Wireless Internet forum: Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander (WRE54G) Help

Usually this is a sign that firmware is out of date in one of the devices or you are trying to mix DLink/Linksys/other products and have found a combo that doesn't work.

Bob

Cisco/linksys guys could save a few million by just using the following steps as part of the installation instead of a program that just doesn't work.

Thanks EvanBasalik!
Thanks,

-B

Did you mean to drop your query in the middle of someone else's discussion?

-> When you do that, it means you are participating in their discussion.

Bob

Well doen Evan, I gave up last night and forgot I was going to try exactly what you suggested (until I read it). It works a treat.

Just as info for others the set up utility seems pretty bad. It was 'unable to locate expander'. Also it left my wireless configuration all messed up. It had hardcoded my IP to 192.168.1.1 and also refused to let me access the wireless configuration until I had re-booted.

I also had problem with the router WRT54G in the first place since I couldnt get an IP address from DHCP. It turned out that I had different WEP codes on my client side since although I used the same pass phrase it didnt generate the same key on the router and client. I had to manually set the keys up.

Hope that helps others out there.

Hi,

I appreciate your having posted your experience with the WRE54G. I too have had great difficulty getting this product to work properly. As a last resort, I am seeking an answer on the web, but so far, no luck.

The procedure you stated results in exactly what you indicated. I have given the expander and the router different SSIDs so that I can connect to each of them separately from my wireless laptop, and the connection LED is RED. When I connect wirelessly to the expander, I can only communicate with the expander. When I connect wirelessly to the router, I can talk to the world. It simply appears that my expander is NOT communicating with my router (WRT54G). I have the latest firmware on both units (WRT54G = 1.00.9, WRE54G = 2.01.12). Any suggestions?

I replaced my WRT54G with the WCG200 combined AP and cable modem and lost range. I am looking to get it back with the WRE54G range expander. If this product works with the WRT54G any chance its ok with the WCG200 and your instructions will work as well?

Thanks,
S

I tried this setup several times and was unable to get anywhere with it. I was able to get the boster to autoconfig and connect to my SSID. However, once I changed the SSID on the booster, it would lose connectivity. I wasn't able to notice, but those of you who are changing the SSID, are you connecting to your source via cable or wireless?

To me it makes sense that you can't change the SSID if you are connected wirelessly, but if you are wired then are able to.

At the end of the night, I left the booster as the same SSID as the wireless router, enabled WEP back onto both of them, and everything was working fine. The booster was connected wirelessly to the router.

It's now part of click script kiddie tools. Full story at http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6132_102-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=242736&messageID=2457489

Hope to hear back from you on your thoughts about this.

After fighting to get a Belkin Wireless G router to locate my Linksys WRE with no success for a week. Even following the quick install On the installation CD. I reset the WRE to factory defaults. CAT-5'd the wre to the router, The router must already be configured, Security, etc. Press the auto config button, waited till I got two steady blue lights. The only 'problem' with this Config, The WRE takes on the SSID of the router, Indicating The router and the WRE are one in the same, which makes sense linked.

Step 1: Get your network stable and secure before adding The WRE54G.
Step 2: Cat-5 the wre54g to the router. Power Wre on.
step 3: the wre is wired to the access point through the CAt-5
step 4" Press the auto config button on the WRE. Whait till you have two staedy blue lights. The WRE is now congigured to your network, Security settings, everything.

1) use the installation CD as a coaster or frisbee, unless you just want the manual.
2) configure your network. Enable WEP Wap PSK what ever, make sure all your computers can see each other.
3) Cat-5 the WRE54g to your router, plug it in to AC, you get 1 connected light no link light (The link light is for the wireless part.) you are currently hardwired to the network with the WRE.
4) Press the Auto config button. when both lights turn blue. Unplug the WRE54g from the AC, disconnect the cat-5. Go plug the range expander in at the edge of your network.
5)Done.

The WRE needs no IP web based config utility in spite of what the manual says. It has no DHCP server. It is a repeater only. All it needs to know is what access point it is susposed to link to. The computers and the router itself take care of the security. The WRE54g mimics the security settings of the router, so there is no need to connect to the WRE54G to congigure it, no one else can connect to it once it's secured to your network which step(4) takes care of.

Motorolla cable modem to Linksys wired modem for Vonage Belkin Wireless G router attached to Linksys wired router, Desk top wired to Belkin router, WRE54g, connected wirelesly to Belkin router, HP laptop. I can roam a 2 block radius and maintain signal strong enough to stay connected.

No ethernet port!?! Thats what I get for not knowing the differences between versions. I should ammend that to read WRE54G's with the ethernet port.
Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

P.G.

PS is it to late to return it to the store and get a later version, Tell'em it won't work in your network?

Just ammend it to say version 2 and above(lol), that will be fine, I had a feeling that you were talking about version 2 and up anyway, I was just responding because, I guess I was venting myself from the restlessness that that freaking version 1 has caused. Thanks

W. Good

Thanks for the help "PsychGen" but when I follow your instructions I still end up with 1 blue light and one red light.... I'm not very good with this router stuff, for me it is more plug and play that works best. So I dont understand everything about IP Addresses and MAC and WEP etc. etc. I can say the my wireless router WRT300N from linksys is working fine but I wanted to extend my signal in the upstairs of my house to get a stronger signal for my laptops and my XBox 360. However as you stated the CD installation is not worth a crap and I am still stuck with this thing and can't get it to work!!

Do either you or anybody out there have some "simple" instructions as to what I need to do or adjustments that I need to make to my router so that I can finally get this extender working?? Thank you in advance for any help.....

hey listen i can help u out wid wre54g i am using it.. i also faced problems like u did but now am a pro at it. contact me at shrey18@gmail.com if u need help

I'm wondering if this is the tool that I need to expand my wireless coverage if IT IS NOT MY ROUTER? Can I set this up on my laptop without having access to the main router?

I'm staying in a complex that has a router...somewhere...and I get a very poor signal where I am. I'm looking for something to expand the signal so that I can view my slingbox? I want to be able to just set it up from the cabin I'm staying in.