Trouble setting up access point. Please help!

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Sisqo

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Hey guys

I purchased the TP-Link TD-W8960N router a couple of months ago. It is connected to my main PC downstairs and the signal pretty much covers the bottom floor.
However, upstairs, it doesn't quite reach all the rooms (including my room) for me to be able to connect via wi-fi using a laptop or my cellphone.
So I decided to purchase an access point to allocate upstairs so that I have signal in all the rooms. I purchased TP-Link's TL-WA901ND access point device.

I have read the manual and the cd that it comes with to try and configure this device but it is really confusing me and I am not sure how to install it! What are the procedures for
me to be able to use this access point?? All I want is for the AP to extend the range upstairs and if possible, for a PC that I have upstairs (that has no wireless card) to connect directly to the AP with a lan cable to have internet on that PC too.

Your help would greatly be appreciated! :)

I am running Windows 7 on PC




What I have tried:
Connected the AP directly to my router downstairs
Set a static IP address to my main PC
Entered the settings page for the AP via browser
Changed SSID to the same as my router
After a while I saw the internet connection to my main pc was lost (I don't know why), so I changed it back to automatic IP address and internet was back
I disconnected the AP from the router and connected it upstairs to a power point
My cellphone could pick it up but would just say "obtaining IP..." and it would just stay stuck there
 
Just some quick thoughts I had:

- Don't think you can both connect a PC to the AP upstairs and have it connected to the router, they usually only have one ethernet point.
- If you can't get signal from downstairs upstairs, then the new AP will have trouble as well, so best to probably run a cable from upstairs to downstairs to connect the AP to the router. Alternatively, look into why you are not getting signal, most probably you using omni-directional antenna which comes with the domestic routers/APs which means its creating a horizontal circle around antenna and therefore not going up.
- So in summary, I would think best is to try to run a cable from the downstairs router to the upstairs AP. Alternatively perhaps you can place AP in middle ground between upstairs and downstairs to act as repeater.
 
Thanks a lot for your reply. The thing is that the room I placed the access point in (upstairs) does receive signal from my router as it is the room directly above the one with the router.
I want to avoid running a cable from downstairs to upstairs (even though I know its the best) because its just too much of a mission for me.

I managed to get my main pc downstairs to use a static IP address now atleast, but the access point is still not working. I think I am doing something wrong. My phone does pick up the AP,
but it cannot connect to it at all. It just gets stuck trying to receive an IP address.

Any ideas why it cannot receive an IP address from the AP?
 
So there is no DHCP server on your network? I.e. is your router giving out IP addresses automatically?

I assume you can't set the IP address statically on your phone so there is no one in the network providing automatic IP addresses. The wireless point AFAIK won't do that for you, its just merely a dumb point on your network, giving you wireless access. The router has to do the rest or you have to make all the things on the network have a static IP address.
 
Sisqo said:
What I have tried:
Connected the AP directly to my router downstairs
Set a static IP address to my main PC
Entered the settings page for the AP via browser
Changed SSID to the same as my router
After a while I saw the internet connection to my main pc was lost (I don't know why), so I changed it back to automatic IP address and internet was back
I disconnected the AP from the router and connected it upstairs to a power point
My cellphone could pick it up but would just say "obtaining IP..." and it would just stay stuck there
Click to expand...

I managed to get my main pc downstairs to use a static IP address now atleast, but the access point is still not working. I think I am doing something wrong. My phone does pick up the AP,
but it cannot connect to it at all. It just gets stuck trying to receive an IP address.

Any ideas why it cannot receive an IP address from the AP?
Click to expand...

It sounds to me that the AP is not connected to the router, or has not been configured. Setting up an AP can be a bit tricky and most times when configuring you have to be right next to both devices. Have you read the manual? Get the manual from here (http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/?model=TL-WA901ND#down) and go to page 20.

RESET the AP and startover

You have to plug the AP into your router, give the pc that is connected to the router a static IP then open up IE or FF and browse to the AP IP address which is 192.168.1.254. From there you will be presented with quite a few options. (This is so the PC is on the same addressing as the AP)

It sounds to me that what your are wanting is not an Access Point but rather a Repeater. A repeater connects wirelessly to an existing w/less router and basically extends (repeats) the wireless. You'll have to find the sweet spot in your house where you can receive w/less from the router and also send wireless upstairs. The configuration of the AP in the manual is discussed from page 29 and there is a guide to setting it up as a repeater.

See how it goes by following the manual and if you get stuck just post back here!
 
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