www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

I have been trying to follow this installation guide to set up this Edimax wireless range extender so that I can get my Sky box to run Sky Anytime. I got into a right mess and spent ages getting my laptop back talking to my router again

Can someone help guide me through the guide as I am clearly not understanding what is being said http://www.edimax.co.uk/images/Image/FA ... Wizard.pdf

Firstly, should I have connected my laptop to my router using an Ethernet cable or just use the normal wireless connection? (which I did)

The next question is about Step 2. How do I decide what IP address to use as I could not seem to put any numbers I thought of in the boxes in Step 6.3?

In Step 4 I disconnected the wireless signal and turned off the firewall

I got to 6.3 as the guide shows but I did not follow what was happening. I put my IP address in and thought that the Gateway would let me type in my made up number but it seemed to force in a different number to what I was trying to enter???

In 6.5 I did not bother to change the password

In 6.7 I entered my wireless key but I was not sure what the 'Unicast Cipher Suite' was so left it on the default one

I then finished and the laptop lost its connection to the lappy when I tired to turn it all back on.

I managed to get that back after messing around a bit and turning off the Edimax.

It was lucky I did not smash it with my hammer

So can some kind soul have a look through this and give me a pointer please.

Thanks

DWD

I shall try and answer your questions 1 by 1

1)

Firstly, should I have connected my laptop to my router using an Ethernet cable or just use the normal wireless connection?

no, the router referred to in step 1 is your original wireless router. Connect to it wirelessly then type 'ipconfig' etc.

2)

How do I decide what IP address to use as I could not seem to put any numbers I thought of in the boxes in Step 6.3?

Did you try 192.168.1.50? i believe the first 3 sets have to be the same and the last one can be any number between 2 and 50 in this case.

3)

In Step 4 I disconnected the wireless signal and turned off the firewall

turn off firewall etc, leave your connection to your first router alone (connected) and plug into new router.

4)

I got to 6.3 as the guide shows but I did not follow what was happening. I put my IP address in and thought that the Gateway would let me type in my made up number but it seemed to force in a different number to what I was trying to enter???

see step 2 above

5)

In 6.5 I did not bother to change the password

Not essential but alot of routers are preset with same std passwords, so it will stop you getting hacked.

6)

In 6.7 I entered my wireless key but I was not sure what the 'Unicast Cipher Suite' was so left it on the default one

I dont exactly know myself, but it seems its just refering to the type of encryption used in the security settings, if it doesnt inerfere with the setup process as described, I would continue as the manual says.

Dont forget to write down any passwords you change.

Hope this helps..

Thanks for having the patience to go through my witterings. I will have another go later in the week when I am in the right frame of mind. Your comments are very useful and hopefully I can get through it correctly this time.

Thanks

DWD

Tried again today but no luck and it zapped my lappy router connection again. At least I know if I delete and reinstate the connection I can get it back okay.

This time it all seemed to go well. I reset the box back to factory settings. I typed in the 1.50 IP in the Gateway and this was accepted. I entered a password this time. I wonder if it is the BT Homehub encryption type as I highlighted WPA2(AES)?

It all seemed okay but connecting it to my Sky box the box coudl not detect the Network.

My lappy lost connection at this point too.

This is very annoying I have to say.

An ideas?

Ta

DWD

Wotcha,

Looking at the destructions, you must first find out what IP's you are working with.

Connect your laptop wireless/wired (don't matter) to your router.

Step 1

Click Start > Run
Type CMD and press enter - this will open up a command prompt.

Type IPCONFIG and press enter. You will get this:
In my example, I'm wired....yours might have Wireless adaptor XYZ or whatever if you are connected wirelessly.

Make a note of Default Gateway (this is your router IP address) and the subnet mask. In the picture above, I need:

Default Gateway (router): 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0

Step 2

Decide what IP address you want for the repeater.

You COULD use 192.168.0.2 or 192.168.0.3 BUT these low addesses will be given to other devices that connect first, like phones, laptops, etc....

You want to pick a nice high number, like 192.168.0.200 or 192.168.0.201 You can go as high as 192.168.0.253 If you must. Using 192.168.0.200 would do me nicely.

Step 3

Your wireless key will be written on your router, usually. You also need to know what security it has (WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA-TKIP, ETC).

If you are not sure of this, right click on the icon next to the clock an and select open network and sharing center (if you have Vista or Windows 7)... then properties for the connection, then wireless properties. It's here. If you are lucky, it's ON the router - have a play around.

Step 4

Turn the wireless off on your laptop. It might be a button or a switch - whatever.

Connect the ethernet cable FROM your laptop TO the wireless repeater.

If you have a firewall (third party stuff like zone alarm, Norton, McAfee) then disable it for a few hours, will save much headaches.

Step 5

Insert setup CD for repeater.

Step 6

6.3 - Manually assign the address we talked about earlier. In my example, it would be
Ip Address 192.168.0.200
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.0.1 (this is the router)


6.4 - click Repeater mode and click next

6.5 - leave it as is, or give it a new name. This is the broadcast name of the repeater and what you will look for when conneting. I suggest BillyGoatIsAmazeBalls or somthing.

If you wish the change the default login details, do it here.

I don't bother - it's only a problem if you have people connected INSIDE your network that will f*ck around with things. People cannot connect EXTERNAL to your network to change this.

6.6 Select your wireless router (this is the BT one) - it also tells you the encryption type in use. Make a note of this!!

6.7 Encryption should be pre shared key
Unicast cypher suite should be what was listed in 6.6 (WPA-TKIP for example)
Pre-Shared Key is your WIRELESS PASSWORD. This will be on the BT router or the card they give you.


6.8 - Click finish.

Step 7

Unplug the repeater and unplug the ethernet cable.

Move it a few meters away from the BT router and plug it back into the mains.

Turn on the wireless connection on your laptop again - it will automatically connect to your BT ROUTER.

click Start > RUN
Type CMD and press enter.

Type: PING 192.168.0.200 (whatever IP you gave the repeater earlier.... this was my example)

It should get a response back from the repeater with somthing like TTL 128 or whatever. This means it's working.

If it says no response, then you have more than liekly got encryption incorrect during set. Go back to start.....


Hope that helps....off to bed.

BG

Oh....to add, range extenders are usually shite.

If you need internet to your sky box - buy a set of powerline networking adaptors (30 quid). Plug in one next to router. One next to Sky box - jobs done.

No dicking around, no stupid setups - just work.

BG

Thanks Billy. I wish I had known about those networking adapters I would not have ponced around with this crap unit. I will have another go following your notes and if it fails this time it has an appointment with my club hammer I will let you know how it goes.

Cheers

DWD

Good luck!

Shame you didn't post this the other day.....was down Essex way on Tuesday!

DWD....... be quick:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/tp-link ... e5-1295812

BG

Cheers Billy, ordered one at the price but they are out of stock. I wonder if it will turn up in due course?

I will let you know

DWD