$RCSfile: index.php,v $
WAP-4033 Universal Repeater Mode
================================
This file describes how to set up a WAP-4033 in Universal Repeater Mode in order to
extend the range of a WiFi.
The physical setup is as shown here: )
) ) Target
\|/ ) ) ) ---+ WiFi channel
| ) ) |
| ) | Channel Number = NN
+-----+-----+ |
-------------| Router | |
fixed connection +-----------+ |
to Internet |
) |
) ) |
\|/ ) ) ) ---+
| ) ) ---+ Repeated WiFi channel
| ) |
Mode = +------+-----+ | Channel Number = NN, i.e.
Universal | WAP-4033 | | the same number as the
Repeater |Access Point| | target.
+----[xxx]---+ |
|
| LAN connector
Status and Information Panel
============================
A successful setup status is shown in: wolflig/01-StatusInformation.jpg for Riniken
and fosslia/01-StatusInformation.jpg for Fosslia.
where the Wireless Repeater Interface Configuration information block
shows the details of the Target WiFi, i.e. the WiFi that is being repeated:
"ESSID" gives the name of the Target WiFi,
"Security" shows its security level,
"BSSID" is the MAC address of the Router and
"State" will be "Connected" if the WAP-4033 has managed
to connect to the Target WiFi.
If the target WiFi is not accessible for some reason, the state will be
shown as "Scanning".
The Wireless Configuration information block shows the details of the
Repeated WiFi:
"Mode" should appear as "Universal Repeater",
"ESSID" is the name of the repeated WiFi. This should be different
to that of the Target WiFi.
"Channel Number" gives the WiFi channel number. This should be the same as
the Target WiFi. This is discussed further below.
"Security" will be the same as the Target WiFi.
"BSSID" is the MAC address of the WAP-4033
"Associated Clients" shows the number of WiFi clients using the
repeated WiFi.
The LAN Configuration information block shows the Local
Area Network details:
"IP Address" is the IP address of the WAP-4033. This should be
in the same address space as the Router, if present,
or the host computer, if not.
"Subnet Mask" will usually be 255.255.255.0.
Universal Repeater Configuration of a WAP-4033
==============================================
a) To configure the WAP-4033, one needs a LAN connection from a host computer
to the LAN connector of the WAP-4033. This may be a direct connection or
a connection via a router. There are several possible scenarios:
Direct Connection Scenarios:
---------------------------
The IP address of the host computer must be set to be in the same
range as that of the WAP-4033. There are 2 possibilities:
a) The WAP-4033's IP address is known (e.g. 192.168.1.99):
One can simply choose a host computer IP address in the same
range (e.g. 192.168.1.10). Refer to the section "Setting a Computer's
IP Address" to see how to do this.
b) The WAP-4033's IP address is not known:
The WAP-4033 must be reset to its factory setting by pressing the
reset button for more than 5 sec. Its IP address will then be
192.168.0.1. The host computer IP address must now be set to be
in this range, e.g. 192.168.0.10. Refer to the section "Setting
a Computer's IP Address" to see how to do this.
Connection via the LAN Port of a Router Scenarios:
-------------------------------------------------
In this case, it is the IP address of the Router which must be set to
be in the same range as that of the WAP-4033. How one does this is
clearly router dependent, and is outside the scope ot this note.
For the Riniken Router, which hosts the Wolflig7 WLAN, the Router's
address is 192.168.1.1. Note however, that if the Router's IP address
must be changed to a new range, then the host computer will need its
network to be restarted in order to obtain an address in the new range.
b) It should now be possible to manage the WAP-4033 configuration using
a Web browser. The URL of the WAP-4033 is, for example:
http://192.168.1.99/
On connecting to this URL and giving:
Username: admin
Password: admin
one should obtain a Status and Information Panel as described in the
section above. The subsequent notes all refer to settings made via this Web
browser interface.
c) If it is desired to change the IP address of the WAP-4033, now is the
time to do so. One uses the Management IP section of the System Utility
menu (see 07-SystemUtility.jpg). After doing this, the WAP-4033 must be
restarted and one must change the fixed IP address of the Router and/or
host computer accordingly.
d) Using the Basic Setting menu (see 02-BasicSetting.jpg), select Universal
Repeater mode. A scan of available WiFi's can then be performed using the
Select Site Survey tag. A list like that in 03-SiteSurvey.jpg should be
obtained. Note the Channel Number, NN say, of the Target WiFi, highlight the
Target WiFi in the list, click Done, and close the Site Survey window. The
Root AP SSID should now have been updated in the Wireless Setting menu. Enter
a suitable name for the Repeated WiFi in the ESSID field, and check that
the Channel Number has been set to NN.
e) Use the "Security" menu to set up the appropriate security code for accessing the
Target WiFi. There are (at least) 2 forms of this menu, one for WEP style encryption
and one for WPA style encryption. Examples are shown in wolflig/05-Security.jpg and
fosslia/05-Security.jpg
f) It has been found advisable to make sure that the Router has MAC address
filtering disabled. This is set on the MAC Filtering menu by
ensuring that Enable Wireless Access Control is not checked.
g) Return the IP address of the Local Area Connection of the host computer
to "automatic" (see the section "Setting a Computer's IP Address" to see
how to do this).
h) It should now be possible to make a wireless LAN connection to the
Repeated WiFi. The encryption method and encryption key will be the same
as for the Target WiFi.
i) If all is working correctly, a browser on a computer connected to the
Router's LAN, either directly via Ethernet cable, or via the Target WiFi,
or Repeated WiFi, should be able to access the WAP-4033's Web Configuration
menus. Note that this is contrary to the documentation, which states that
such access is only possible via the WAP-4033's Ethernet port.
Setting a Computer to a Fixed IP Address
========================================
a) WindowsXP
---------
To set the pc/laptop to a fixed IP address, e.g.
IP address: 192.168.0.10
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
use:
Control Panel
--> Network Connections
--> Local Area Connection
--> Change settings of this connection
--> Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
--> Properties
--> Set "Use the following IP Address"
and enter the address and mask as shown in
09-IpPropertiesFixed.jpg.
The normal state under "Properties" is "Obtain an IP address automatically".
and "Obtain DNS server address automatically" as shown in
10-IpPropertiesNormal.jpg.
b) linux
-----
On Ubuntu 12.04, I'm not really sure which of (at least)
2 possible ways is correct. I haven't done this in
earnest since Ubuntu 10, and the GUI interface has changed.
I give both here for reference:
b.1) Non-GUI
To make a temporary change to the IP address of the
eth0 interface under Linux (Ubuntu) use:
# sudo ifconfig eth0 192.168.0.10 netmask 255.255.255.0
and check it with:
# ifconfig eth0
b.2) GUI
Start the network-manager tool via:
> sudo nm-connection-editor
Then select
--> Wired
--> Edit ...
--> IPv4 Settings and set Method = "Manual"
and enter the address and mask.
The new setting needs to be activated somehow, e.g.
a) via reboot
or, at least for Ubuntu 10, b) sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart
Note:
====
If connections cannot be made, try powering off the Router and WAP-4033,
then turn on the Router and give it time to boot. Then turn on the WAP-4033.
For reference, 4 further screen-shots are referenced here:
04-AdvancedSettings.jpg shows the "Advanced Settings" menu of the WAP-4033. None
of these settings has been changed from the factory default.
08-ActiveWirelessClientTable.jpg shows a typical table of active clients
as obtained via the Basic Setting --> Show Active Clients tag.
09-networkStatusPopup.jpg shows a typical pop-up display when
clicking on the network icon in a ubuntu linux panel. It shows the Wifi's that
have been detected and, by clicking on them, allows the user to select which
Wifi is to be connected.
08-ActiveNetworkConnections.jpg shows a typical "Connection Information" panel
for a connection to the Repeated WiFi. In this case,
the operating system is Linux Ubuntu 9.10 (karmic).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$Source: /wolfLinux/CVSdavid/maden.ch/htdocs/misc/wap-4033/index.php,v $
$Revision: 1.8 $ $Date: 2014/01/22 16:15:03 $