Wireless Router Reviews 2010: D-Link DWL-800AP+ Wireless Range Extender, 802.11b, 22Mbps Review

12/19/2011

D-Link DWL-800AP+ Wireless Range Extender, 802.11b, 22Mbps Review

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(More customer reviews)Despite what some folks may tell you, this product will definitely work (and work well) with the Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless 802.11b router. Thus, I echo the comments of poster "PC Hardware Fan" from South Carolina.
Here are the steps I took to make the Range Extender work:
1. D-Link customer support is 1-877-453-5465 (they're actually pretty nice and patient with novices like me)
2. Type http://192.168.1.1 into your Internet Explorer address bar and look for the LAN Mac Address for your Linksys router (do not write down the Wireless Mac Address; the LAN Mac Address is the first of the two on the Linksys set up page). While you're at it, also retrieve your WEP encryption key (if applicable). You'll need this info to configure your D-Link range extender.
3. Go to the D-Link website, go to Support and download the version 1.9 firmware for the DWL-800AP+ onto your computer's Desktop.
4. Plug in the D-Link wireless extender into a power outlet and connect an ethernet cable between it and the Linksys router.
5. Plug your laptop/desktop computer into the Linksys router (when configuring the D-Link, you'll need to use a "wired" connection, not a wireless connection.
6. In the Network Connections page (under Control Panel) of your computer, change the properties of your Ethernet connection (right-click on Properties, then click on TCP/IP and click on Properties) to have the same IP address range as the D-Link (I used 192.168.0.5). This involves changing the default from finding IP address automatically to the manual option (then, type in IP address indicated above).
7. Open Internet Explorer (you'll get an error page) and type in http://192.168.0.30. You'll get the D-Link setup page.
8. Under the Wireless Tab, input the Linksys LAN Mac address and WEP encryption key. Save your changes by clicking Apply.
9. Under the Admin tab, upload the version 1.9 firmware. Save your changes by clicking Apply.
10. Unplug D-Link from power outlet and from router. Keep unplugged for 30 seconds.
11. Go back into the Network Connections page (under Control Panel) and reset the configuration of your TCP/IP connection to find IP address automatically. Unplug your computer from router.
12. Move D-Link and computer to where you want to set them up (I suggest 50 feet away). Plug in D-Link into power outlet (discard ethernet cable).
13. On your computer, open up your wireless configuration utility and remove any pre-existing preferred wireless connections. Hit refresh 4-5 times. Go into wireless tab and uncheck WEP encryption key automatically saved and retype your WEP encryption key manually.
14. Enjoy your dramtically-improved wireless range.

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The D-Link AirPlus DWL-800AP+ is an enhanced 802.11b Wireless Range Extender that operates alternately as an Wireless Access Point or Wireless Repeater. Featuring advanced silicon chip design from Texas Instruments, the DWL-800AP+ utilizes patented Digital Signal Processing Technology.