WRT54GL repeater, had to manually configure

[dewyatt]

I installed the gargoyle firmware 1.2.1 for broadcom on my WRT54GL 1.1.
I'm trying to extend my wireless network, using this device as a repeater.
I understand that I can do this in the "Wireless Bridge/Repeater" mode but I want the option of the routers each having their own encryption methods or keys (that may differ).
Right now they're both open but I intend to change that if I can get things working correctly.

This is the basic setup I want:
Configure Device As: Gateway
Connect Via: DHCP Wireless
Client+AP
etc...
But I could never connect to the wireless repeater's wireless network.
I could connect wired and communicate with the repeated network, but I couldn't connect wirelessly at all (though the network did show up).
Also, when ssh'ed into the router, I couldn't communicate with the repeated network...I added a static route that seemed to fix this but I don't know why I had to.
I reflashed and retried multiple times but never could connect wirelessly.

I just started fresh and tried again setting things up.
Here is the routing table this produced:

Kernel IP routing table
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
192.168.5.0 * 255.255.255.0 U 0 0 0 br-lan
192.168.2.0 * 255.255.255.0 U 0 0 0 br-wan
default 192.168.2.1 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 br-wan

These are the config files this produced:

/etc/config/network

config 'switch' 'eth0'
option 'vlan0' '0 1 2 3 5*'
option 'vlan1' '4 5'

config 'interface' 'loopback'
option 'ifname' 'lo'
option 'proto' 'static'
option 'ipaddr' '127.0.0.1'
option 'netmask' '255.0.0.0'

config 'interface' 'lan'
option 'type' 'bridge'
option 'ifname' 'eth0.0'
option 'proto' 'static'
option 'netmask' '255.255.255.0'
option 'ipaddr' '192.168.5.1'
option 'dns' '192.168.5.1'

config 'interface' 'wan'
option 'proto' 'dhcp'
option 'type' 'bridge'

/etc/config/wireless

config 'wifi-device' 'wl0'
option 'type' 'broadcom'
option 'channel' '1'

config 'wifi-iface' 'cfg2'
option 'device' 'wl0'
option 'mode' 'ap'
option 'network' 'lan'
option 'ssid' 'Repeater'
option 'encryption' 'none'

config 'wifi-iface' 'cfg3'
option 'device' 'wl0'
option 'mode' 'sta'
option 'network' 'wan'
option 'ssid' 'RepeatMe'
option 'encryption' 'none'

I found that removing the "option type bridge" from "config interface wan" (/etc/config/network) allowed me to connect wirelessly.

But, B/W Distribution doesn't show anything. If I add "option ifname br-lan" where "option type bridge" was then it will show the wired and wireless clients, but is this correct?

So, in summary, everything is working fine for the most part.
But, why doesn't the web interface seem to configure things in a way that works?
Or am I doing something wrong?
Let me know if ifconfig output or anything else is needed.

[DoesItMatter]

See this thread as well about repeating with different encryption.

http://www.gargoyle-router.com/phpbb/vi ... ?f=6&t=505

What Browser are you using?

Do you have cookies disabled?

Try Internet Explorer 7 or 8 to do any settings first.

Next, try Mozilla Firefox 3.5 or 3.6

If neither of those 2 work last suggestion is Google Chrome.

[dewyatt]

Yes, I read that thread, that's where I got the original settings to try.
I'm using Chromium. I really didn't think it was a problem with my browser but I'll try IE 8 and see what happens.

[dewyatt]

Well I reflashed the firmware, resetting all the settings.
I loaded up IE 8 and, after setting password/timezone, went directly to Connection/Basic and set it up as follows:



I let it reboot and it seems to have changed nothing at all.
The config files generated are the same, I had to remove "option type bridge" to connect wirelessly, etc.

[dewyatt]

Maybe this is related to these:
http://www.gargoyle-router.com/phpbb/vi ... =391#p2098
http://www.gargoyle-router.com/phpbb/vi ... 2473#p2473

One of those is pretty old, don't know if it still applies.
I'm not using WDS, but still seems applicable.

[grogi]

I understand that I can do this in the "Wireless Bridge/Repeater" mode but I want the option of the routers each having their own encryption methods or keys (that may differ).
Right now they're both open but I intend to change that if I can get things working correctly.

Yep - that is the idea. Unfortunately the OpenWRT driver doesn't support the AP + Client configuration at the moment on Broadcom hardware... Forget about the repeater