Use second Sky D-Link DSL-2640S as signal booster

[Bibbo20]

Hi there,

I've had a nose around the forums and couldn't seem to find a definitive guide on how to do this.

Basically moved into a new place where we have Sky Broadband, but I still have my old Sky Router from a previous place. The router has to be at the front of the flat, so that means that myself and my other flatmate can't get signal in our rooms at the back (brick walls). So I was wondering if there was any way to use my old router to boost the signal. Would anyone know how to accomplish this?

Both of the routers are the D-Link DSL-2640S model.

Thanks in advance.

[Scubbie]

Simple: You will need to configure the 2nd router (link to guide shown below) and connect it to the main router using either a long Ethernet cable or a pair of HomePlugs.

http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/askin...-together.html

[fuzzy logic]

You could connect the second router via a long ethernet lead to the first, so you could site it closer to your PC and use it as a wireless access point. You'd need to change its IP address (eg to 192.168.0.100 and disable its DHCP server so they don't conflict with the main router.

Homeplugs would be another alternative.

[Bibbo20]

Thanks, I did manage to get that to work last night, however I was hoping there would be a way to do it wirelessly as it means my flatmates can't close their bedroom door due to the 10m ethernet cable I was using. Is it not possible to do that? Buying homeplugs is an option, we were thinking of that before, however it would be handy to be able to accomplish it without spending any cash!

[fuzzy logic]

To do it via wireless, I think you'd need WDS support on both routers, which the standard sky router lacks, and it would not be wise to flash generic firmware onto your main sky router, even if it were available.

I have actually built some generic firmware with WDS support (untested) and wireless N for the sky dlink, but currently it has a significant bug,

[Bibbo20]

Ah fair enough, I've gone ahead with using the 10m cable and pinned it to the skirting boards to keep it out of the way. Do I need to forward ports on the one I'm using to boost the signal? Or will it use the settings from the main router?

[Scubbie]

Your main router will handle all the port forwarding and DHCP services as the D-Link should have DHCP disabled and isn't taking traffic directly from the Internet.

In case you haven't already done so, remember that is you set the security & SSID identocally on both routers (but using different WiFi channels), when you move around with a WiFi device, it should automatically switch between the two routers.

[Bibbo20]

I wasn't aware of that, I've set them to the same SSID now, cheers!