WiFi Bridge
Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 10:51 pm
Hi. I am trying to setup a WNDR3700V2 so that I can connect to a WiFi network which I will call Network 1 and then create a separate WiFi network which I will call Network 2. I wish Network 2 to do DHCP and be invisible to Network 1. The reason is so that when travelling I can have my Chromecast on my caravan TV all setup on Network 2 and then I can use various devices as the data source on Network 1, e.g. share the data allowance of my and my wife's mobile phones, use a WiFi data modem, log in to a local WiFi network, etc. I have tried using the bridge function and this did not seem to do the job.
I have found using the following almost works, with one big problem.
On the Basic Connection screen in Device Configuration I use 'Gateway (Default)'.
On Internet/WAN I use Connect via 'DHCP (Wireless)'.
In Local Network/LAN I setup a Router IP of 192.168.23.1.
On Wireless I use Wireless mode 'Client+AP'.
I only enable the 2.4GHz connection.
For the SSID to join I put in Network 1, e.g. my mobile phone hotspot data.
For Access Point SSID I use a different SSID to the phone, let's call it 'test'.
I use WPA2 PSK encryption with appropriate password. Everything else I leave at default settings.
This all works great when first enabled, I get a 'test' WiFi network which hands out IP addresses on a different subnet to Network 1 and uses my phones hotspot for data. I can setup my TV Chromecast on Network 2 'test' and this works perfectly.
Now if I wish to use my wife's phone for the data next time. I setup my wife's phone as the hotspot and switch the Router back on. Now while the Router WiFi light is on, it does not broadcast the 'test' WiFi network. As I use a tablet to setup the router I can not connect to the router on the WiFi 'test' Network to rescan and change the network 1 SSID to join to my wife's phone hotspot. I would have thought the router would re-establish the 'test' WiFi network even if the Network 1 is not available. If it worked this way I could access the Router via my tablet WiFi on the 'test' network and change the SSID of Network 1 to join to my wife's hotspot and all would be well. It appears that once the Router is connected to a specific Network 1, it will not establish Network 2 on power up if Network 1 is not available.
Why does the Router not re-establish the 'test' network under the conditions when the SSID to join (network 1) is not available? If this can not be solved, is there another way to achieve what I am trying to do?
I have found using the following almost works, with one big problem.
On the Basic Connection screen in Device Configuration I use 'Gateway (Default)'.
On Internet/WAN I use Connect via 'DHCP (Wireless)'.
In Local Network/LAN I setup a Router IP of 192.168.23.1.
On Wireless I use Wireless mode 'Client+AP'.
I only enable the 2.4GHz connection.
For the SSID to join I put in Network 1, e.g. my mobile phone hotspot data.
For Access Point SSID I use a different SSID to the phone, let's call it 'test'.
I use WPA2 PSK encryption with appropriate password. Everything else I leave at default settings.
This all works great when first enabled, I get a 'test' WiFi network which hands out IP addresses on a different subnet to Network 1 and uses my phones hotspot for data. I can setup my TV Chromecast on Network 2 'test' and this works perfectly.
Now if I wish to use my wife's phone for the data next time. I setup my wife's phone as the hotspot and switch the Router back on. Now while the Router WiFi light is on, it does not broadcast the 'test' WiFi network. As I use a tablet to setup the router I can not connect to the router on the WiFi 'test' Network to rescan and change the network 1 SSID to join to my wife's phone hotspot. I would have thought the router would re-establish the 'test' WiFi network even if the Network 1 is not available. If it worked this way I could access the Router via my tablet WiFi on the 'test' network and change the SSID of Network 1 to join to my wife's hotspot and all would be well. It appears that once the Router is connected to a specific Network 1, it will not establish Network 2 on power up if Network 1 is not available.
Why does the Router not re-establish the 'test' network under the conditions when the SSID to join (network 1) is not available? If this can not be solved, is there another way to achieve what I am trying to do?