How can I connect 2 Linksys Wireless Routers?

grs · Jul 17, 2008

How can I use two Linksys WRT54G wireless routers to connect with each other to connect two groups of PC's?

Can I do it with the stadard firmware or do I need to install DD-WRT?

Madwand · Jul 17, 2008

Wired connection is simple -- just assign the second router a distinct, non-conflicting IP, disable its DHCP and routing, and connect the two via LAN ports.

Wireless router-to-router connection generally needs third-party firmware such as DD-WRT on the second router. See DD-WRT's docs and this thread for more on this: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=570136 .

grs · Jul 17, 2008

Are there any makes/models of wireless access that can do it with stock firmware?

Madwand · Jul 17, 2008

This feature is very rare in routers with stock firmware, but can be found in a number of off-the-shelf devices. E.g. the D-Link DAP-1522, SMC SMCWEB-N, Linksys WET* series, Netgear WGPS606, and some "wireless gaming adapters". You need to check if the gaming adapters support multiple wired devices though -- many don't.

Jon · Jul 17, 2008

My cheapo Airlink AR680W Draft-N router does this. I have it running off a WRT54G v3 with HyperWRT.

Hitbox · Jul 17, 2008

Also, DD-WRT is just awesome. I've installed it on BOTH routers, regardless of need.

curtis1552 · Jul 17, 2008

If you are going to install DD-WRT make sure you read the directions for your specific router version. I bought a WRT54GS and there are complications to installing DD-WRT, so I'm waiting for them to work them out before i install it.

Hitbox · Jul 17, 2008

curtis1552 said:
If you are going to install DD-WRT make sure you read the directions for your specific router version. I bought a WRT54GS and there are complications to installing DD-WRT, so I'm waiting for them to work them out before i install it.

Out of all of the Linksys routers, that is the worst one to put DD-WRT on

. I would find a WRT54G, which is what I have and worked perfectly.

Madwand · Jul 18, 2008

Jon said:
My cheapo Airlink AR680W Draft-N router does this. I have it running off a WRT54G v3 with HyperWRT.

It would be very nice to have an inexpensive draft-n router which also does client mode wireless bridging, but I didn't see that in the Airlink's manual. Will you clarify this further?

Jon · Jul 18, 2008

Madwand said:
It would be very nice to have an inexpensive draft-n router which also does client mode wireless bridging, but I didn't see that in the Airlink's manual. Will you clarify this further?

It doesn't bridge wirelessly - you have to run a cable from your gateway router to this one using one of the switch ports. Assign it a non-conflicting device address (default would be xxx.xxx.xxx.1), disable DHCP and you're off.

Madwand · Jul 18, 2008

Jon said:
It doesn't bridge wirelessly - you have to run a cable from your gateway router to this one using one of the switch ports. Assign it a non-conflicting device address (default would be xxx.xxx.xxx.1), disable DHCP and you're off.

Sure, any router can do this.

curtis1552 · Jul 18, 2008

DD-WRT and some other alternative firmware programs will allow wireless bridging.

petteyg359 · Jul 19, 2008

Hitbox said:
curtis1552 said:

If you are going to install DD-WRT make sure you read the directions for your specific router version. I bought a WRT54GS and there are complications to installing DD-WRT, so I'm waiting for them to work them out before i install it.

Click to expand...

Out of all of the Linksys routers, that is the worst one to put DD-WRT on . I would find a WRT54G, which is what I have and worked perfectly.

No, the WRT54GS is the exact same as a WRT54G, except that Linksys firmware disables speedboost on WRT54G. Neither version is better than the other for DD-WRT (and DD-WRT will enable speedboost on any WRT54G or WRT54GL). What makes one WRT* better than another is the model revision. WRT54G(S) v5 and up have different stock hardware and/or bootloader that hinders custom firmware install. Any WRT54G(S) v2 to v4 will work just fine, for v1 and v1.1 you need the "vint" version.

Madwand · Jul 19, 2008

petteyg359 said:
No, the WRT54GS is the exact same as a WRT54G, except that Linksys firmware disables speedboost on WRT54G.

No, the WRT54GS has more RAM than the current WRT54G, making it a better choice for a general-purpose router. However, the WRT54GL is still a better choice than either for flashing with third-party firmware, because it has more flash RAM and can support more complex firmware.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linksys_WRT54G_series

The Asus WL-520gU is similar in terms of RAM and flash RAM to the WRT54GL, and is also relatively inexpensive. As it has slightly newer underlying hardware, I'd probably choose that over even the WRT54GL.

That said, while all of this is relevant when running a router as a router, when you're running a router as a wireless bridge, the amount of RAM and flash RAM and the richness of the routing feature set is not as important.

petteyg359 · Jul 19, 2008

A used WRT54G with a confirmed older revision (translation: works with DD-WRT) can be had from eBay for as little as $20 if you have the time to go through the list.

Hitbox · Aug 13, 2008

I was in a very similar situation like yourself.

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=569603

mike171562 · Feb 12, 2009

Jon said:
My cheapo Airlink AR680W Draft-N router does this. I have it running off a WRT54G v3 with HyperWRT.

I did not know you could flash DD-WRT on the AR680W and I have looked extensively, is this truly possible?

ppe1700 · Feb 18, 2009

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deleted post due to "old post revival"

How can I connect 2 Linksys Wireless Routers?

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