Help with turning old router with DD-WRT into Wireless Extender

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Bundu

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Hey guys, I'm not an IT boffen and was wondering if one of you could perhaps share your knowledge?

I have a main LTE router, Huawei B593, working perfectly.
I loaded DD-WRT onto a spare TP-Link MR3420, with the idea of turning it into a WiFi extender and using it in an area in my house that has poor WiFi signal.
DD-WRT firmware upgrade went well and I followed instructions on a Youtube video to setup the TP-Link as an extender ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2228IVtKLT0 )

Setup now:
Huawei: main router, connected to internet
TP-Link: extender, connected to Huawei

I can now connect to the Huawei and run the TP-Link interface (not sure what one calls it) through WiFi as well as the reverse.
I can also see WiFi IP cameras that are connected to the Huawei, even when I'm connected to the TP-Link, BUT I can not connect to the internet when connected to the TP-Link.

I've rebooted both routers and my laptop after all the changes.

The weird thing is, if I reboot the TP-Link and connect to it from my laptop, I actually have internet access for nearly 1 minute, but it then falls away.

What could be wrong, if as said, the repeater can see everything in my network, but doesn't see the internet?

Any help would be appreciated :-)
 
Last edited:
ODTech said:
Make sure DHCP server is off in the DDWRT firmware or set it to DHCP relay.
Click to expand...

yes DHCP server is OFF on the extender and ON at the main router

Just find it weird that the extender can see my whole network, but only access the internet for the 1st minute?
 
Bundu said:
yes DHCP server is OFF on the extender and ON at the main router

Just find it weird that the extender can see my whole network, but only access the internet for the 1st minute?
Click to expand...

What happens when you specify an IP and DNS for you wifi adapter when connected to DDWRT?
 
ODTech said:
What happens when you specify an IP and DNS for you wifi adapter when connected to DDWRT?
Click to expand...

I'm very stupid with this stuff :-(



specify an IP and DNS on my main router for the extender?

At the moment the extender is setup as below and I made no changes to the main router

1.jpg
2.jpg
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5.jpg
6.jpg
 
I would also make the DD-WRT 192.168.1.2 and then change the DHCP scope on the Huawei to something like 192.168.1.10 as a starting address or even .100 as you won't ever have that many devices anyway, just to cut out a conflict problem in future.

Then I would try changing the Default Gateway Mode to Manual instead of DHCP (5.jpg) and populate it with the Huawei's information.

The what IP information is the client getting via DHCP when you are connected to the TP-Link? Is there a gateway populated and is it correct (192.168.1.1) ?
 
Last edited:
Bundu said:
...and

View attachment 329719
Click to expand...

I think i spot the problem.

The operating mode shouldn't be router as you already have that in the Huawei. Change it to you Bridge if you have the option.

The main issue is that you have wireless set to client-bridge. A bridge is meant to do just what the name says (bridging networks) but it does not rebroadcast wifi so a client device can connect to it and use the internet.
See if you have a ap-bridge or repeater option instead.

Edit: It seems operation mode should be set as router so nevermind that advice but you do need to set wireless mode as repeater or bridge-repeater.
 
Last edited:
SauRoNZA said:
I would also make the DD-WRT 192.168.1.2 and then change the DHCP scope on the Huawei to something like 192.168.1.10 as a starting address or even .100 as you won't ever have that many devices anyway, just to cut out a conflict problem in future.

Then I would try changing the Default Gateway Mode to Manual instead of DHCP (5.jpg) and populate it with the Huawei's information.

The what IP information is the client getting via DHCP when you are connected to the TP-Link? Is there a gateway populated and is it correct (192.168.1.1) ?
Click to expand...


SauRoNZA thank you so much! :)

I made the DD-WRT 192.168.1.2, Default Gateway Mode to Manual instead of DHCP and changed main router DHCP to above 192.168.1.10 and rebooted everything and have now had perfect internet on the repeater for the last 15 mins!

Will see how it goes, but I'm confident you have fixed it!

thanks again! very grateful for your help!:)
 
Glad I could help.

I only know Open-WRT but fortunately you provides so many screenshots that it was easy enough to navigate.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Glad I could help.

I only know Open-WRT but fortunately you provides so many screenshots that it was easy enough to navigate.
Click to expand...

but thanks for your time!

Still running smoothly, so obviously fixed!

I wonder what did the trick? shifting IP addresses or Manual default gateway mode? If I get bored, I'll check by splitting those changes :)
 
Pretty sure the manual gateway mode.

The other advice was just best practise.
 
probably!

will let the guy know that made the video I followed whilst doing the setup
 
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