networking - Setting up a Wireless Repeater in a home network

Main router/wap
Netgear WNR3500 (manual)

2nd wap
D-Link DAP-2553 (manual)

Goal of Network
The main router/wap (Netgear) sits in the corner of the house. The wireless tends to have a poor signal in the main area of the house. I picked up the D-Link so that I could add another wap to the main area of the house and provide a solid signal where most of the wireless devices hang out.

I'd like to have both the Netgear broadcast the wireless as well as the D-Link so that all areas of the house have good coverage and on the same SSID.

FYI: I have a wired connection between the D-Link wap and the Netgear router.

Netgear Settings

• Default IP address of 192.168.1.1


• Enable wireless router radio (yes)


• Enable wireless repeating function (yes)


• Set as wireless base station (yes)


• Disable Wireless Client Association (no)


• Added the MAC address of the D-Link to the repeater MAC address list

D-Link Settings

• Updated the static IP from 192.168.0.50 to 192.168.1.50


• Not sure which setting to choose from for the Wireless Settings Operational Mode. The options are:
  
  
  
  1. Wireless Client: AP acts as a wireless network adapter for your Ethernet-enabled device
  
  
  2. Access Point (AP): Create a wireless LAN
  
  
  3. WDS with AP: Wirelessly connect multiple networks while still functioning as a wireless AP
  
  
  4. WDS: Wirelessly connect multiple networks
  
  
  
  

Of Note: I have set both routers to be on the same SSID channel and security mode.

My Questions are

1. Have I set up the Netgear wireless repeater options correctly?


2. What mode do I set up the D-Link as?


3. Am I even going about this the correct way? i.e., is the repeater option what I'm really looking for?

Thanks!

Answer

FYI: I have a wired connection between the D-Link wap and the Netgear router.

Since your second wireless access point is already wired into the network, you really do not require a wireless repeater. IF (and only if) the second WAP (the D-Link in your installation) was not already wired in, then this WAP would act as a repeater (not the Netgear as your initial configuration).

The primary wireless router (the Netgear) could be setup as if were the sole WAP in the house: DHCP enabled and whatever "normal" wireless settings you choose.

The secondary WAP (the D-Link) should be configured as a wireless access point (which means that DHCP must be disabled on this unit). This unit's LAN port should be assigned a static IP address within the subnet but outside the DHCP allocation range. You have set it to 192.168.1.50, which is outside the Netgear's default(?) .60 to .100 range; I'm lazy and use .2. Setup its wireless with the same SSID and security configuration as the other WAP, but on a different radio channel at least 5 channel numbers different to avoid overlap.

If you encounter wireless connection issues, then the first thing to do is revert to different SSIDs, so that you can determine to which WAP you're connecting (or not). You might want to use inSSIDer to help view channel activity and signal strength at various locations within your home.

Here's a link to a guy's solution to your near identical situation. Just don't get confused when he turns off the 1st router; it's only temporary in order to access the 2nd router which initially has the same IP address.

Correction: Your WNR3500 has a different default DHCP address range from my WNR3700. Just like the second URL mentioned, you will have to exclude the D-Link's static IP address from the range of IP addresses handed out by the Netgear's DHCP. Be sure to have the wired network working as expected before troubleshooting the wireless network.