Help Constructing Wireless-to-Wireless Bridge

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Tony Whitman
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 14 Jun 2019
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Sun Jun 16, 2019 21:14    Post subject: Help Constructing Wireless-to-Wireless Bridge Reply with quote
Using my neighbor's WiFi. I have Tp-Link Archer C59 all configured and working as a wireless bridge. Two wireless connections working (phones), one desktop working (via LAN), DHCP is "Off" on the C59, manual local IP Addresses configured, everything is cherry except for...

Except for the wireless signal is weak due to the fact that the signal is travelling through 2 exterior walls and maybe 4 interior walls. The C59 is connected to the Desktop, so I can't move it closer to the neighbor's house.

I want to add my Linksys WRT54G (ver. 1.1) with dd-wrt.v24-9517_VINT_openvpn.bin apparently successfully flashed and working. I saw "apparently" because it's complex, I haven't fully tested it yet, don't know enough on how to test it, but I can do everything I've tried with it. I assume it works and is fully-functional, and have no reason to think otherwise. I'd like to place the WRT54G at the farthest point from the Tp-Link, and the closest point (inside the house) to the neighbor's wireless modem, where the signal is very strong (I've checked).

I tried to follow some directions I saw on a Youtube video, but I never got internet through the WRT54G. The Tp-Link Archer C59 has explicit, proactive instructions in the GUI to help set-up the wireless bridge (you enter the SSID, and password, etc...) and the WRT54G is very non-intuitive.

One concern is the fact that I have DHCP turned off on all devices. Since I assume the neighbor's cable modem is the DHCP server, I don't want to create problems and conflicts with his use of it, so I made everything manual IP Addresses, and it all works well.

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Tony Whitman
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 14 Jun 2019
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 19:07    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ok first thank you very much for the reply.

First could/should I get the WRT54G configured as a repeater bridge first, and then change the local IP "subnet"?

In general I get the idea that the neighbor's local IP is 192.168.0.something, and you are suggesting that I should have the TP-link convert that to something else, like 192.168.1.something. As an experiment, I switched the Tp-Link's "Internet Connection Type" from from "Dynamic IP" to "Static IP"; figuring now we've locked the Tp-Link into the 192.168.1.something range (see attached pic). Everything seems to work, but I don't understand why. I can always change it back.

In terms of the neighbor, they have zero technical sophistication. Someone from the ISP set the whole thing up, and I doubt they could even access the settings of the modem. However, in the interests of "good computing", I'd like to implement basic computer security for general purpose reasons, at some point.

I've looked through the Tp-Link's settings and finding nothing similar to the WRT54G's "Router" vs. "Gateway" options, so I assumed setting the Local IP to "Static" might be the thing to do. Pure guesswork.

Under Tp-Link>Network>Advanced Routing>System Routing Table, the 192.169.0.0 Local IP Address is enumerated as (Interface) "Wan". I assume this is the "root" of the neighbor's router, and this is the "virtual Wan" you referred to in your post. I can screenshot and post anything you need.

Also, in case it's important, I have "ARP Binding" enabled. I did this because after I set everything up, I noticed my P2P was seeing less than 10% of the seeds, and for some reason I decided that "binding" the desktop's Local IP Address (192.168.0.41) to (whatever, I have no clue, maybe it binds the local IP to the Mac Address) would be a good thing, and as soon as I did this, the P2P software started working normally.

I have to go research some of these terms you've used, "repeater bridge". One problem is that it seems all the instructions I read are aimed at people setting up a "repeater bridge" interfacing directly to a modem, and not as a bridge between two wireless routers. Sometimes I wonder if I'm simply building something called a "range extender". These terms change and the meanings are out-of-context for me, so knowledge takes a long time to "stick".

Another question is the use of the term "subnet", which I always understood to be the "255.255.255.etc..." data fields, but I never understood what it was, what it was for, etc... and then sometimes I see people refering to the Local IP Address "subnet" (192.168.0.x vs. 192.168.1.x), which is what you seem to be doing here, in the interests of preventing a computer from one (Local IP) "subnet" from having access to another computer on a different (Local IP) "subnet". It gets very confusing.

Quote:
"You might even implement a VPN client on the TP-Link to protect your privacy as traffic travels through the neighbor's network. And you can even have your own port forwarding capability by having the neighbor assign a static lease to your TP-Link's WAN, then placing that IP in the DMZ of the neighbor's router. Now anything the neighbor isn't using for his own port forwarding is automatically forwarded to the TP-Link."


I have to take all of this "under advisement" and think about it. I've never really understood the idea of a "WAN", except that's the thing you never mess with when connecting cables, and if you plug something into it, things won't work. So "virtual WAN" throws me. I have a lot to learn, and thank you.

Finally, I'm lucky the neighbor has been kind enough to let me use his WiFi, and would never ask to get access to any of his modem's settings, nor do I think he's capable of doing anything there either. I'd like to maximize what I have, and remain as invisible and unobtrusive as possible.

Also "Finally, Part 2" is that I see the "DNS Server" field with the standard 8.8.8.8, etc... of Google's DNS, but some instructions have you put the DHCP Server's local IP Address in there instead, or the "gateway", IDK. This also gets confusing. So I just plug the 8's in there whenever I'm supposed to put something in.



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Tony Whitman
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 14 Jun 2019
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:47    Post subject: Reply with quote
Note: I'm trying to keep the image files from pushing the column width past 80?, but if I reduce the pixel width (in Windows Paint) AT ALL, the text in the image becomes illegible. It's a PNG file. Not sure if I'll get better results if I conver to JPG. I've never seen this happen before. Just a note to let people know I'm aware it's a problem and I cannot seem to find a way to fix it.


eibgrad wrote:
Ok, let's back up a second and make sure I understand the *current* config. Because your diagram at least suggests the TP-Link is connected via wireless to the neighbor's AP. But I don't see how that's possible since, AFAIK, the TP-Link (when using OEM firmware) is only capable of using its wireless radios as APs, NOT as a wireless client that can connect to the neighbor's AP. That's why I had assumed the TP-Link has been updated w/ dd-wrt firmware, where you *could* convert one of the AP's into a wireless client that then connected to the neighbor's AP, by using repeater bridge mode.

So again, how is it that the TP-Link has its own APs to which devices like smartphones are connected, *and* is connected to the neighbor's AP? All I can imagine is that the *neighbor* is establishing a wireless connection back to your TP-Link's AP, just like those smartphones. Is this the case?


The Tp-Link GUI has a section where you enter the name of the wireless network you want it to bridge, along with the wireless password. Tp-Link>System Tools>System Parameters>2.4Ghz (see attached image). Now that I look at this and think about it, I wonder if the fact that it's "WDS Bridging" is significant.


The Tp-Link is using stock, factory, OEM software/firmware. I removed it new from the box myself.

Quote:
All I can imagine is that the *neighbor* is establishing a wireless connection back to your TP-Link's AP, just like those smartphones. Is this the case?


The neighbor is a house painter, doesn't speak any English, and has zero knowledge of computer tech. The only thing the neighbor has done is given me the network SSID (it's openly broadcasted), and the wireless password.

The whole system works, except the signal strength is weak, due to the fact that the Tp-Link is more than 40 feet away from the Neighbor's Wireless Cable modem (Ubee, from Spectrum), through two exterior walls and 3 or 4 interior walls.

What I want to do is insert the WRT54G with dd-wrt firmware in between the Neighbor's Wireless Cable modem in a place where the signal strength is strong (the garage) and just let it "repeat" the connection to the Tp-Link which sits on my desk, connected to my desktop via LAN cable.

Or, as an alternative, put the Tp-Link in the garage, and install the WRT54G near the desktop, to be connected via LAN cable.



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ian5142
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 23 Oct 2013
Posts: 2318
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 12:53    Post subject: Linking Routers page and Router Mode comparision table Reply with quote
Have you read these two pages: https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linking_Routers

https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Repeating_Mode_Comparisons#Router_Mode_Comparison_Table

Also, is there anyway that the TP-Link router can run DD-WRT? What model and revision is it?

WDS will not work between the TP-Link and the WRT54G (Atheros vs Broadcom). Repeater or Client modes will. I would suggest repeater mode for the router going in your neighbour's garage.

_________________
Before asking a question on the forums, update dd-wrt: Where do I download firmware? I suggest reading it all.
QCA Best WiFi Settings


Some dd-wrt wiki pages are up to date, others are not. PM me if you find an old one.

Atheros:
Netgear R7800 x3 - WDS AP / station, gateway, QoS
TP-Link Archer C7 v2 x2 - WDS Station
TP-Link TL-WDR3600 v1 - WDS Station
TP-Link 841nd v8 - NU
D-Link 615 C1/E3/I1 x 7 - 1 WDS station
D-Link 825 B1 - NU
D-Link 862L A1 x2 - WDS Station
Netgear WNDR3700v2 - NU
UBNT loco M2 x2 - airOS

Broadcom
Linksys EA6400 - Gateway, QoS
Asus N66U - AP
Netgear WNDR3700v3 - not used
MediaTek
UBNT EdgeRouter X - switch
kbocek
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 22 Jan 2016
Posts: 23

PostPosted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 15:48    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ditto to Ian on the Linking_Routers page. I just setup an ancient Dlink DIR-632A as a bridged router to provide better coverage in my back yard. That page made the process pretty clear.
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