B ) Give it an IP other than the main router, which is 192.168.1.1, C) set one wifi channel to 1 and the other to 11, D) Hook them up LAN port to LAN port. You can use the same network names (SSID) and WEP keys, I'm told (though I haven't tried any of this).
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upstairsComputer ==== upstairsBridge (()) downstairsRouter ==== modem
If you absolutely can't run ethernet wire from floor-to-floor and can't afford the home wiring solution, you can perhaps run it from your upstairs computer to a bridge, but this wouldn't really give you much of an upstairs network, and there still might be a signal problem.
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Here's what I did to get upstairs wireless with a downstairs WRT54G:
a) Bought a D-Link 7 dBm antenna w/base to replace one of the WRT54G's antennas.
b) built a parabolic reflector for the new antenna using foam board and aluminum flashing.
c) tilted the antenna slightly so the reflector directed the signal toward the upstair room where wireless was needed.
d) Glued a photo of my kids over the box-shaped reflector assembly.
Cost: $20 after rebate + time + scrap material
Last edited by Geocorona; 03-03-2007 at 08:19 PM.
Reason: 'B)' displayed as a 'cool smiley'
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