Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Most sellers offer you a Linksys WRT54G wireless router for 1800 rubles and a wireless access point for 3600 rubles. But why spend the extra 1800 rubles? You can remake your wireless router and make it a simple access point. Don't get me wrong, this article is not about creating a wireless hotspot. It's about adding a simple wireless hotspot to your existing wired network.

Steps

1. 1 It all starts with a wired computer. Write down the current IP address of your network. In this example, the router's address will be 192.168.0.1. The network protocol settings and subnet mask are irrelevant in this example. Substitute your network addresses for these settings if they are different.
2. 2 Peel off the "Start Disc First" sticker on the back of the router. Never plug a cable into the "WAN" port. Cover the "WAN" connector to prevent any attempts to insert a cable into it.
3. 3 Unplug the network cable from the network jack on the computer and put it aside for a while. Take a new cable and plug it into LAN port # 2 on your new Linksys router, and the other end of the cable into a network jack on your computer.
4. 4 Turn on your router. Plug the power supply into a power outlet and plug the cable into the power connector on the back of the router.One indicator on the front of the router should light up, indicating that the router is connected to power.
5. 5 Press and hold the "RESET" button on the router for 30 seconds. A reset ensures that all user settings are erased and the router returns to factory settings. This is usually not necessary with new routers, but if you suspect that the router has been oversold, chances are that it will not work correctly without a factory reset (this is also the only way to access the settings page if you have forgotten your username and password) ... Check the manual for the reset button, as it can be anywhere depending on the model. It is most commonly found on the back panel next to the power jack.
6. 6 Restart your computer so that it gets the new router address.
7. 7 After rebooting, launch your browser and enter the following into the address bar: http://192.168.1.1. You will be asked to enter your login (admin) and password (admin). If the 192.168.1.1 page does not load, try entering 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.2.1 instead. The instructions will indicate the address of the default router if you cannot access the login page. It may also indicate that the router has not been restored to factory defaults via the reset procedure described above.
8. 8 Go to the Wireless Connections page and start configuring wireless options like Wireless SSID (Wireless Network Identifier). Don't use "linksys" for this, but choose something else like "charlie". The SSID must correspond to the main router, and the channel must be different from that of the main router (Channel 1 for the main router, and Channel 6 and 11 for the second router, since they are sufficiently separated in frequency).
9. 9 On the Security Settings page, set WPA-Personal security to the lowest level and the Wireless Security Key to an eight-digit code. A good choice for a security key is your mobile number, since these numbers are not listed in any directory. Save the settings.
10. 10 Go back to the main page of the router, set the local IP address to the unused address of the main network of the router. I set my address to the maximum possible number on the network: 192.168.0.254. That, as they say, puts the access point "out of the way." Note: Some network routers are set to "start up" in the high range by default (xxx.xxx.xxx.254), so if you have such a network, put new wireless devices on the lower unused number. For example, 192.168.0.253.
11. 11 Disable the dynamic configuration protocol for the server host. For most small networks and subnets, there is only one dynamic server node configuration protocol required. The initial, main router (a separate router or built into a cable or DSL modem) will provide IP addresses to all devices connected to it, including those connected through the newly created access point.
12. 12 Save the settings and the router will restart.
13. 13 Plug the cable from your existing network (the one you disconnected in step 3) into LAN port # 1 and restart your computer.
14. 14 Turn on your wireless laptop and visit a new wireless hotspot, while being pleased with yourself that these 15 minutes saved you 1,800 rubles.

Tips

• If you screw up something, put it back on and restart your Linksys router. Start over from the first step.
• Do not use the IP addresses listed in this example, unless your network is identical to this one.

Warnings

• Pay attention to the “Wireless Security” setting (Step 6). Do not leave the signal unsecured, as this will be an invitation for various hackers and freeloaders to steal your network traffic, or worse.

What do you need

• Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router
• New Ethernet cable
• Notebook
• 15 minutes of time