Cisco E4200V2 User Manual - Page 43

Linksys E-Series For ALL How can I use my old router as an access point? If you have a large area to cover with your wireless signal, or if part of your home has weak signals due to interference, you can use your old router to extend the range of your wireless network. This is a complex process, so this procedure assumes that you have some networking knowledge. Tip Check the documentation for your old router. Some brands of routers include either a switch on the outside of the case or a software option to convert it to an access point. If either of these options is available, follow your old router's instructions to convert it to an access point. You need to take note of your new router's settings, then apply some of those settings to the old router so it can work as an access point. To view your new router's settings: Wireless > Basic Wireless Settings Wireless > Wireless Security Status > Wireless Network Setup > Basic Setup 1. Make sure that your new router is connected to the Internet. 2. In the browser-based utility, click the Wireless tab 3. Click the Basic Wireless Settings page and take note of the Network Name (SSID). 4. Click the Wireless tab, then click the Wireless Security page and take note of the Security Mode and the passphrase. 5. Click the Status tab, then click the Wireless Network page and take note of the Channel. 6. Click the Setup tab, then click the Basic Setup page and take note of the DHCP server's IP Address range (192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.149 by default) Setting Up: Advanced To use your old router as an access point: 1. With your computer connected to your old router, log into its browserbased administration utility. Note Save your changes after finishing each step below. 2. Open the setup page for the local network (LAN). 3. In the Router IP address field, enter an unused IP address for the LAN network of your new router. For example, if your new router has an IP address of 192.168.1.1, you should choose an IP address on the 192.168.1.0 network. You can choose any address within the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254. You should exclude addresses in the range that will be used by the DHCP Server of your new router (192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.149). A safe choice might be 192.168.1.250. Take note of this address, because this will be the address that you will use to manage your old router in the future. 4. In the Subnet Mask field, enter 255.255.255.0 or, if available, select that subnet mask from a drop-down list. 5. Disable the DHCP server on your old router. (Because your old router will be operating as an access point instead of a router, you don't want it to distribute IP addresses. There should be only one active DHCP server on your network, and that should be your new router.) 6. To reconfigure the wireless network on your old router: a. Open the wireless network setup page. b. Change the network name (SSID) to match the name of your new network. Having the same network name and security settings enables you to seamlessly roam between your new router and your old router. c. Change the security mode to match the security mode on your new router. d. Change the passphrase (sometimes called the pre-shared key) on your old router to match the passphrase on your new router. 33