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

+++ title = 'DD-WRT as a Wireless Client Bridge' date = 2024-09-16T18:55:11+03:00 draft = false +++ 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:

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

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.

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.

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

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.