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[stephmoreland]

I just bought a DIR-645 (which is awesome!), but I'm having a problem.
I have an SMC SMCD3GN cable modem and it is the router. I just wanted to extend my WiFi coverage in the house with the DIR-645 (for my iPhone 4S, AppleTV 2 and PS3), but I can't seem to get the DIR-645 to connect to my network and have those devices connected to it also see the network created by the SMCD3GN.
How do I go about doing this so it all works?
Right now, it can let my devices connect to the internet, but the AppleTV 2 can't see my computer in order to play my files so I'm sure I've done something wrong.
Please help.

[Doctor Doom]

The DIR-645 does not function as a wireless repeater so that is not an option. You can however use the DIR-645 as a stand alone Access Point without the router functionality.

To do this:
- Connect a computer or laptop to your DIR-645 by itself
- Open internet explorer and type in 192.168.0.1
- Log into the router
- Click setup and then wireless settings, manual wireless network setup and setup the wireless portion as desired
- Click network settings and change the LAN IP to an unused IP address on your network (ie 192.168.0.3 or 192.168.2.3 etc) Ideally in the same subnet if you would like to access the interface with ease in the future
- Uncheck the Enable DHCP server box
- Save settings
- Connect the DIR-645 to your network or existing router. Connect the ethernet cable from LAN port to LAN port. Don't use the WAN/internet port on your DIR-645
Reference:
Turning a router into an AP.

[SteveinDK]

I'd also like to try to set up the DIR-645 as a stand-alone access point, as I am not able to get it to work correctly as a router when connected to the router supplied by my ISP. Doctor Doom, when you say to change the "LAN IP", do you mean the IP of the DIR-645 itself? There is nothing on the network settings page called "LAN IP". And how do I find an "unused IP" on my network?

Anyway, I think I tried this according to your instructions, and although I can connect and do have an Internet connection, it is unstable and the performance is lousy (my 4-year old Linksys access point, that I am trying to replace, is much better!). The wireless signal strength is excellent, but the Internet connection speed is very slow and highly variable. Wonder what I could be doing wrong...

[FurryNutz]

What ISP modem make and model # do you have? Its preferred to use this modem is the host router has it has better features and bridge the ISP modem effectively turning off the ISP modems internal router.

However you can put this 645 IP address it gets from the ISP modem into the ISP Modems DMZ if it has this option. Then the modem will pass EVERYTHING to the DMZ and the 645 with out any filters and processing.

[SteveinDK]

Hi FurryNutz,

It's an Efficient Networks (Siemens) 5781 broadband router, totally locked down by my ISP. I have no access to administer it. Am I stuck?

Thanks.

[FurryNutz]

No, thats unfortuneate though.

This cable or DSL?

You can turn the 645 into an AP.
Follow this:
Turning a router into an AP.

Let us know if you need help. Just remember to input a IP address that the router gets from the ISP MODEM. You can temp hook up the WAN port to the ISP modem, then look at the Status/Device Info/Wan section for the WAN IP. it should be a 192.168, or a 172 or maybe 10. something address. Put this into the 645 Networking/Router IP address section. Use the same subnet mask IP address reported in the Wan section too. After that, Turn off everything on the 645, SPI, QoS, WISH, Protected WiFi. Configure WiFI. Disconnect the cable from the WAN then reconnect to one of the LAN ports on the 645 to the ISP modem. You can still access the 645 web page using the new IP address you gave it.

[FurryNutz]

Just be aware that you may see some connection or access problems if the ISP modem isn't opened up and allowed to send ALL data traffic to the devices down stream. One reason why DMZ comes in handy however since the ISP won't allow access. Hopefully it is. Personally I would go with a less stringent ISP. But that's me.

[SteveinDK]

Hi FurryNutz,

It's DSL. And I have no choice about my ISP. It's provided by my employer. I live in Denmark, where there are few real alternatives anyway.

Thanks for your help. You have given me some things to try, and I'll let you know how it goes...

[FurryNutz]

Ok, let us know. Hope this will get you going.