HOW-TO: Connect your Linksys WRT54G network to the internet wirelessly

Got friendly neighbors that want to share their broadband connection with you? Even if they don't want to, you can still use "client mode" to share a single wireless internet connection with your entire home network. You also get the added bonus of a firewall between your network and the private network you're connecting to. This tutorial shows you how to upgrade your Linksys WRT54G to a third-party firmware and then enable client mode.

We�ll be installing the Sveasoft Alchemy firmware. The Linksys WRT54G is based on GPL�d code which means Linksys had to release the routers source code when the router was manufactured. Many groups have been modifying this code to create third-party firmwares with enhanced features like client mode.

Setting this up is pretty easy: First you need to head over to WRT54G.com and download the firmware. After you unzip the file you can upgrade the router using the method built into the Linksys firmware. Once that is done you just need to set the SSID of the �host� router you want to connect to and set the ip address of the �client� router to one that doesn�t conflict.

Watch the flash tutorial to get all of the details.

This method works really well if you want to connect your wired network safely to a possibly unfriendly network. If you just want to extend your own network with a wireless bridge you won�t need the firewall.

Using client mode forces the wireless side of the �client� to act as a bridge with the �host�; you will no longer be able to connect to the �client� router using your wireless devices. If you want the router to act as a wireless repeater you can use WDS, which is supported by the Alchemy firmware. You will need a �host� router that also supports WDS: another WRT54G, an Apple Airport Express or Extreme will work fine. Apple has an article about setting up WDS on an Airport.

If you�re looking for a really flexible firmware you can install openWRT by following HOW-TO: WRT Client Mode over at hackaday, but that�s only recomended for masochistic dedicated hackers.

[Yan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

Robert Cringley did something similar:
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050414.html

[Patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

>> Ouch, I guess I can't post my thoughts
>> anymore on a blog, that is designed for
>> user comments.

Sure you can. Just understand that people will call you on your obvious attempt to generate traffic. I perused your other comments after seeing your completely worthless opinion on the X41 review. Every single comment, posted near the the top, is tenuously relevant at best. You purposefully leave comments like "I wonder what the cost difference will be" which do not promote discussion in the least. Face it, you are trolling for hits and you've been pegged as such. Don't pretend like your feelings are hurt. We know what you're doing, so please spare us the innocence act.

-p-

[myuu @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

Wow, creepy. I just moved into a new apartment and was thinking about researching doing this with my wrt54g. Thanks a bunch engadget!

[Scotty @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

www.mygadgetbag.com - A word of advice - If I were you I would scale back the "spamming useless comments on every post to advertise my site" stuff here as the last person to do it, some dude by the name of Carmi, was taken down HARD by someone here.

On second thought, keep doing it, the Carmi thing was pretty halarious.

[alex @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

is there a way, using this client configuration, to get devices attached via the ethernet router ports on the wrt54g to assign dynamically from the original dhcp server (not the wrt54g client)?

[Jared @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

Posted May 24, 2005, 2:46 PM ET by www.mygadgetbag.com
Ouch, I guess I can't post my thoughts anymore on a blog, that is designed for user comments.

odd...
---------------------

Except that you're not posting comments, just one-line crap to boost the Google ranking of your site which is a direct rip of what Engadget has been doing for over a year. Just go away.

[Timmah! @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

It's insane how many things one can supposedly do withe WRT45G. There's a ton of hacks posted all over the web, this is just the tip of the iceberg. General consensus is that this is a decent, reliable router. The available hacks are a huge bonus if you ask me, maybe i shd get one.

As for spamming, I completely agree that gadgetbag dude's attempts to generate traffic should and have rightfully been called out. Carmi sucked the life out of a lot of us when he was around, I know who's next in line though... I believe it's a certain Mr. Jeff Williams, game collector extraordinaire. You guys need to get a regular day job, that way you won't have all these irrelevant thoughts and opinions. Peace.

[Patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

Justin, admit it, you're trolling. If you aren't, why not just go by "Justin Cooper" instead of using your site's name as yoiur userid? kthnxbye.

-p-

[Timmah! @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

#7, I haven't used this router and i don't claim to be an expert, but my guess is that if the client mode is enabled, you SHOULD be able to get addresses dynamically from the original dhcp, provided the original router has been set up do to that (DHCP is enabled, it has a broad enough range of allowed addresses etc).

[John Wentworth @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

MyGadgetSpam -
I think the problem is that several of the other sites in your "network" are "get an iPod FREE!"-type places.

Please, go back to trying to get me to kiss Brad Pitt, or shoot the alien. Those were fun, at least. :)

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

Why doesnt engadget simply take out the "your sites url" box and then people lie mygadgetbag can't post as a linkable text?

[Timmah! @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

^^^ Since they're spammers, what prevents them from just linking to their spam in the body of the text? It's an uphill battle, removing the URL field won't really help much (although I'm still in favor of it).

[Neil Cooler @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

I think this whole discussion is really funny because engadget used to get accused of the same kind of crap on Slashdot.

[deuce @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

I think the name Neil Cooler is funny.

Seriously Neil you are right though. Soon we'll be posting about Carmi jr. on mygadgetbag's site about how mygadgetbag used to post on Engadget. A vicious cycle.

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

"Carmi sucked the life out of a lot of us when he was around"

I'm gonna try to keep THIS post on topic. and the dominant topic seems to be the evils of spamming and posting urls to your own site/blog.

I followed 'The Flaying of Carmi' saga with mild interest. And not to further enrage people or to disagree with them. But I'm curious, what exactly did he/she do that was so terrible ? Sure his comments were kinda fluffy (and mine are often aggregiously long), but was it such a hardship to just kinda...skip them ? Again, I'm not actually defending him/her (particularly since there IS a provision made on this site for DISCREETLY/RESPECTFULLY including a personal URL) I'm just not fully understanding the vehemence that people seem to exhibit.

All comments/views welcome...


And as for the actual discussion about the router...I had no idea people were doing this to home routers (but it doesn't really surprise me). I just did a little research and saw a nifty hack on 'hackaday' (if that's advertising I apologize) to add SD memory to one of these so it can run kismet autonymously.

Neat...

Anyone done stuff like this with any D-Link products (stupid brand loyalty...) ?

[Usman @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

What do you guys think is better - Sveasoft or OpenWRT?

[bhix @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

I currently have a dozen or so WRT45Gs running in WDS. Basically creating a wireless net (net meaning the mesh kind) around my entire community. Anyone I let connect has to purchase their own WRT54G. I flash it for them a configure their WDS entry point. Basically WDS allows one AP to echo to the next and then next to the next etc. Everyone is getting great connectivity. This also allows laptop users to be at any point in town and pick the stongest signal. Its a great system and very inexpensive. We replaced all of our Cisco equipment with these little gadgets and haven't looked back.

[bhix @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

#20 - Sveasoft by a long shot.

[Jesse @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

I got a network and internet working using a Dlink DWL-2100AP in wireless client mode plugged into the WAN port of my Dlink DI-624 and my DI624 pulled an IP address from some neighbor's wireless router. I had to find the right combination of firmware because the newer one's wouldn't allow me to do this. So much nerd talk but at least I had free internet.

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

To: bhix

Yay for 'bhix' ! Proving the Co-op model can still yield good results for the benefit of all parties involved.

(DISCLAIMER: No sarcasm above, genuine props only)

I am curious, how big is your town ? I know if you mount even these civilian gadgets above the common ground level obstructions that you can get perhaps up to a mile in range, but to span a town with but a dozen units must take some doing. What kind of antennas are you using and where are you mounting them ?

And are you sharing files with each other or is this model designed to grant access to the internet throughout it's coverage area ? And if the later, what kind of backbone do you have to the internet ? Bandwidth ? Is it enough to go around for all those people ?

Just curious because it sounds like a cool project that has actually gone quite far...

To: Jesse

If your post was a response to mine, thanks for the consideration and model numbers. To bad I just sold all my extra D-link netowrking stuff on ebay...I actually had some of those items...

[bhix @ Dec 19th 2005 2:45AM]

to: OddManOut

The city I live in is small, last count was at about 7000 people. I know its pretty incredible, that these 'civilian' gadgets are outdoing the pros. But with the flash upgrade comes another essential--selectable wattage from 30 mw all the way up to 250mw. I combine this with a variety of parabolic and omni antennas to achieve the effect I need. Because of WDS I can aim the antennas from one location to another, choosing the closes location rather than a central hub.

File sharing is very limited. The model is designed primarily for internet access. Our backbone is a satellite system provided by www.groundcontrol.com. We are currently being served 1.5 mbs (basically a T1). Latency is a little bit of a problem, but it beats a local phone provider who wanted to charge us upward to $1500 per month for a T1.

Bandwidth is an issue and anyone who uses the system is subject to pummeling to unconsciousness if they are a bandwidth hog. No, actually I can shut down anyone who uses the system in excess. But everyone is pretty polite with the system, and our primary uses are businesses and not the file sharing crowd.

[rick @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

How can I test my home wifi system so my neighbor does not suck my bandwith? I have a Linksys 54g router...

[Robert F Donnelly @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

to: #26

Make sure you use encryption. More specifically, use WPA encryption. WEP is easily hackable.

[registered99 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Any way to get this router to server HTTP files / function as a computer? Maybe an extremely stripped down version of Linux?

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

To: bhix

Rock on man ! Thanks for the response. I was thinking your town couldn't be TOO huge, but still, if you've got 7000 people in it, it's gotta be at least a few square miles, and the vast majority of larger cities (with tax funding) would be hard pressed to say they've accomplished even that much, let alone providing ubiquitous wireless internet access throughout any one municipality, even if onle for a select few.
The selectable wattage definitely makes sense. But I gotta say I'm a little annoyed now with the hardware manufacturers. Since you're not mentioning "Oh yeah, these things burn out in a couple months if you amp up the wattage..." I'm guessing they handle it perfectly well, and thus that the standard firmwares out there deliberately shackle the true potential of the kit.

It's a freakin' smog pump for your network !

I suppose that's ok though. If everyone were doing what you are the airwaves would get mighty cluttered (just as smog pumps do kinda protect the air...a little). But dude, my hat's off to you. You've accomplished quite a task. Not just the technical stuff, but organizing and coordinating between all the people involved is probably a fair amount of work in and of itself.

Keep on keepin' on...!

To: rick

"How can I test my home wifi system so my neighbor does not suck my bandwith? I have a Linksys 54g router..."

As said, Wep and/or WPA will probably work. You could also create an ACL (Access Control List) and add only the MAC addresses of YOUR machines (make sure to secure your router after that, ie change the default password, or anyone could then just add their MAC address to your list).

If it's a specific neighbor that you're concerned with you could simply let them connect once and harvest their MAC address and host name and block them with the integrated firewall.

There are of course ways around both these strategies, and a determined intruder will only be slowed down and not really stopped. But if you do one or more of the suggestions you've gotten on this thread, most attackers will simply look elsewhere for an easier target as there are BOUNDLESS unsecured WAP's out there even as we speak.

Best wishes...

[john marroquin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

This is awesome. I just bought a wrt54g for a friend but she said she wanted an Airport Express instead. Why in the world she would go with that, I don't know. Anyways. Wanted to know if this will work with D-Link DI-624 as the host and the wrt54g as the client. Is there 3rd party firmware for the DI-624?
I also plan to present this idea to others in my condo complex so as to share my DSL.

[john marroquin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

This is awesome. I just bought a wrt54g for a friend but she said she wanted an Airport Express instead. Why in the world she would go with that, I don't know. Anyways. Wanted to know if this will work with D-Link DI-624 as the host and the wrt54g as the client. Is there 3rd party firmware for the DI-624?
I also plan to present this idea to others in my condo complex so as to share my DSL.

[James Depew @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

Sveasoft Alchemy Firmware is now available at http://www.linksysinfo.org along with a variety of other 3rd party firmware solutions, the latest linksys news and hacks!

[Dusan Vuckovic @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

OK, but is this applicable on all G series models, like GS or GC, or it's completely different firmware?

[cl4014 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:46AM]

WRT54G.com is DOWN
use wrt54g.net instead :D