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Linking Two Cradlepoint Routers (WDS)

EVDOinfo typically posts one hot tip each week in the Tip of the Week series, but we are posting a bonus tip today because of the enormous popularity of the current Buy a Cradlepoint MBR1000, Receive a FREE CTR350 promotion. That promo is a great value no matter how you plan to use the routers, but this tip will show you how you can really get the MOST out of your free CTR350 by using the two routers together to maximize your WiFi range! 

WDS (Wireless Distribution System) allows wireless networks to be extended to a larger area by using two routers. For example, if you had a Cradlepoint MBR1000 in your basement office but couldn't connect to the WiFi network from outside in the guesthouse, you could utilize WDS by putting another CradlePoint router in between to act as a WiFi Repeater to extend the range of your WiFi network. With Cradlepoint routers this can be done only with no security or WEP security enabled on the routers (it will not work with WPA). The instructions below will show you how to set up a CTR350 to extend the range of an MBR1000.

Here is a network map of the completed setup to give you an idea of what we are trying to set up (Router A is the CTR350, and Router B is the MBR1000. Router B is the router you'll actually connect your internet connection to):

We will begin by configuring router A, the CTR350 which does not have an internet connection attached to it (remember, the MBR1000 will be the one that is actually connected to the internet - the CTR350 is just being used to extend the WiFi range):

1. Connect your computer to the CTR350 (either via WiFi or ethernet). Log in to the Cradlepoint Administration page by navigating to 192.168.0.1 and entering your password (unless you've changed it, your password should be the last 6 characters of your router's MAC address, which is located on the bottom of the router).

2. Once logged in, select the "Tools" tab at the top of the page, and then select the "User Login" link from the options on the left. On that page, un-check the "Require User Login" option and then and then click on "Save Settings". When prompted to either "Reboot Now" or "Continue", select "Continue".

3. Next, click on the "Basic" tab at the top of the page, and then select the "DHCP" link on the left. On this page un-check the "Enable DHCP Server" option. Click on "Save Settings" and again select "Continue" when prompted.

4. Next, still under the "Basic" tab, click on the "LAN" link in the left column. In the blank for "IP address", enter 192.168.0.5 (the subnet mask can stay the same), then click on "Save Settings" and again select "Continue" when prompted.

5. Next, select the "Wireless (WiFi)" link on the left column (still in the "Basic" tab). In here we will need to do a few things: First we want to un-check both "Enable Auto Channel Scan" and "Random Channel Select". We will then want to set the "Wireless Channel" to CH 1. Finally, change the "802.11 Mode" to the "802.11g Only" option. Once done, click on "Save Settings" and again select "Continue" when prompted.

6. We now want to click on the "Advanced" tab at the top of the page, and then select the "Advanced Wireless" link on the left. On this page, add a check next to "WDS Enable" - this will bring up the WDS AP MAC Address blanks you see in the image below. In the first blank, type the MAC address of Router B (the MBR1000) with a colon between every second character (you can find the MAC address on the bottom of the MBR1000). This is very important to get right or so that the CTR350 properly links to the MBR1000. Use the image below as a guide:

7. Once you've added the checkmark and properly entered the MBR1000's MAC address, click on "Save Settings" and then select "Reboot Now". When it asks you to confirm that you really want to reboot, click "OK". Allow the router to reboot completely - do not disconnect while it is rebooting. 

The CTR350 is now ready to connect via WDS to router B, the MBR1000 - but we still need to set up the MBR1000. Below are the steps to set up router B, the MBR1000:

1. Connect your computer to the MBR1000 (either via WiFi or ethernet). Log in to the Cradlepoint Administration page by navigating to 192.168.0.1 and entering your password (unless you've changed it, your password should be the last 6 characters of your router's MAC address, which is located on the bottom of the router).

2. Once logged in, select the "Tools" tab at the top of the page, and then select the "User Login" link from the options on the left. On that page, un-check the "Require User Login" option and then and then click on "Save Settings". When prompted to either "Reboot Now" or "Reboot Later", select "Reboot Later".

3. Next, select the "Basic" tab from the top and then click on the "Wireless (WiFi)" link on the left column. We will need to do a few things on this page: First, un-check "Enable Auto Channel Scan" option. We will then want to set the "Wireless Channel" to CH 1 (the channel must be the same channel that we set up in router A, the CTR350). Finally, change the "802.11 Mode" to "802.11g Only". Once done click on "Save Settings" and you will get a prompt asking if you are sure you want to make these changes, confirm it and then click on "Reboot Later".

4) We now want to click on the "Advanced" tab at the top of the page, and then select the "Wireless (WiFi)" link on the left. On this page, add a check next to "WDS Enable" - this will bring up the WDS AP MAC Address blanks you see in the image below. In the first blank, type the MAC address of Router A (the CTR350) with a colon between every second character (you can find the MAC address on the bottom of the CTR350). This is very important to get right or so that the CTR350 properly links to the MBR1000. Use the image below as a guide:

5) Once you've added the checkmark and properly entered the CTR350's MAC address, click on "Save Settings" and then select "Reboot Now". When it asks you to confirm that you really want to reboot, click "OK". Allow the router to reboot completely - do not disconnect while it is rebooting.

Once the MBR1000 has rebooted, your setup is complete! As long as the internet connection on the MBR1000 is active, you should now be able to access the internet by connecting your computer (or other device) to either the MBR1000 or the CTR350! If you need to log in to your CTR350's web admin, remember that the address is no longer 192.168.0.1 but 192.168.0.5 (you changed it in step 4 when you were setting up the CTR350).

Related links:

• Discuss this Tip on the EVDO Forums
• View and purchase Cradlepoint routers from 3Gstore
  
• View previous Tips of the Week