Wireless repeater

[ADS_Tech]

I need help to set up a new wireless network. A laptop is to be used quite some distance from the router, so ive bought a repeater. Router is a DLink DI-624, and repeater is a DLink DWL-2100AP.
Router works great. I can see the repeater when its plugged into the router. But i cant seem to get it to actually work as a repeater. Has anyone used one of these repeaters and if so, have you any tips on configuring it.
Laptop runs XP sp2 with wireless zero off due to poss SSID problems occurring. Im using an ASUS wireless card with the ASUS config util. Laptop can see the repeater from site survey, but wont connect. 2100-AP is set to repeater mode, and is set to repeat the routers MAC address.
Help..........please.

[craigmodius]

Laptop can see the repeater from site survey, but wont connect. 2100-AP is set to repeater mode, and is set to repeat the routers MAC address.

when you say won't connect, do you mean won't connect to the wireless network, or won't connect to the repeater to further config the device.

because on their site here (http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=1570&question=DWL-2100AP) they say...

Once the DWL-2100AP is set to repeater mode, it becomes a transparent device and will no longer be able to be configured from a wireless connection. You must use a computer that is wired into the network or directly to the DWL-2100AP.

I have no experience with repeaters, but am looking at getting one

[ADS_Tech]

Once the repeaer is set up, the config util cant be accessed without resetting the unit. This is stated in the set up manual.
I can see the repeater in the site survey, but when i click connect, it times out. Theres no encryption set yet.
I can surf through it if it is wired into the router, but not as a true wireless "repeater".

[craigmodius]

well just to check the basics is the DI-624 on the right firmware version (http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=1503&question=DWL-2100AP)?

[ADS_Tech]

Sorry, should have said in first post that both devices have had firmware updated.

[craigmodius]

hmmmmm....

again, I've no first hand experience with DLink or Repeaters, so sorry if these seem like wild guesses.

At this point I would be checking the 2 devices to make sure the settings are correct.

Do both have WEP disabled?

Are both on the same SSID (even if you're not using it)

Are both are on the same channel (or maybe they need to be different, My Symbol AP's alternate from their neighbor to minimize interference, but they're not repeaters)?

What about disabling Super G mode on both, maybe the repeater isn't designed to handle traffic at an accelerated rate?

What if you enable Wireless Zero Config on the laptop, does it work off the repeater then?

Stoopid question, but make sure you are using Repeater Mode and Not Wireless Bridge mode on the 2100

Another stoopid question, but make sure you are selecting to repeat the MAC address of the DI-624, not repeating the MAC Address of the DWL-2100AP. (silly, I know, but I'm just tossing it out there) :)

[ADS_Tech]

very grateful for help. Have tried everything mentioned, but open to suggestion.............

[VesaLB]

Hey

You may have seen this already, I got it from D-Link's website. I'm guessing that the MAC address they're saying you should enter would be the MAC address of your DI-624.


http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=1570&question=DWL-2100AP

Q How do I set my DWL-2100AP to repeater mode?

You will need the MAC address of the device you want to repeat. If you are repeating a wireless router, then you must use the LAN or Ethernet MAC address, not the wireless address.

Step 1 Connect the DWL-2100AP to your PC using an Ethernet cable. You cannot configure the DWL-2100AP wirelessly when in repeater mode.

Step 2 Your computer will need to be in the same IP address range as the DWL-2100AP for configuration. The default IP address is 192.168.0.50.

Step 3 Open a web browser and enter in the IP address of the access point (192.168.0.50). The username is admin (all lower case) and the password is blank (nothing).

Step 4 Click on Advanced at the top and then click Mode on the left side. At the bottom, click the AP Repeater button. Enter the MAC address of the device you want to repeat (IE 50:23:AB:D4:56:E1).

Step 5 Click Apply to save your settings.

[ADS_Tech]

Yes, as I mentioned in the first post, it is set to repeat the routers MAC address.
I did get it working this morning. Took it to where it will be operating, but it didnt give any better signal than they had before. All it seemed to do was repeat an already weak signal, and not amplify it in any way at all.
We are no better off than before. Unless of course, im missing something in the set up.
Anyone know a really good wireless set up with excellent range?