How do I extend AC68 range with Linksys e4200 v1?

[rockstead]

I replaced my e4200 v1 with my AC68,I have the latest Merlin loaded on, very happy with it.

I have very weak wireless. In the backyard and I was hoping to make use of my e4200 to extend the range.

What's the best way to do this? Can I do it with the stock links firmware or do I need something like dd-wrt?

If possible, I don't want to have to connect to a different wireless connection, I want it to be seamless.


Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

[martinr]

Just a comment on "seamless". I have AsusWRT-Merlin on my Asus RT-AC68U, and to extend the range, I used my old Linksys WRT54GL, running DDWRT as an extender, running a 15m ethernet cable betweem the two. When browsing it does indeed appear seamless, but when using Apple Facetime, if I move around such that I jump from one 2.4GHz signal to the other, I lose the Facetime connection. It's perfectly understandable why this happens, and I doubt there's a way round it. I tried running both 2.4GHz signals on the same channel, but, understandably, chaos ensued because of interference. So just be aware that it's not seamless under all conditions. (So I simply learned not to move around when using Facetime.)

 

[rockstead]

Just a comment on "seamless". I have AsusWRT-Merlin on my Asus RT-AC68U, and to extend the range, I used my old Linksys WRT54GL, running DDWRT as an extender, running a 15m ethernet cable betweem the two. When browsing it does indeed appear seamless, but when using Apple Facetime, if I move around such that I jump from one 2.4GHz signal to the other, I lose the Facetime connection. It's perfectly understandable why this happens, and I doubt there's a way round it. I tried running both 2.4GHz signals on the same channel, but, understandably, chaos ensued because of interference. So just be aware that it's not seamless under all conditions. (So I simply learned not to move around when using Facetime.)

In my case, I would run it wireless.

When it connects to the Linksys, does it lose any functionality over the Asus?

 

[martinr]

In my case, I would run it wireless.

When it connects to the Linksys, does it lose any functionality over the Asus?

Not that I've noticed. I did try, first, to set it up wirelessly but I couldn't get it to work. With hindsight I might have had the repeater on a channel number that was too high, or else I should have persevered a bit longer. In the end I was rather glad I connected the 2 by cable rather than by wireless.

There's mention of using a wireless repeater in this post:

http://www.snbforums.com/threads/using-ac68-to-connect-to-hotel-wifi.24439/

cosmox1 had no problems at all setting up a wireless repeater running DDWRT

 

[Hawk]

Just couple of things keep in mind, no matter how you connect Asus and Linksys e4200 or any router or access point . It is not gonna be seamless connection between them. Exception of enterprise grade equipment. As martinr pointed out while it works for general browsing but not for anything which is VOIP. Example like facetime, Skype, Viber etc.

Another thing to be aware of when you do wirelessly you will loose 50% throughput in best case scenario. However it could be more depending on Linksys e4200 in this case, if possible use wire between two of them.

 

[lepa71]

I run Shibby's tomato fw on my E2500v1 as wireless bridge/repeater and works great. I primarily use E2500 to wirelessly connect my htpc and Dish Hopper, you can enable wifi as well.

 

[visortgw]

Try this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMJI9TA/?tag=snbforums-20. It makes a huge difference without adding another device.

 

[lepa71]

He already has E4200. Those antennas would become a very directional and may not work in every location.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...4-linksys-high-gain-antennas-reviewed?start=1
read Closing Thoughts

Try this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DMJI9TA/?tag=snbforums-20. It makes a huge difference without adding another device.

 

[rockstead]

Just couple of things keep in mind, no matter how you connect Asus and Linksys e4200 or any router or access point . It is not gonna be seamless connection between them. Exception of enterprise grade equipment. As martinr pointed out while it works for general browsing but not for anything which is VOIP. Example like facetime, Skype, Viber etc.

Another thing to be aware of when you do wirelessly you will loose 50% throughput in best case scenario. However it could be more depending on Linksys e4200 in this case, if possible use wire between two of them.

Just coming back to this as I have available time to try to set it up.

Will the 50% throughput loss be felt only the Linksys, or does it make the entire wireless network, including my Asus lose 50%? I wouldn't want to go forward if that was the case.

I'm doing this to improve wireless range to my backyard, could I install the Linksys in my Cabana in the backyard ? currently I wouldn't have range that far, do you generally place the extender in a place that is out of range and they are able to bridge?

 

[cofetym]

You could try a Powerline device connected to the Linksys in bridge mode.

I have an extra one if you'd like to try it. Just shoot me a PM...

 

[martinr]

Just coming back to this as I have available time to try to set it up.

Will the 50% throughput loss be felt only the Linksys, or does it make the entire wireless network, including my Asus lose 50%? I wouldn't want to go forward if that was the case.

I'm doing this to improve wireless range to my backyard, could I install the Linksys in my Cabana in the backyard ? currently I wouldn't have range that far, do you generally place the extender in a place that is out of range and they are able to bridge?

The 50% loss is only on the Linksys network. Think of it as a relay race: the message gets sent from the distant device to the extender modem and that then receives it, repackages it and then has to send it on to the main router, and vice versa. You soon see where the 50% loss of rate comes from. If you are just browsing, you won't notice this loss; if you stream in HD you could. The data rates on the wireless network are probably very much (several times) higher than your broadband data rate, so you may well never notice thice effect.

Your extender modem must be in wireless range of the main modem: they have to be in range of each other because that's how they connect - unless you change your mind and use a cable. I think they reckon you should place the extender modem around halfway between the backyard and the main router provided, of course, any device in the backyard is in range of the Linksys, and the Linksys and the main router are in range of each other.

Going back to my earlier post, where I connected both routers with an ethernet cable, I gave my extender-router's network a new name, not the same as the main router's, and now I can move anywhere and not drop a connection. But I'm only able to do that because I put the extender modem (or should that be access point modem?) high up in my loft, so it actually covers the whole house and beyond.