Problems bridging/extending merlin router to dd-wrt router?

[northwinds]

Hi all
Just got an RT-AC87U last week and had a quick check on the firmwares from the stock to Merlin and the dd-wrt version.
Overall Merlin looked the best for my needs so installed 378.55

I have a little experience with dd-wrt after running 24v2 on a pair of netgear wnr824Bv2 units for a while until one died.
The bridging setup was fairly simple there but now I am trying to do similar from the ac87u to the remaining wnr834Bv2 but am getting slightly confused how to proceed. I've read a lot on the various ways to do it but nothing that matches my exact setup and haven't been able to get it working at all so far.

Could someone please help me out here with the details or point me to a detailed tutorial to get me up and running?

Many thanks!

 

[JohnNerd]

northwinds,

Just Google "DD-WRT" bridging and you should get an instructions on how to do this. It's a bit tricky on DD-WRT, but I've managed and so should you.
I didn't get good connection speeds at first try, but I changed some settings under wireless and boom: > 1Gb claimed connection speed.

If you get the 5GHz problem, here it's how to fix it.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=282759&highlight=bridge+upnp+problem

For now I'm sticking to Merlin on Asus AC66U and stock on AC87U.

Please tell me how the DD-WRT experiment goes.

Thanks.

 

[northwinds]

Thanks John.
I'm liking the 87U so far and the merlin does a great job on a lot of things so far.

Just to be clear I'm not trying to bridge/extend the 5Ghz as the 834b only has 2.4Ghz.
My main thing is extending my 2.4 connection to other rooms so I can use my android tablet there.

I'm a bit confused on how to set the 87u first though, as the asuswrt/merlin terminology doesn't match the dd-wrt's:

Should I be changing the 87u to ap or hybrid?

Should I just use the WDS tab in merlin and do the mac address thing?

If so, how do I setup the dd-wrt side on the 834b?

What should I set the 834b up as in dd-wrt - ap, bridge, bridge repeater...?

Thanks again!

 

[JohnNerd]

This is simple to do.
The AC87U you should leave as it is.
Then go here for instructions on the 834b/extender side of things: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge (I used google for you, hahaha).
The only difference, please chose bridge repeater mode.
The thing is to connect the 834b to AC87U as "any other device".

Good luck.

 

[northwinds]

Thanks John - after a lot of resets I eventually got it working - I think!
Not too sure about the speeds I should be getting though but maybe that's my tablet...

 

[JohnNerd]

You are welcome.
Resets are a part of getting bridge mode to work in DD-WRT. Been there...