MY Outdoor/Waterproof Linksys WRT54G Routers **PICS** (no longer waterproof)

[kevinbo03]

VERY cool stuff. I'm bookmarking this in case I ever do anything similar.

[Exahertz]

I’m glad all of you find this interesting!

Maybe if I have some time I’ll explain how I configured the routers to work as a bridge using the Alchemy firmware, Version: V1.0 v3.37.6.8sv

But I’ll start with a few pointers that drove me nuts for a while.
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First off don’t use DHCP, everything must be statically assigned addresses!!

You must use WEP (not just for security but it helps make the connection a little more stable, I’m not sure why)

Select 802.11g only, if either one of these routers see an 802.11b router (from any ware) they will run at b speeds (and with antennas like this they will see a b router!

The wireless network names (SSID) must match on both your main router and your client router.

Due to only having a single antenna I had to configure RX and TX on the same channel (eg. left and left)

On the router side (connected to the internet) you must configure it as an AP
On the router side (connected to the internet) you must connect the Ethernet cable to the WAN port.

On the client side (the other side of the bridge) you must configure it as client
On the client side (the other side of the bridge) you must connect the Ethernet cable into a switch port
On the client side (the other side of the bridge) you must use the MAC address filter to make a stable connection, Permit only main router's MAC address

And those are just a few of the more important thing I found... If anyone wants a copy of the configuration backups from both of my routers I can send them to you. If you flash two V1.0 wrt54g routers with the Alchemy-V1.0 v3.37.6.8sv firmware, load these backups into the routers and connect the cables in the right ports you should have a working bridge just from that.

[Duh]

You guys should put up a how-to for guys like me who know nothing about configuring the router to do this..

I've been working on accumulating parts to do this for myself for a long time... but I cant configure the routers for crap lol.

QFT. ( +1)+

BTW: your project is really gorgeous

[Exahertz]

Just an update.

This morning we had an ice storm. Network went down, status> Wireless> Site survey showed no networks. I got up on the roof and cleaned all of the (1/4" thick) ice off of the parabolic antenna and instantly 20 networks where showing with good signal strength again.

So be advised that ice will temporary kill your antenna!

[gillbot]

Have you tried an old DirectTV dish for an antenna? I've heard those work very well.

[Exahertz]

Have you tried an old DirectTV dish for an antenna? I've heard those work very well.

O RLY? no i haven't considered that. do you have to modify the feed element in any way???

[gillbot]

O RLY? no i haven't considered that. do you have to modify the feed element in any way???

I don't recall, but when I looked into it there was info readily available about doing such a mod. I'm sure google would provide the answers.

I was looking for a solution to reach ~5 miles and many were using the old dishes successfully for distances over 10 miles I believe. I just never got past the planning stage as I ended up moving.

[Exahertz]

Just added some more pictures: