HowTo:Router Configuration

HowTo:Router Configuration

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Contents

How to configure a Linksys WRT54GL for the Scarborough Mesh

Please note that SWUG is now using Ubiquity Nanostations and Picostations, not WRT54GLs. Configuration is now different and has not been documented as yet.

Preparatory

  1. Download the latest English version (the one that ends in "-en.bin") of OpenWRT-Freifunk firmware from Freifunk onto your computer.
  2. Request your own mesh IP address here.

Firmware Upload

Warning : Failure to follow this procedure to the word may result in your WRT54GL being rendered useless. Do not attempt to upload the firmware unless you understand these instructions.

  1. Make sure that your computer network configuration is set to DHCP.
  2. Run a network cable from one of the 4 LAN ports on the back of the WRT54GL to the network port on your computer.
  3. Connect the WRT54GL to the power. Make sure that the power is plugged in securely and will not fail during the loading of the firmware.
  4. Make sure that the WRT54GL is on and that the Power and WLAN lights are on and the DMZ light is off.
  5. Switch on your computer and wait until it has finished booting completely.
  6. Open your browser and type http://192.168.1.1 in the address bar. The Linksys page should load. Username is root and password is admin.
  7. Select the Administration tab and then Firmware Upgrade.
  8. Browse for the OpenWRT-Freifunk firmware .bin file that you downloaded earlier.
  9. Click Upload and wait for 5 minutes. It is crucial that you do not interrupt this process.
  10. Once 5 minutes are up, make sure that the Power and WLAN lights are on and the DMZ light is off.
  11. Switch off the WRT54GL, wait 5 seconds, and switch it back on.
  12. Type http://192.168.1.1 in your browser's address bar and enter. The Freifunk Welcome page should appear.

WRT54GL Configuration

  1. Click on Admin. Username is root and password is admin.
  2. Select the Password option and enter phunk99 in both boxes. Click Apply.
  3. Change the following parameters by choosing the header, applying the changes and clicking Apply. Leave all unmentioned parameters unchanged. Substitute the last segment of your IP address for {x} in the table below. Then click Restart and do a "Normal Restart" to reboot the router.
Header Parameter Setting Comments
System Host Name scarborough-{x}
DNS Server 168.210.2.2
Timezone GMT-2 Not GMT+2 as one would expect
Country ZA - South Africa
OLSR HNA4 192.168.{x}.0/24
Wireless WLAN-IP Address 192.168.10.{x}
WLAN Netmask 255.255.255.0
WLAN Mode Ad Hoc (Peer to Peer)
ESSID communimesh
BSSID 6a:54:d5:72:ab:d2
Channel 11
RX Antenna Antenna A The antenna furthest from the power socket
TX Antenna Antenna A
Radio Mode G only
Multicast Rate 5.5 Megabit/s
Beacon Interval 1000
LAN LAN Protocol Static
LAN IP 192.168.{x}.1
LAN Netmask 255.255.255.0
Disable NAT Checked
Disable Firewall Checked
WAN WAN Protocol Disabled

Establish good signal

  1. Reboot your computer so that it picks up a new IP address from the WRT54GL.
  2. Open your Browser and go to http://192.168.10.{x}. If your configuration is correct you should see your WRT54GL Welcome page.
  3. Click on Status. Bookmark this page for quick access in the future. Under Neighbours you will see the IP addresses of your neighbours and your signal quality (ETX) with them.
  4. The ETX shows the average number of times a packet of data has to be sent in order to be received successfully. So an ETX of 1.00 means no packets have to be resent and an ETX of 2.00 means half the packets have to be resent. An ETX of < 2.00 is a good signal. An ETX of > 3.00 indicates poor signal.
  5. If you have no neighbours with an ETX of < 2.00 (or no neighbours at all), you will need to reposition your WRT54GL so that it gets better reception. Here are a few hints on getting good reception:
    • Position the antennae straight up or straight down.
    • Keep the power and network cables (and other metal and walls) as far away from the antennae as possible
    • Position the WRT54GL as far away from the ground as possible
    • Position the WRT54GL near a window in order to get a clear view of any neighbours that may be outside
    • Due to the high frequency of the transmission, a small change in position may result in a large improvement in signal. #* Please be patient and persistent in finding the best position for your WRT54GL and once you have found it,
  6. Go to http://swug.za.net in your browser and make it your home page.

Final Configuration

  1. Enter the router administration again and select Software 1.
  2. Choose the "freifunk-recommended-en" option.
  3. Click the Upload software button.
  4. Reboot the router.
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