+ DD-WRT as a Wireless Client Bridge

content/posts/ddwrt-as-a-wireless-client-bridge.md

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+title = 'DD-WRT as a Wireless Client Bridge'
+date = 2024-09-16T18:55:11+03:00
+draft = false
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+If you live in a house where extending a simple networking cable would require a lot of work, you might find yourself buying something like a network printer and not being able to connect it to the network due to it not supporting wifi. These situations suck, but thankfully, there's a solution, the Wireless Client Bridge.
+
+## Okay, what the hell is that?
+A Wireless Client Bridge is a device that helps your computer/laptop/smart fridge connect to the internet when a direct wired connection to your main router wouldn't be possible.
+
+### Pros:
+* No need to spend ages googling your wifi drivers
+* Better connections, as most commercial routers have better antennas than most commercial computers. 
+
+### Cons:
+* It's another appliance that you need to maintain and power.
+
+Here's a handy diagram of what we'll be doing today:
+![a diagram](/pictures/router/diagram.png)
+
+## 1. Setting up DD-WRT
+It should be obvious that you must install DD-WRT on a compatible router. I decided for this setup to go with the old but reliable TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND. But you may be asking yourself, why use DD-WRT? Well, DD-WRT is simpler than alternatives like OpenWRT. That's it.
+
+## 2. Initial setup
+After flashing DD-WRT, you should go to the setup tab, and fill in the following:
+* **Connection Type**: Disabled
+* **Router Name**: Can be changed to anything
+* **Local IP Address**: You need to select an IP address that is not already in use on your network. For example, I chose 192.168.1.2. If your network uses a different address range, such as 192.168.0.x or 10.10.1.x, you'll need to pick an IP from that range, like 192.168.0.2 or 10.10.1.2.
+* **Gateway**: You must input the IP of your main router
+* **Assign WAN Port to Switch**: Enable
+* **DHCP Server**: Disable
+
+Your settings should look something like this
+![](/pictures/router/Screenshot_20240915_191952.png)
+
+## 3. Disabling the firewall
+This can be done via Security > Firewall
+* **SPI Firewall**: Disable
+
+Now you may be thinking why you'd disable the firewall. Well, that is handled by your main router.
+
+![](/pictures/router/Screenshot_20240915_193026.png)
+
+## 4. Connecting to the wireless network:
+Go to Wireless > Basic Settings and fill in the following:
+* **Wireless Mode**: Client Bridge (Routed)
+* **Default GW Mode**: Manual
+* **Gateway**: The IP of your main router. Mine's 192.168.1.1
+* **Wireless Network Mode**: Mixed
+* **Wireless Network Name (SSID)**: Your SSID. I redacted mine.
+
+![](/pictures/router/Screenshot_20240915_192022.png)
+
+Now go to the Wireless Security tab and chose the following (these are the most common settings found on most routers):
+* **Security Mode**: WPA
+* **Network Authentication**: WPA2 Personal
+* **WPA Shared Key**: your password
+
+![](/pictures/router/Screenshot_20240915_192203.png)
+
+Now you can check if you configured the wireless stuff correctly by going to the Status > Wireless tab and reviewing the stuff there.
+
+## 5. Profit
+Now you can finally apply all the changes. You'll have to change to 192.168.1.2 or whatever IP you chose in step 1 for the router. 
+
+I am still a DD-WRT novice, so if I missed anything, or something doesn't work properly, please let me know.