Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 16:59 Post subject: How to turn Modem into Repeater is it possible?
Hi Guys
I have a Netgear R7800 running an old DD-WRT v3.0-r37495M kongat (10/28/1 i was about to update it after pontificating for months.
But i have been given a Zim Board which i intend to put OpenSense on it.
My current setup is Outside>Modem>Netgear R7800>Wifi & Switch>LAN this has worked fine
I want to go Outside>Modem>Zim(OpenSense)>Switch> LAN & Netgear R7800 (Repeater)
Is this the correct way?
Can i set the Netgear R7800 running DD-WRT v3.0-r37495M kongat (10/28/1 as a repeater?
I only want OpenSense to do dhcp not the router
Last edited by thorrrr on Mon Jan 09, 2023 17:11; edited 1 time in total
If you are really cautious reset before upgrading, but the most important thing is the reset after the upgrade (do that manually after you have upgraded).
Recommended reading, see the forum guidelines with helpful pointers about how to research your router, where and what firmware to download, where and how to post and many other helpful tips:
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=324087
R7800 install guide: see link in my signature at the bottom
You are connecting wired (the sensible choice ) so you can setup the R7800 as an Access Point.
Wireless Access Point (WAP):
A secondary router connected wired LAN<>LAN on the same subnet as the primary router.
On Basic Setup page:
• On Basic Setup page:
o WAN disabled
o DHCP server Disabled (=off and NOT set as Forwarder!)
o Local IP address in subnet of primary router but outside DHCP scope, make sure the used IP address is unique on your network you cannot have duplicates.
o Gateway and Local DNS pointing to primary router
• Keep DNSMasq enabled (both on Basic Setup page and Services page)
• On Setup > Advanced Routing, keep Operating mode in the default Gateway (the wiki says Router mode but do not do that, either it does not matter (this case) or break things)
• On Security > Firewall keep the SPI Firewall enabled, although you do not want a firewall it will be automatically disabled as there is no WAN so no need to change this setting form default.
• Connect LAN <> LAN (do not use the WAN port unless you really need that extra port, for most routers traffic still must use the CPU so performance is lacklustre and there are some routers where the WAN port is not added to the br0 so the WAN port could be non-functional on some routers).
Note: for Broadcom routers for best throughput enable CTF on Basic Setup Page
You have to add the following rule to the firewall in order to get internet access from clients attached to a VAP/Bridge on your WAP.
In the web-interface of the router (the WAP): Administration > Commands save Firewall:
#Always necessary (alternatively set static route on main router and NAT traffic from VAP/Bridge out via WAN):
iptables -t nat -I POSTROUTING -o br0 -j SNAT --to $(nvram get lan_ipaddr)
If you want to only have the VAP/bridge to have internet access and not access to the rest of the network
#Replace with the appropriate interface of your VAP, e.g. wl0.1, wlan0.1 etc:
GUEST_IF="wlan1.1"
#Net Isolation does not work on a WAP so keep it disabled, add for isolating VAP from main network:
iptables -I FORWARD -i $GUEST_IF -d $(nvram get lan_ipaddr)/$(nvram get lan_netmask) -m state --state NEW -j REJECT
Hi
Thank you again for an indepth reply and i will spend the next few days reading through all the info.
Can i ask (i apprciate you are a DD-WRT Guru) and i understand if you send me off to Opensense forums but i am in this grey area. I know if i go to them they will say we have no knowlege in DD-WRT (my grey area)
Will following your good advice from your extensive knowledge allow this Router to work with Opensense and allow Opensense to control everything?
On a sidenote if i take this process step by step (as you have spotted i have to think about my life my other half works from home online)
My thought was to upgrade the router to 51275 with the links you provided and the well written HOWTO document. But to use it for a few days under my current setup.
After i run the upgrade and to run on my current setup do you still recommend i reset it after upgrade?
Also a point a failed to mention i use Additional DNSMasq Options with a txt list of me devices
I guess i will have to enter these manually into Opensense?
Hi
Ok read the guide a few times just for clarity after upgrade you say reset AFTER upgrade.
So does this mean from GUI or CLI or do you mean do the 30/30/30?
Also i see in the GUI a reset option in th firmware area but i also see the other tab restore to factory defualt i guess you mean the reset from the firmware area if its not 30/30/30.
Also after reset does it reset its IP address to 192.168.1.1 with default login as USERNAME admin and PASSWORD password
At which point i manually add all my old settings back in.
As i have a BT Modem feeding the router direct is the default IP of 192.168.1.1 guaranteed ?
Coming from build 37495M a reset to defaults *after* upgrading to a recent build e.g. 51288 (as of today) is necessary, put settings in manually.
The DHCP reservations have to be transferred to your Opensense router, the other entries in DNSMasq options should also be deleted but that will all be deleted after you reset to defaults (and should not be put back).
You have me confused now
You say should NOT be put back !
Or do you mean when i move over to OPensense ?
HI
I was vever going to do any restore just follow your advice.
I was going to type or copy paste things by hand.
But when i read Additional DNSMasq options do not add them back i was under the impression you no longer used that option.
So i take it i can just paste them back in which is great it makes things easier
i was about to update it after pontificating for months.
) so you can setup the R7800 as an Access Point.
