This router has been considerable
Price / performance ratio. At this price you can not go wrong. And as our old TP-Link router, the TL-WA801ND
had abandoned his ministry (after 8 years), a new was needed, therefore, to the positive experience with TP-Link I wanted it
course again try with a TP-Link router. The WR841N has in Amazon over 820 (!) Get reviews, most good, and what
is most important for me, he is supported by alternative operating systems, OpenWrt and DD-WRT.
This router should, as the old TL-WA801ND, be used as a wireless repeater. The configuration of the old router was relatively
simply, you could him to the basic configuration, operate as a repeater, there was, as I recall, just a
Entry in the configuration menu, and that was it. I've assumed that this is similar when WR841N, but a fallacy
was. Perhaps it is so, but I have in the TP-Link configuration interface of WR841N has not been registered
found. After a day of tasting, I then filled with the OpenWrt free software, but even with this I do not have it
managed. Only with the (also free) DD-WRT firmware, I managed to use the router as a wireless repeater. After a day configuration
I could now find out the combination of the wireless repeater use, because this feature does not appear in the official
List and many are of the opinion, so as to obtain the answer in many forums, either because it does not provide for TP-Link or because
the built-in Atheros chip to allegedly not being able that the router can not do that. I have also in the forums
look around, however, each installation's specific, depending on how you have designed its network, which WAN routers are used,
etc.
I must emphasize again that the solution found by me actually only applies to the combination of devices in my network,
namely with a FritzBox 7270 as a WAN Acesspoint and WR841N as a wireless repeater and taking dd-wrt (!).
Why should or can this guide represent only a basic recipe which, depending on its own network constellation yet
needs to be adjusted. All who are experts in another field, should perhaps better the included TP-Link software
use or carry out the basic configuration via the cable and the TP-Link webgui because that without Netzwerkkenntisse,
Configuration of such a device can be pretty tricky. (On the other hand, at a price of 19,90 you can actually
not do much wrong, but you should always proceed very carefully, because if the router is "brick your" that nothing more
running, no longer even the local connection, then you have difficulties, there still ran forward).
2 Installation
==============
2.1 With PC
~~~~~~~~~~
If you use a Windows computer
- Either with the CD
Then the Setup Wizard will be called TP-Link and after
Procedures
2.2 or with a direct means of cable (in Linux, MacOSX or Windows without CD)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To ever have to contact the router in the network
Once made settings of the computer the following changes
are:
* Set IP to an address on the network of the router.
The router has in me the network address 192.168.0.1 (back printed), that is, the PC needs to address to an address
(192.168.0.2) can be set in this network so that both see. And as a "gateway" is simply the router specified
(192.168.0.1), so that the computer simply sends all requests to about his connection to this router, which it receives and
can answer:
* Network settings for the cable connection to the WR841N
------------------------------
IP 192.168.0.2
Network mask 255.255.255.0
Gateway 192.168.0.1
------------------------------
* NOTE: After the router is configured, the PC must again
Are connected to the network -
- Be set in the network settings to their original values, so to autoconfiguration, then he gets back from the main router's IP address
2.3 Establishing connection
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now on the computer, the browser can be called and there the IP of the router that an embedded web server for configuration
, will provide call: 192.168.0.1
The way forward can be found in the manual. In the basic constellation, so as a simple router or access point
you have to parameterize the WR841N as well as the previous router also what also work easily in the simple approach,
should. However, I wanted to use as WR841N WLAN Repeater and therefore had to choose a different approach.
2.3.1 Alternative System DD-WRT
------------------------------
After I was unsuccessful bring the TP-Link firmware to operate as a repeater, I have drawn open-wrt and this
installed. Since the second attempt did not work, I tried it with DD-WRT. Again, some had to be configured,
after a day, I had found a way, I would like to describe in principle here that others have an easier or
use this description as a recipe.
2.4 Installing DD-WRT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Go to the DD-WRT side and accordingly for this router TP-WR841N (D) (WR841N and WR841ND are of the same hardware, to
Download the detachable antenna when WR841ND) firmware in the download areas (with me (WR841N V9) it was the firmware
TL-WR841N_V9_150310) and install on the upgrade menu of TP-Link webgui, is actually quite simple.
2.5 Configuration DD-WRT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Basically it can be said that this router so should serve as WLAN Repeater, so he has the existing wireless network wirelessly
expand. For this he needs to actually do much, three fundamental functions must be met:
+ Log in to the Wi-Fi network consist
+ Transport of the Fritz box (and the connected devices) to
conduct the lie behind the WR841N rooms by
+ The same in the other direction
2.6 Setup -> Basic Setup
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.6.1 Wireless Setup
--------------------
The WAN Connection I disabled because I with this router, which actually has no direct connection to the outside, not even
a WAN (Wide Area Network, so everything is behind the power outlet) operate. Under "Optional Settings", a router name
are named
2.6.2 Network Setup
-------------------
Here I forgive the local network address of the router (192.168.178.200), so that, under the net, before it all
Things of the Fritz box (192.168.178.1), must be found. (The subnet separates the IP address, so that a router can determine,
when to a package while forwarding.)
Router IP
| Local IP Address | 192.168.178.200 |
| Subnet Mask | 255.255.255.0 |
| Gateway | 192.168.178.1 |
| Local DNS | 0.0.0.0 |
2.7 Setup -> Networking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's so that the WR841N has a virtual bridge or must be set up (do not know if I created it
have, or whether it was already present in the firmware delivery status), the received packets are forwarded yes somewhere
must. For a new connection must be created and this with the bridge (br0) are connected.
* Assign to Bridge
-------------------------------------------------- -
| Assignment 0 | br0 | Bridge interface ath0 | Prio 63
-------------------------------------------------- -
The following settings are now (possibly after a reboot) to
see:
* Current Bridging Table
-------------------------------------------------- --------------
| Bridge Name | STP | enabled |
| Interface | br0 | yes | eth0 eth1 ath0.1 |
-------------------------------------------------- --------------
2.8 Setup -> Advanced Routing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.8.1 Operating Mode
--------------------
As Operating Mode router must be selected
2.8.2 Dynamic Routing
---------------------
I disabled
2.8.3 Static Routing
--------------------
So, that's one of the (many) decisive points. We do not want that this router does nothing else than the packets it in by
gets its range of WLANs connected devices, forwards, and indeed to the Fritz box. That's why I have him here
set quite stubborn as I have been told that he everything, but all packets that it somehow gets from connected devices
(0.0.0.0), stubborn to the Fritz box (192.168.178.1) forwards.
* Wireless Physical Interface ath0 [2.4 GHz]
Route name Fritz
Metric 0
Destination LAN NET 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
Gateway 192.168.178.1
Interface ath0
2.9 Wireless -> Basic Settings
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-------------------------------------------------- ----
Wireless Mode Client Bridge (Routed)
Default GW Mode Auto (DHCP) Manual
Gateway 192.168.178.1
Wireless Network Mode Mixed
Channel Width Full
Wireless Network Name (SSID) Terziano00
Advanced Settings
-------------------------------------------------- ----
* Virtual Interfaces ath0.1 SSID [Terziano00] HWAddr
[A2: B2: D2: E2: F2: A2]
------------------------------------------
Wireless Mode AP
Wireless Network Name (SSID) Terziano00
Wireless SSID Broadcast Enable
------------------------------------------
2:10 Wireless -> Security
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here have the same settings as in the main router, in this case, the Fritz box, be made! So:
* Physical Interface ath0 SSID [Terziano00] HWAddr [A1: B1: C1: D1: E1: F1]
Security Mode WPA2 Personal
WPA TKIP + AES Algorithms
WPA Shared Key HERE TO ZUGANGSKEY MAIN ROUTER ENROLL
* Virtual Interfaces ath0.1 SSID [Terziano00] HWAddr
[A2: B2: D2: E2: F2: A2]
Security Mode WPA2 Personal
WPA TKIP + AES Algorithms
WPA Shared Key HERE TO ZUGANGSKEY MAIN ROUTER ENROLL
So, and now once safe and reboot.
2:11 Control
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.11.1 WR841N
-------------
Under Status> Wireless can be controlled if the interfaces are correctly adjusted and recognized. Here should the
appropriate settings, and the SSID will be displayed. Below the detected devices are shown with their MAC IDs and bottom, something
hidden, you can sicheinen "Site Survey" display where the recorded by the router wireless networks are listed. There is here
the possibility of differently named networks to "joinen". One should take only his own net but of course always. Are all
Parameters, the fashion, the SSID, etc. set, you will receive a confirmation with a join of their own network.
2.11.2 FritzBox
---------------
The same can also check on the Fritz box, appears here with me the WR841N with its name, its MAC address and
its connection speed which is specified by the Fritz box with 300MBit / s. Thus, the connection was successful.
3 Conclusion
=======
This TL-WR841N there is an extremely favorable router, which can be really used very versatile. You can put it with the
And run original software with alternative firmwares (Linux), so it is also possible to him as WLAN Repeater
use. So I have expanded our network infrastructure with minimal financial outlay maximum wireless. Of course
should not conceal the fact that the configuration considerable time (and nerves) may take Anpsruch you. That's why I have this
Document created as an aid for all those who want to make the effort anyway, this router from scratch themselves to
configure.
As I said, the cost can be quite high and the monetary savings might not necessarily be worth the effort in this case
(A corresponding WLAN Repeater of FritzBox not even cost as the double). But there are situations where this
Approach but offers advantages. (What I have not yet managed to make 4 LAN ports on the WR841N available anywhere that has
something to do with the routing set from me, I have to investigate further. Basically this is not a problem.)
They would then have a really extremely flexible and extensible Repeater (even with VLAN) in the 300Mbps range for very little money.
But even so, I am fully satisfied once and forgive here 5
Star.
PS: If you have criticism of my review and evaluate, with the few stars who should perhaps be so kind and criticism
here in a comment so that I bring this review entspechend rectify, modify or expand can. Because it is
many people with a criticism or an adjustment in any missing information much more helpful than a review,
perhaps existing weaknesses assessed, but no way has to supplement the right information.
