How to use two WRE54G Range Expanders on one WRT54G wireless router

Configuration Data:

WRT54G Router
Default IP: 192.168.1.1

1st WRE54G Expander:
Default IP: 192.168.1.240
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

2nd WRT54G Expander:
Default IP: 192.168.1.241
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1 [OR] 192.168.1.240 ???

The Questions ???

Can both Expanders use the WRT54G's gateway IP?
i.e. the Router is in the center of two expanders each on
opposite sides. Example:

WRE54G(1).........30feet..................[WRT54G]..........30feet................WRE54G(2)

OR

does the 2nd expander need to use the gateway IP
of the first expander? Example:

[WRT54G]...............30feet..............WRE54G(1).....,,,....30feet............WRE54G(2)

TIA
Tony

 

They would both use 192.168.1.1 as the gateway IP. I can't help
thinking your throughput is going to suck, though. I believe it gets
cut in half when you use a single repeater, so two repeaters does
what, cut it by 4? Or even worse? You might do a lot better if you can
replace the repeaters with Ethernet cables, powerline networking, or
dedicated access point/client pairs that would operate on different
channels from each other to reduce/avoid interference.

 

Thanks for the other suggestions however I already purchased the
two expanders and am trying to make do.

Signal degradation is somewhat why I asked the question. I was told
it was also possible to daisy chain the expanders, i.e. make the first
the gateway for the next one farthest out. Sounds like you are saying
NO?? Im amazed at how many opinions are out there. I guess I will
just have to try the possibilities and monitor the results.

I currently use just one of these expanders about 40 feet away from
the wireless router that acts as its gateway and that works perfect.
No noticeable loss of bandwidth or drop outs.

Users seem to either love these expanders or hate them. Maybe its
a case of the Fox calling the grapes sour because they don't know how
to configure them. Personally I prefer knowing the facts before I
become a test pilot

TIA,
Tony

 

Nothing like buying first and figuring out later. I've probably
done it myself a few times, but I try not to.

Yes, you can daisy chain them if you need to, but your diagram above
made it look like one is hanging off in one direction while the other
is hanging off in the opposite direction. If you do need to daisy
chain them, then yes, the gateway IP of the second one will be the IP
of the first one, while the gateway IP of the first one will be the IP
of the router.

I guess it depends on what and how you're testing. If this is all
about Internet access, then you might be OK, depending on how fast
your Internet connection is; i.e., how much of a bottleneck it is. If
you do intraLAN file transfers across the daisy-chained link, you'll
likely be disappointed.

I recommend tools such as jperf or iperf (google them) for throughput
testing.

Under the best conditions, an 801.11g wireless connection should net
about 24 Megabits per second. Add a range expander, AKA repeater, and
throughput should be cut in half because the repeater can't receive
and send at the same time, so now you're down to a theoretical 12Mbps.
Add a second repeater daisy-chained and you'd be down to about 6Mbps,
but that's ignoring all of the interference flying around, so you're
more likely down to 2-3Mbps, if that.

I'm in the camp that says use a range expander as a last resort. Every
other way of expanding a network is probably better, IMHO. But by all
means, go for it! It's all about learning what works, and you may be
pleasantly surprised.

 

Sorry for my lame diagrams lol the 2nd one was to illustrate the daisy
chain. Since you have been kind enough to share your knowledge
info let explain further. I have a home network with 5 PCs, one is
the server with the WRT54G, two are wired vi cat5 cable and two are
wireless, with one of those two needing the expander because its
located on the far end (60 feet away) of the house. This all works
great.

I am a Ham radio operator and have an outhouse we affectionately
refer to as a Ham Shack. This is located 150 feet from the house.
My little hotspot locator gives me 1 green led right up to the outside
wall of the shack (which is enough to just make a connection) but once
I move inside the signal goes red. Thus I want to place the 2nd
expander on an outside wall of the main house (where I get 3 green
bars) that faces towards the shack and should give a usable signal
inside the shack.

I could run a cat5 out there but it would be difficult and Im lazy,
"so, there it is" as the Austrian King often said.

73 and thanks again for your feedback!
Tony

 

The message <>
from Tony Martin <> contains these words:

====snip====

Here's a suggestion, plug the phrase "wok antenna" (with or without
quotes) into a search engine. Considering your hobby, I think you'll
find the results of considerable interest. You could also try "pringles
cantenna" and variations thereof. ;-)

HTH