Wireless booster thingy not working

Smike · 9th October 2006, 04:20 AM

At my current house we have one of these and one of these to boost the signal.

However, while the router works fine, when we try to connect to the booster, it gets stuck on "acquiring network address".

I have followed the instructions from the belkin site (pdf), and also connected to the booster directly and entered the security details for the router, but it still doesn't work.

The booster appears as a seperate wirlesss network to the booster. Should this happen?

Oleron · 9th October 2006, 04:35 AM

You should only see one network SSID.

The booster should be told that it is a range extender (usually this involves putting the MAC address of the wirelees router in.)

The wireless router should be told that it has a trusted range extender (again, the MAC address thing).

KarlQuigley · 9th October 2006, 05:18 AM

If you are trying to extend a wireless network which has WEP encryption you need to up the extender manually. The auto detect will not work with encryption. You will need to program in the "parent SID" and the encryption code (best to use the Hexadecimal code) and also program in the IP address (192.168.0.254 for example) and the subnet mask of 255.255.255.0

Connect the extender to a computer using cable supplied. You will need to set the Network IP address to match the Extenders and use the web browser to connect up- This is in the instructions (the big sheet).
So on the BASIC menu set the PARENT SSID (to match the name of your wireless network)
Set it to Wireless repeater Mode.
Apply changes

On the security page change the security to match the security of your router (64BIT WEP for example) and type in the the security code to match the router. Or type in the same PASSPHRASE as the router and click generate.
Click apply changes.

On the Specify IP address type in a IP adddress that is in the same range as the router, I suggest 192.168.x.254 - The x indicates the range so it might be a 1 or a 0 (usually). Subnet 255.255.255.0
Click apply changes.

Now logout, then disconnect the cable and power. relocate the extender and power back on.

Hope this helps.

Karl Quigley

I hope you are not trying to connect a Nintendo DS (as is often). It does not work, sorry.

Smike · 11th October 2006, 10:43 AM

Thanks for the advice, but it's still not working.

This is the bootup screen for the booster:

This is what I get when I click on the "Basic" tab:

This is what I get when I click on the "Security" tab:

(blurred SSID and passphrase for no particularly good reason)

I have allowed the Mac address in the main router, but there's nothing in the booster page for the equivalent, except selecting the network you want it to boost.

I have changed the SSID in the "Basic" tab to be the same as the main network, but this just means that when I try to connect to that network, I can't get an IP address.

I also set the security to be the same as for the main router.

Any more ideas?

asthmatic camel · 12th October 2006, 03:43 AM

Faulty hardware? Belkin isn't reknowned for its quality control.

rockoon · 12th October 2006, 09:28 AM

Several years ago I had a bigtime issue with a Belkin product. Seems that some of them were advertised as being compatible with: "Win 98, Win 98 SE, Win 2000, Win ME, ..."

The problem was that it was a lie. Win 98 was not supported, only SE, even though the box explicitely stated BOTH.

I spent hours on the phone with their "tech support" (they all live in India if you didnt know) trying to get them to admit that they were responsible for the product not working and that their "solution" (which was to get SE) was unacceptable.

One tech support guy had the balls to tell me that if SE didnt work that they would refund my money for the OS upgrade. I knew that was ********. His supervisor wasnt happy when he found out about it.

asthmatic camel · 12th October 2006, 11:53 AM

Sounds about right, rockoon. My supplier no longer stocks Belkin products due to the high number of returns and earache he received.

9th October 2006, 04:20 AM	#1
Smike Innocent bystander Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,111	Wireless booster thingy not working At my current house we have one of these and one of these to boost the signal. However, while the router works fine, when we try to connect to the booster, it gets stuck on "acquiring network address". I have followed the instructions from the belkin site (pdf), and also connected to the booster directly and entered the security details for the router, but it still doesn't work. The booster appears as a seperate wirlesss network to the booster. Should this happen?
	__________________ 'As notable chicken superior court judge Sir Peckpeck Eatsbugs-Smythe once said, "the only thing we have to fear is space lizards with atom ray guns from beyond the moon." As true today as when it was said.' - TragicMonkey

9th October 2006, 04:35 AM	#2
Oleron Muse Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Belfast, NI. Posts: 948	You should only see one network SSID. The booster should be told that it is a range extender (usually this involves putting the MAC address of the wirelees router in.) The wireless router should be told that it has a trusted range extender (again, the MAC address thing).
	__________________ Buggrit.

9th October 2006, 05:18 AM	#3
KarlQuigley Thinker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: England Posts: 141	If you are trying to extend a wireless network which has WEP encryption you need to up the extender manually. The auto detect will not work with encryption. You will need to program in the "parent SID" and the encryption code (best to use the Hexadecimal code) and also program in the IP address (192.168.0.254 for example) and the subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 Connect the extender to a computer using cable supplied. You will need to set the Network IP address to match the Extenders and use the web browser to connect up- This is in the instructions (the big sheet). So on the BASIC menu set the PARENT SSID (to match the name of your wireless network) Set it to Wireless repeater Mode. Apply changes On the security page change the security to match the security of your router (64BIT WEP for example) and type in the the security code to match the router. Or type in the same PASSPHRASE as the router and click generate. Click apply changes. On the Specify IP address type in a IP adddress that is in the same range as the router, I suggest 192.168.x.254 - The x indicates the range so it might be a 1 or a 0 (usually). Subnet 255.255.255.0 Click apply changes. Now logout, then disconnect the cable and power. relocate the extender and power back on. Hope this helps. Karl Quigley I hope you are not trying to connect a Nintendo DS (as is often). It does not work, sorry.
	Last edited by KarlQuigley; 9th October 2006 at 05:24 AM.

11th October 2006, 10:43 AM	#4
Smike Innocent bystander Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,111	Thanks for the advice, but it's still not working. This is the bootup screen for the booster: This is what I get when I click on the "Basic" tab: This is what I get when I click on the "Security" tab: (blurred SSID and passphrase for no particularly good reason) I have allowed the Mac address in the main router, but there's nothing in the booster page for the equivalent, except selecting the network you want it to boost. I have changed the SSID in the "Basic" tab to be the same as the main network, but this just means that when I try to connect to that network, I can't get an IP address. I also set the security to be the same as for the main router. Any more ideas?
	__________________ 'As notable chicken superior court judge Sir Peckpeck Eatsbugs-Smythe once said, "the only thing we have to fear is space lizards with atom ray guns from beyond the moon." As true today as when it was said.' - TragicMonkey

12th October 2006, 09:28 AM	#6
rockoon Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,106	Several years ago I had a bigtime issue with a Belkin product. Seems that some of them were advertised as being compatible with: "Win 98, Win 98 SE, Win 2000, Win ME, ..." The problem was that it was a lie. Win 98 was not supported, only SE, even though the box explicitely stated BOTH. I spent hours on the phone with their "tech support" (they all live in India if you didnt know) trying to get them to admit that they were responsible for the product not working and that their "solution" (which was to get SE) was unacceptable. One tech support guy had the balls to tell me that if SE didnt work that they would refund my money for the OS upgrade. I knew that was ********. His supervisor wasnt happy when he found out about it.
rockoon Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,106	__________________ Quality never goes begging.

12th October 2006, 03:43 AM	#5
asthmatic camel ignoramus Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4,540	Faulty hardware? Belkin isn't reknowned for its quality control.

12th October 2006, 11:53 AM	#7
asthmatic camel ignoramus Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4,540	Sounds about right, rockoon. My supplier no longer stocks Belkin products due to the high number of returns and earache he received.