Inexpensive Wireless Access Point Discovery

[ricocamus]

I'd like to let everyone know about a great wifi device find that I just discovered.

My home network started off with the basic wifi router connected to my cable modem. Unfortunately, the signal worked well only downstairs but could not make it to the second floor of the house. I tried relocating the router to boost the signal, but that didn't help. I finally reached the conclusion that I needed either a range extender or a wireless access point.

First of all neither are easy to get. Secondly, they are pricey. The airport base station works great as a range extender, but more money then I wanted to spend. I looked at the Linksys WAP 54 g, but with an online price of about $80, this was also expensive. I got a wifi router for P2500 so I had a hard time justifying paying more for a simpler piece of equipment.

After much searching, I chanced upon the Buffalo WHR G125 from PC Express -P1930 (P1800 with cash discount!). The website pitched it as two devices in one - router or access point and configurable with just one switch.

I got it last weekend and set it up in no time. It works just as advertised and now I have a backup wireless router, too, in case my Linksys wifi router goes down.

Good deal!

[shay]

Buffalo is one of the top brands in Japan. We have this one at home too, it does the job well!

[ncarandang]

Buffalo is one of the top brands in Japan. We have this one at home too, it does the job well!

i second buffalo, inexpensive and efficient. dlink and linksys also works. i'd stay away from belkin, too expensive for what its worth.

[raypin]

I believe Corega is the top brand in the Japanese market. Last year, one of my over-the-bakod neighbors installed an unsecured Corega. I leached off my neighbor's wifi for a couple of weeks to see if it performs well. It does. He probably noticed my unwanted, unneighborly intrusion because it is now under protected status.

[shay]

Yes, Corega is their top brand in the market but Buffalo for me is the best with regards to performance and price!

[chu]

I'd like to let everyone know about a great wifi device find that I just discovered.

My home network started off with the basic wifi router connected to my cable modem. Unfortunately, the signal worked well only downstairs but could not make it to the second floor of the house. I tried relocating the router to boost the signal, but that didn't help. I finally reached the conclusion that I needed either a range extender or a wireless access point.

First of all neither are easy to get. Secondly, they are pricey. The airport base station works great as a range extender, but more money then I wanted to spend. I looked at the Linksys WAP 54 g, but with an online price of about $80, this was also expensive. I got a wifi router for P2500 so I had a hard time justifying paying more for a simpler piece of equipment.

After much searching, I chanced upon the Buffalo WHR G125 from PC Express -P1930 (P1800 with cash discount!). The website pitched it as two devices in one - router or access point and configurable with just one switch.

I got it last weekend and set it up in no time. It works just as advertised and now I have a backup wireless router, too, in case my Linksys wifi router goes down.

Good deal!

Thanks for sharing this, I'm curious, what setting did you use for it to repeat/extend your network? I have a Buffalo unit, unfortunately I can't find my installer CD so I'm trying to figure out the exact settings to use it as an extender. Any tips might help.

Thanks!

[rogue]

thanks for the info! :-)

[eaespi]

i second buffalo, inexpensive and efficient. dlink and linksys also works. i'd stay away from belkin, too expensive for what its worth.

i'm using belkin G+ MIMO and it works fine with me.

[gan]

Thanks for sharing this, I'm curious, what setting did you use for it to repeat/extend your network? I have a Buffalo unit, unfortunately I can't find my installer CD so I'm trying to figure out the exact settings to use it as an extender. Any tips might help.

Thanks!

You don't need the CD to configure your router, it will have a default IP that can be accessed by any web browser try 192.168.1.11 this is the deafult for a buffalo WHR g125

[ricocamus]

Thanks for sharing this, I'm curious, what setting did you use for it to repeat/extend your network? I have a Buffalo unit, unfortunately I can't find my installer CD so I'm trying to figure out the exact settings to use it as an extender. Any tips might help.

Thanks!

This tip assumes that you have a separate router connected to your internet connection and the Buffalo WHR G 125 wi fi router.

Even without the CD you can set it up two ways:
1. log on to the admin page - connect to the router with regular RJ45 network cable and go to the default IP address of the router - should be 192.168.11.1 (at least that's what it is for the buffalo router I am using). from the admin page you can change the mode from router to access point.

2. use the switch on the side - slide the switch from router to access point and you are all set.

After changing the config, connect the buffalo to your router using RJ 45 cable - don't connect anything to the WAN port on the buffalo, use the other ports. You should now see a another wireless network from your computer.

You can also change the name and security of the network through the admin page (recommended).

One last point, the default IP of the buffalo router changes when you turn it into an access point, so you should write it down so that you can access its admin page.

If you have any more questions, let us know what your configuration is (router, ISP, buffalo model) and we can do a more detailed discussion.