Update 2:
I've got some answers that I hope will help other people. Feel free to PM me with any specifics.
After some trial and error, I've found that for 'extending my wireless range', what I needed to set up is an Access Point, not bridge. I'll assume that not everyone has a d-link router, mine is a Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 w/ Tomato firmware and my fathers is a Linksys WRT54GL - 2 very common wireless routers. *Nothing against D-Link, they just happened to be on sale at the time so that's what we got*
For others wondering, (I know I was) - typical scenarios for each:
Bridge:
I've got a modem > wireless g router in the basement. I don't feel like stringing a cat-5e cable upstairs to connect my wired components (PC, PS3, network printer etc). If I did string a cat-5e to these wired components, a simple unmanaged switch could be used and the bridge isn't needed.
Access Point:
I've got a modem > wireless g router in the basement. I have strung a cat-5e cable to the second floor (with port able to be plugged in) but I want to get a wireless connection onto the back porch. I barely get any signal on the second floor as it is nevermind outside. This cat-5e cable on the second floor from the router will need to be plugged into the Access Point.
The
setup for a bridge will be like this:
Modem > Wireless Router ::Air:: Bridge (picks up router wireless signal)
- PC - PC - wired to bridge
- wireless laptop - PS3 - wired to bridge
- printer - wired to bridge
Correct me if I'm wrong but I do not believe you can wireless connect to the DAP-1522 in bridge mode. If you can, I was unable to do so. Again, the idea of the bridge is to essentially make wired components wireless.
*
Make sure to download the latest Firmware from the DAP-1522 D-Link page*
To set up in bridge mode, you first need to check your current default gateway/ subnet
A)
Start > Run > CMD > Type ipconfig and hit Enter
What is your default gateway? For most home personal routers, it's usually 192.168.1.1
Next, you need to temporarily change your ip/gateway to be within the DAP-1522's IP range.
On Win7 it's:
Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings > on your current internet connection (Local Area Connection) right click > properties > Internet Protocol Version 4 > Properties
B)
As above, you'll need to change the IP to static. Here's what I inputted for mine:
Change to Use the following IP address:
IP address: 192.168.0.200
Subnet mask: will fill in automatically
default gateway: 192.168.0.50
Not sure if this is necessary but I did it anyway:
use the following DNS server address:
192.168.0.50
OK and OK - Within network connections, you'll see the local area connection connect
C)
Now within INTERNET EXPLORER 8 (don't bother with FF, Chrome, etc) enter 192.168.0.50 and enter.
You should now be at the DAP-1522 login page. If not, make sure your pc network cord is plugged into one of the 4 network ports on the back of the DAP-1522 and when doing ipconfig, it's set up as above.
The default login is just admin for username. password is blank.
D)
The first thing I did was upgrade the firmware - you downloaded this right?
Unzip the file then within DAP-1522 go to Maintenance > Firmware > Upload the file
You'll need to wait a minute or two for the 1522 to upgrade and reboot
E)
Next after re-logging in, I did Setup > Network Settings:
I left as static - I don't want my DAP-1522 randomly changing IP's
Access point IP will now be 192.168.1.50
Subnet is fine
Gateway I set to my router address which is 192.168.1.1 - *yours May be the same but when we originally did ipconfig, it gave me 192.168.1.1. If it gave you something else, enter it here/ the Access point IP will need to be within the same subnet as the gateway (192.168.x.50)*
You don't have to, but I changed the device name to dlinkap1 just incase I wanted to add another bridge in the future.
Click Save Settings
F)
Once you click save, the IP will be set to 192.168.1.50, so 192.168.0.50 in your IE8 address bar will not work. Go back to letter B above and change (for now) to:
Change to Use the following IP address:
IP address: 192.168.1.200
Subnet mask: will fill in automatically
default gateway: 192.168.1.50
Not sure if this is necessary but I did it anyway:
use the following DNS server address:
192.168.1.50
Click OK and OK
G) Now back to the IE8 address bar > 192.168.1.50
admin and blank password
Here I did Setup > Wizard
1) Enter Device name - what you want the 1522 bridge to be called. I did dlinkap1
2) Change the 1522 login password to whatever you want it to be. Just be sure to remember it!
3) Next is 'bridging' the connection to your current wireless router connection
- I chose Manual here
4) Click Site Survey - obviously you'll need the 1522 to be within wireless range of your basement wireless router
5) Choose your router from the list.
6) Next is matching the security from your wireless router identically - I have mine setup as WPA2- Personal and AES encryption
only - so for sake of this tutorial, I'll use these options
7) Select WPA2 and enter your router's security key. After hitting next here, your settings should be saved.
After this was done, I went to Setup > Wireless and turned off MAC filtering and WPS. I read most people had issues with this and I didn't need it so turned it off.
Save Settings.
Your bridge is now setup. Yay!. You should be able to go to Status from within the 1522 and verify that you're enabled and connected with your wireless router's settings.
NOTE: - Within Settings > Wireless, most options will be greyed out, whether or not the greyed out options make sense. This is apparently normal as the bridge is running in client/slave mode and matches the settings of your wireless router. Also in Bridge mode, your DAP may get a different IP address from the main host router. Review the main host routers DHCP client table to see if a different IP address appears in the list. The new IP address may be needed to gain access to the DAP while in bridge mode as the default .50 address maybe switch to the new IP address. This is needed in case another Bridge is connected and uses the default .50 IP address to set it up.
You'll now need to change your PC's static IP back to using DHCP. Once again, go back to letter B above and select the radio buttons - Obtain IP address/ DNS automatically. OK and OK all the way out.
Now to fully test.
Open IE8 and go to 192.168.1.50. You should see the 1522 login page
Open whatever internet browser you normally use and you should be able to browse the internet.
And yes, blinking orange light = good.
Hopefully this helps setting up your bridge. AP setup coming soon.
