Adding a Wi-Fi Access Point to an Existing LAN Network Using DD-WRT Enabled Router

Adding a Wi-Fi Access Point to an Existing LAN Network Using DD-WRT Enabled Router

This post is going to cover the steps needed to add a Wi-Fi access point (WAP) to an existing network.  This is used when extending the Wi-Fi network beyond the reach of the base router.

Router chosen for the access point is a Netgear WNDR4300.  The base router is also a Netgear WNDR4300 running DD-WRT firmware.

Start at the router support page

https://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Netgear_WNDR4300 

and download the initial flash version (to flash from Netgear firmware to DD-WRT firmware)
ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2014/02-04-2014-r23503/netgear-wndr4300/wndr4300-factory.img 

Then download the most recent build of DD-WRT firmware from the router root download directory

ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/ 

by choosing the current year > latest date > router make and model number > then the  <makemodel>-webflash.bin file

Note for Netgear WNDR4300 - To flash from Netgear firmware to DD-WRT firmware, you need to use the r23503 or earlier build of wndr4300-factory.img otherwise the update will fail.

Steps involved:

• Download firmware images to local computer
• Connect router to be used as the WAP to a local computer (with firmware images already downloaded)
• Load <makemodel>-factory.img firmware
• Reboot WAP, log in to check that DD-WRT firmware (r23503 for WNDR4300) is running on the WAP
• Load <makemodel>-webflash.bin firmware
• Reboot WAP, log in to 
• check that latest build firmware is running on the WAP
• Setup > Basic Setup
• DHCP Server: Disabled
• Set the IP address to any IP address outside of the gateway DHCP range
• If the gateway IP range is 192.168.0.100-192.168.0.255, set the IP on the WAP to 192.168.0.2 or something like that
• Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
• Gateway/Local DNS: Gateway IP Address
• WAN Connection Type: Disabled
• Assign WAN Port to Switch: Checked
• NTP Client: Enabled - Specify LAN Gateway/DNS
• Click Save
• Setup > Advanced Routing
• Operating Mode: Router
• Click Save
• Wireless > Basic Settings
• Set the wireless network name (SSID) for 2.4GHz radio
• Set the wireless network name (SSID) for 5GHz radio
• Set the vlan for guest wireless access (Optional) by clicking the Add button under the Virtual Interfaces section
• Click Save
• Wireless > Wireless Security
• For each wireless interface
• Security Mode: WPA2 Personal
• WPA Algorithms: AES
• WPA Shared Key: <Wireless Password>
• Click Save
• Services > Services
• DNSMasq: Disable
• Click Save
• Security > Firewall
• SPI Firewall: Disable
• Uncheck all boxes
• Click Save
• Administration > Management
• Click Save
• Click Apply Settings
• Click Reboot Router

Connect the WAP to a network cable on the LAN after it reboots.  Connect to the WAP over Wi-Fi and navigate to the WAP IP address.