router pwnage. linksys

[noxiousCaitSith]

i found a "wireless-g" linksys router :rr: and what not. anyway, you know those 2 antenna like things that attach to the back...they're not there. i was just wondering whether it's junk without them or can it still be used just with a shorter range? cause right now i use wireless to take my wii online and i have nintendo's USB thing that plugs right into the computer but the range is crappy and i was hoping i could get it to connect in my room. i get about 15 feet away from the computer before the signal dies. it's kinda crappy. and hopefully if it does it will be a bit faster cause it has "speed booster" ooooooh
i work at a thrift store and someone donated it, but they'll probably throw it away if they can't test it. or they'll just put a cheap price on it.

[DW_Wraith]

I think you can buy replacement antennae for it. I believe I saw them at fry's locally. They sell antennas that give it a longer range....

[noxiousCaitSith]

well that's good to know. i'll go to best buy and check since we have no fry's in florida.
also i just realized it didn't come with the CD...so hopefully they'll have downloads on their website.

[DW_e_aLpHa]

- If the only problem is the missing antenas , your fine to go and use it .. The Router antenas are no more than a single omnidirectional pole , in your case 2 , but Im talking of the structure of the antena..

- Antennas are pretty cheap, in electronic stores , ebay, etc etc etc so you can get em there -- But if you wanna go cheaper then :::: Make your own!!

// how to make them //

1- Need 12 inch long coper wires (2 for 2 antennas)
2- From the end measure 3 inches of straight wire and at that point start to form a coil of about a bit less than 1/2 inch diameter, use whaterver circular thing you find to fold the wire to acomplish this .. and make 7 loops
3- after the last loop, leave another 1 inch of straight wire and cut the left over .. (this is the base of the antenna)

- that would be your antenna -, just find the way so that the pins where the antennas go in the router, can touch the 1 inch wire end of your home-made thingies (inprovised antenas) WITHOUT touching the ground, wich is the metal around the pin in the router antenna conector -

- At your workplace there might be alot of antenas from let's say HF or VHF walkie talkies or wireless phones , may get lucky and one of them fit the router conector - (1 of them would be enough for a good signal)

-- HTH --

[kaeolian]

Thats a good router which you can flash to give you a load more range and speed.

be careful to check your exactl model router and download the right firmware other wise you will brick the router.

http://hyperwrt.org/

[Damnidge]

If it is the WRT54G w/ Rangebooster than Kaeolian is right - there are 3rd party firmwares you can use to get a lot more out of it, although I use the default one on mine, and it works fine for my laptop, my wife's laptop, and my Wii. Just be sure to use WPA2 on your devices to ensure your security. WEP is crap.

As far as the antennas go, E is right. Do you have compUSAs in FL? They would probably have it - I don't think BB would, but it never hurts to call.

My final comment is about the CD. The CDs that come with routers are crap and bloatware - you don't need them. Just use a crossover cable in the number one spot on the back and set-it up on your computer where you can flash it to the latest firmware, or a different one, and then set-up your settings. etc. Default IP should be 192.168.1.1. I would also encourage changing your default IP and IP range to suit your needs - just be sure to write down what you change them to for future reference!

Good luck.

[noxiousCaitSith]

yeah, we have comp usa, and rest assured i will have no idea how to do what you just said. i'll probably be taking it home today and i might try and figure it out but i'm getting mario galaxy after work so i'll be a bit preoccupied.
WRT54GS is what is says on the box.

EDIT: i'm not sure what i'm doing wrong. right now, the modem is connected to the wireless router and the wireless router is connected to the computer. i'm not getting any kind of message telling me that the wireless network is working and i think i'm supposed to. i've read that i need a wireless network adapter to plug into my computer...so does that mean i gotta buy something else?

[kaeolian]

Ok well the updated firmware link I sent you will work on

WRT54GS : V1, V1.1, V2

So you need to check which version yours is, if so its pretty easy to do there is just a page in the routers onboard administration area called "update firmware" go there and brouse for the file you have downloaded and it will update jobs done :cheers:

[noxiousCaitSith]

i just downloaded it but i still can't get the router to connect. i have the modem, and wireless router.
here's a crappy diagram of what i'm doing now.
the modem is plugged in to the wireless router in one of the 4 numbered slots...i think they're WLAN. and i have connected the wireless router going out of the slot marked "internet" and into the computer.
i'm not even sure what i'm doing is right but i'm guessing not since nothing happens... i'm pretty much retarded when it comes to this stuff.
i think there's supposed to be some sort of icon at the bottom of the screen when the computer finds a wireless connection...maybe i dunno.

[DW_e_aLpHa]

- where the router says, Internet , it wants actually Internet .. does any Internet come out of your pc? - My guess would be that It comes out of your modem so go figure -