From PowerPC Kernel Archives

WRT54G Wireless-Ethernet Bridge

These instructions show how to setup a Linksys WRT54G as a wireless-ethernet bridge.

• For pictures see http://www.ppckernel.org/~tobias/photos/index.php?folder=/wireless/.
• To monitor the networks this setup can see, visit http://dev.tobias.public.cs.earlham.edu/~tobias/wireless-link

Disclaimer: The firmware linked to below has only been minimally tested and it might brick (i.e., permanently and irrevocably break) your router.

• 1. Download a copy of the firmware binary from http://www.ppckernel.org/~tobias/hwrt/

• 2. Enter the router admin interface and update its firmware with the file you just downloaded

• 3. Turn off the router's DHCP server

• 4. Open the Administration tab and then the Startup script (near the bottom). Type the following into the dialog that appears:

# choose the antenna port you want to use
# uncomment if you're connecting a third-party antenna
# wl antdiv 0
# wl txant 0

# set the transmit power to 22 db (the max in the US is 36 db, and my antenna is 14; 36-14=22)
# wl txpwr1 -o -d 22

# turn off access point mode
wl ap 0

# turn on wireless-ethernet bridging
wl wet 1

# join a wireless network
wl join <SSID>

If you want to learn more about these commands simply open a telnet session to the WRT54G, type wl, and hit return

• 5. Hit Save, and then reboot the router.

• 6. You can check for available wireless networks by visiting http://192.168.1.1/Scan.htm or typing:

wl scan
wl scanresults

in a telnet session.

• 7. Connect the device(s) that you want to bridge to the LAN ports on the WRT54G (i.e., not the Internet port). You can bridge up to four devices at a time; with an extra switch you might even be able to bridge more (haven't tried it).

E-mail Toby if you have any questions!