WRT54G as a WAP?

Se7eN · 01-02-2008, 04:03 PM

I bought this router assuming that I could use it as a wireless access point but I am now unsure if I can use it. When I bought it off newegg, it said WPA, and my eyes tricked me into seeing WAP.

I want to connect this WRT54G v8 to the WRT54GS v7 wirelessly that is downstairs. It is not possible to wire the connection.

Did I purchase the wrong router? It took newegg almost 2 weeks to send it to me. I would hate to have to return it to them and wait again for another unit.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

**jarod** · 01-02-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Se7eN

I bought this router assuming that I could use it as a wireless access point but I am now unsure if I can use it. When I bought it off newegg, it said WPA, and my eyes tricked me into seeing WAP.

I want to connect this WRT54G v8 to the WRT54GS v7 wirelessly that is downstairs. It is not possible to wire the connection.

Did I purchase the wrong router? It took newegg almost 2 weeks to send it to me. I would hate to have to return it to them and wait again for another unit.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

WPA means wifi protected access which is a kind next level of WIFI encryption security

WAP however mean wifi access points. What you got is a router marked by WRT.

Why wouldn't it be possible to wire if by connection. You could try to connect them both using ethernet cables.

**johnwill** · 01-02-2008, 04:46 PM

Take a look at DD-WRT 3rd party firmware for that router. It will give it AP functionality, as well as a host of other improvements. Oh, and it's free.

Se7eN · 01-02-2008, 05:04 PM

johnwill. I have the WRT54G v8. in the supported devices, it only goes up to v6. v1-v4 can use any build of DD-WRT, and v5-v6 use the micro version only. Do you think that I should use the micro version?

Is setting up DD-WRT relatively easy? What if it doesn't work? Will newegg still take it back?

Thanks!

Se7eN · 01-02-2008, 05:23 PM

Also johnwill, I checked out the supported devices and the v5-v6 versions had a link to http://www.bitsum.com/openwiking/owb...sp?WRT54G5_CFE

Under Compatibility under that link, it says that v7 is not supported and is a different chipset.

I will send it back to newegg as a last resort. I do not want to wait a week for a new router to get here.

Thanks again,
Mike

Se7eN · 01-02-2008, 05:33 PM

johnwill. sorry for yet another post, but this guy seems to have figured it out. Does this seem legit?

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/sh...1#post19103081

Thanks,
Mike

**johnwill** · 01-03-2008, 07:46 AM

Looks like v7 and v8 are supported: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php...r_supported.3F

I don't think I'd try the procedure you posted, but I think that's for v5 & 6 anyway.

Se7eN · 01-03-2008, 09:29 AM

I think I am going to return the WRT54G and possibly get the WAP54G. What is the difference in the units? Is it hardware? firmware? both?

**johnwill** · 01-03-2008, 02:38 PM

Truthfully, you'll end up paying significantly more for the WAP54G, and you'll get more functionality with DD-WRT. However, it's dealer's choice. :)

Se7eN · 01-03-2008, 04:54 PM

yeah. The WRT54G was $50 and the WAP54G is $70. Though, if I do buy the WAP54G, then I can put dd-wrt on it as well.

**johnwill** · 01-04-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Se7eN

yeah. The WRT54G was $50 and the WAP54G is $70. Though, if I do buy the WAP54G, then I can put dd-wrt on it as well.

Sure, and be $20 poorer!

QuietusMaximus · 02-27-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Se7eN

I bought this router assuming that I could use it as a wireless access point but I am now unsure if I can use it. When I bought it off newegg, it said WPA, and my eyes tricked me into seeing WAP.

I want to connect this WRT54G v8 to the WRT54GS v7 wirelessly that is downstairs. It is not possible to wire the connection.

Did I purchase the wrong router? It took newegg almost 2 weeks to send it to me. I would hate to have to return it to them and wait again for another unit.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

If you can't run ethernet cable between the two devices, you are looking for a wireless range expander, not a WAP. The WRT54G can be configured as a WAP, but to the best of my knowledge there must be a wired connection between them. I don't believe it can be configured as a range expander. As for range expanders, that opens up another bag of issues. I had one for a while, but it was more trouble than it was worth. I ultimately went with powerline ethernet adapters and a WRT54G configured as a WAP to get whole house coverage. It's been working fine ever since.

**johnwill** · 02-27-2008, 02:32 PM

You might look into the 3rd party firmware DD-WRT. This adds capability, and I'm pretty sure that wireless bridging is one of the capabilities.

01-02-2008, 04:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Se7eN Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 70 OS: XP	WRT54G as a WAP? I bought this router assuming that I could use it as a wireless access point but I am now unsure if I can use it. When I bought it off newegg, it said WPA, and my eyes tricked me into seeing WAP. I want to connect this WRT54G v8 to the WRT54GS v7 wirelessly that is downstairs. It is not possible to wire the connection. Did I purchase the wrong router? It took newegg almost 2 weeks to send it to me. I would hate to have to return it to them and wait again for another unit. Thanks in advance, Mike

01-02-2008, 04:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,874 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: WRT54G as a WAP? Take a look at DD-WRT 3rd party firmware for that router. It will give it AP functionality, as well as a host of other improvements. Oh, and it's free. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-02-2008, 05:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Se7eN Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 70 OS: XP	Re: WRT54G as a WAP? johnwill. I have the WRT54G v8. in the supported devices, it only goes up to v6. v1-v4 can use any build of DD-WRT, and v5-v6 use the micro version only. Do you think that I should use the micro version? Is setting up DD-WRT relatively easy? What if it doesn't work? Will newegg still take it back? Thanks!

01-02-2008, 05:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Se7eN Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 70 OS: XP	Re: WRT54G as a WAP? Also johnwill, I checked out the supported devices and the v5-v6 versions had a link to http://www.bitsum.com/openwiking/owb...sp?WRT54G5_CFE Under Compatibility under that link, it says that v7 is not supported and is a different chipset. I will send it back to newegg as a last resort. I do not want to wait a week for a new router to get here. Thanks again, Mike

01-02-2008, 05:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Se7eN Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 70 OS: XP	Re: WRT54G as a WAP? johnwill. sorry for yet another post, but this guy seems to have figured it out. Does this seem legit? http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/sh...1#post19103081 Thanks, Mike

01-03-2008, 07:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,874 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: WRT54G as a WAP? Looks like v7 and v8 are supported: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php...r_supported.3F I don't think I'd try the procedure you posted, but I think that's for v5 & 6 anyway. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Last edited by johnwill; 01-03-2008 at 07:47 AM.

01-03-2008, 09:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
Se7eN Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 70 OS: XP	Re: WRT54G as a WAP? I think I am going to return the WRT54G and possibly get the WAP54G. What is the difference in the units? Is it hardware? firmware? both?

01-03-2008, 02:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,874 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: WRT54G as a WAP? Truthfully, you'll end up paying significantly more for the WAP54G, and you'll get more functionality with DD-WRT. However, it's dealer's choice. :) __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-03-2008, 04:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Se7eN Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 70 OS: XP	Re: WRT54G as a WAP? yeah. The WRT54G was $50 and the WAP54G is $70. Though, if I do buy the WAP54G, then I can put dd-wrt on it as well.

02-27-2008, 02:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,874 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: WRT54G as a WAP? You might look into the 3rd party firmware DD-WRT. This adds capability, and I'm pretty sure that wireless bridging is one of the capabilities. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience