Dir-655 repeater: Can a Dlink DIR 655 be used as a repeater?

home networking — D-Link DIR-300 wireless router on DD-WRT as a repeater

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• OS: Windows 7 64-bit
• Host router: TP-Link WR841ND 300Mbps Wireless N Router. —> Emulator
• Repeater: D-Link DIR-300 54Mbps Wireless G Router —> Emulator

Scenario:

I have already flashed the DIR-300 with DD-WRT firmware successfully and set it up as a repeater. The mode I’m using is «Client Bridge». I’m also getting a full 5-bar signal.

Problem:

I’m subscribed to a 10Mbps package from my ISP. I am only getting around half the speed or less from my DIR-300 repeater (anywhere between 2 to 5 Mbps) . On the other hand, I am able to get full 10 Mbps speed from the host TP-Link router when I’m close to it. Is this because I’m using a 54 Mbps wireless G router? Is there a way to fix it so that I can get full 10 Mbps speed?

Alternative solution if the above cannot be fixed:

If I purchase the TL-WA850RE 300Mbps Universal WiFi Range Extender, will this provide full 10 Mbps speed?

• wireless-router
• home-networking
• dir-300

Some speed is lost when going through a repeater because of the distance it travels but not as much as you are talking about. I would suggest setting up the D-Link as the main router and see what speeds it gets, if it doesn’t improve then it is definitely the router.

1

All «repeater» modes sacrifice half of the wi-fi speed for talking to the host and its clients simultaneously.
See: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Repeater_Bridge (just above «Troubleshooting» section)

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review, instructions for setting up and firmware, price, reviews

D-Link DIR routers have been very popular for almost 10 years. The DIR-655 model is one of the recognized leaders in the DIR line: high speed and significant wireless network coverage compared to DIR-3xx routers speak for themselves.

Contents

• 1 D-Link DIR-655: description and parameters of the router

  • 1.1 Table: characteristics of the router DIR-655

• 2 Configuring the DIR-615 router

  • 2.1 Checking the IP settings on a PC or laptop

  • 2.2 Entering the settings and changing the password DIR-655

  • 2.3 How to set up Wi-Fi on the DIR-655 router

  • 2.4 Setting up PPTP on DIR-655 routers

  • 2.5 Configuring L2TP on DIR-655

  • 2.6 Setting up PPPoE on DIR-655

  • 2.7 How to configure static IP on DIR-655

  • 2.8 Port forwarding on DIR-655 routers

  • 2.9 Setting up IPTV on the DIR-655

    router

  • 2. 10 Configuring LAN and DHCP on the router DIR-655

  • 2.11 Configuring DIR-655 as a repeater

  • 2.12 Reset, preload and save settings DIR-655

  • 2.13 Firmware update DIR-655

    • 2.13.1 Video: DIR-655 firmware update

  • 2.14 Restart DIR-655

• 3 Reviews about the router DIR-655

Like all D-Link routers, the display panel of the DIR-655 model is as informative as possible — nothing to do with the minimalism of such simplified models as Xiaomi Routers.

LEDs indicate the operation of all functional units DIR-655

There are LAN and WAN, USB, Power connectors on the back, a protected DIR-655 reset button to factory settings, and Wi-Fi antenna radio connectors equidistant from each other.

Nothing superfluous — only those hardware interfaces that should be

There is no power button (or switch) in the DIR-655 model.

Table: characteristics of the DIR-655 router

Router DIR-655 supports reliable Wi-Fi coverage within a 2-3-storey country house or 2-3 apartments or floors (apartments located one above the other). Supports gigabit speed of GPON fiber optic connections over LAN when connected via cable.

Configuring the DIR-615 router

Before connecting the router to a PC or laptop, check that the Wi-Fi and LAN network adapters are configured to automatically obtain IP addresses — this will free you from the configuration on each of the client devices.

Checking the IP settings on a PC or laptop

On Windows 10, do the following.

1. Give the command «Start — Control Panel — Network and Sharing Center — Change adapter settings.

   IP addresses for Ethernet are assigned by the router, not added by you

2. Give the command: right click on the Ethernet icon — «Properties».
3. On the «Network» tab, give the command: «Internet Protocol (IPv4) — Properties» and make sure that the functions «Obtain an IP address (or DNS address) automatically» are active.
4. If you used a connection through another Wi-Fi router, static IPs were specified (not even all of them), delete their values. Close all windows by clicking OK, at the slightest change in IP, restart Windows.

You can proceed to setting up the DIR-655. If you still need the previous IP settings (you will use the resources of the Network through a router in which the DHCP function is not active), use third-party programs that save settings profiles separately, for example, the NetSetMan application.

Entering the settings and changing the password DIR-655

After auto-obtaining IP addresses on a PC or laptop, many routers — by default — have DHCP functionality active. For the convenience of users, all actions with the DIR-655 settings are translated into Russian. Model 655 settings are similar to DIR-615, DIR-320 and other routers that use the classic web interface of D-Link routers.

1. When you turn on the DIR-655 for the first time, go to the address 19 from your browser2.168.0.1 and enter the default login and password — the word «admin».

   Make sure the password you enter is correct

2. Give the command «Tools — Administration», enter the new password from the router twice, click the «Save settings» button.

   Make sure you know the new password well

The router will restart and you will be taken to its settings with a fresh password.

It is recommended that you also set the DIR-655 device name before entering the password. Another thing: if you change your mind about changing the “admin” password to your own, you can click the “Do not save settings” button.

How to set up Wi-Fi on the DIR-655 router

It is not enough to change the administrator password. It is strongly recommended to check the second line of defense — WPA-2 protection of the Wi-Fi network.

1. Give the command: «Settings» — «Wireless network settings» — the button «Manual wireless settings».

   Press the manual Wi-Fi network setup button

2. Disable the «Set up a secure Wi-Fi network» option — this feature is not supported by all gadgets and laptops.

   Pay special attention to the assigned WPA-2 password

3. Enable the «Use wireless network» option by setting the value to «Always».
4. The «Wi-Fi Speed» option must be set to «802.11bgn Mixed».
5. Specify the wireless network name (SSID).
6. Specify the security level «WPA-2 Personal».
7. The WPA Mode option must be set to WPA Only.
8. Encryption algorithm — WPS.
9. Assign a password for the Wi-Fi network, if the router asks for a PIN code or serial number — enter the value indicated on the package or at the bottom of the case, click the «Save settings» button.

The DIR-655 router will restart with the new Wi-Fi settings. Each time you connect a new PC or gadget, enter the WPA-2 password you just set.

Setting up PPTP on DIR-655 routers

An alternative web interface of DIR routers was taken as an example, different from the previous classic one released by D-Link and also suitable for DIR-655.

1. Give the command «Network — WAN» and select the protocol «Dynamic IP and PPTP».

   Follow your ISP’s instructions for this protocol

2. Enable the «Allow WAN» and «Obtain DNS Address» options, enter an MTU (IP Packet Timeout) value less than 1450.
3. Set the VPN settings: auto-connect, username (once) and password (twice) from the contract.
4. Select the 5th port and enter the name of the network profile (different network settings are selected for different providers).

   Enter adequate VPN values ​​so that the connection does not drop

5. Enter the VPN server address and do not enable encryption.
6. Select the auto-authentication mode and set the MTU value to less than 1450.
7. Enable the «Keep active connection» option, click the «Save» button.

DIR-655 will restart and go online via PPTP protocol. If the provider uses the PPTP protocol with the Static IP service, the DNS and default gateway addresses are assigned manually.

Configuring L2TP on the DIR-655

Like PPTP, L2TP is the next VPN encryption add-on to PPTP. Both algorithms are used, for example, when you bypass a torrenting ban on a cable or cellular provider’s network. All Russian providers support PPTP and L2TP encryption.

Take the classic DIR web interface as an example.

1. Give the command «Settings — Internet — Manual setup of the Internet connection».

   Press the button to go to manual settings L2TP communication

2. Select L2TP protocol. For example, settings without static IP addresses are taken.

   Specify L2TP with login and password verification

3. Enter the username and password from the contract, server name. As an example, a connection via a GPON communication channel (fiber optic Internet at speeds up to 1 Gbps) from the Beeline company.

   Enter the server, login and password, assign reconnect on break

4. Enable auto-connect on disconnection and enter an MTU value less than 1450. Click the «Save Settings» button. In case of activation of the «Static IP» service, get from the provider the main gateway IP and DNS addresses for working in the Network.

The router will restart with the new L2TP connection settings and go online on its own.

PPPoE setup on DIR-655

PPPoE communication requires a username and password — if you do not have active Internet access without settings. The latter is typical for cellular providers that use customer identification by the serial number of the SIM card, and not by login and password.

As an example, another alternative web interface from D-Link, which differs from the classic one.

D-Link, releasing routers of different revisions of the same model, uses different design and noticeably different functionality on them. The essence of this or that setting remains the same.

Do the following.

1. Give the command «Network — Connections». Click the «Add» button and enter the parameters: your profile name (arbitrary) and an MTU value less than 1450.

   Add new settings if you don’t want to lose the previous ones

2. Select the type of PPPoE connection, enable the «WAN» functionality, select the 5th physical port and match the available MAC address with the one specified in the contract.

   Specify required PPPoE values ​​

3. Enter your username and password (twice) from the contract, select the auto-authentication mode, enable the «NAT» and «Firewall» options. For IPTV, you also need the IGMP (streaming) function — enable it as well.

   Follow instructions from your provider

4. Click the «Save» button, select your connection profile (under «Default Gateway») and click the «Save» button again.

   Click save PPPoE profile settings button

DIR-655 will automatically go online after restart.

How to configure static IP on DIR-655

Static IP settings may not require login and password from the contract.

1. Select «Network» — «WAN» — Add button to create a new connection profile.

   Click the Add WAN Profile button

2. Select the 5th physical port and enter the connection profile, assign an MTU less than 1450, check if the MAC address is correct.

   Assign port, connection name and MTU for DIR-655

3. Select a static IP connection and enter the gateway IP and DNS received from the provider, click the «Save» button.

   Assign specific IP settings and enable desired options

4. Give the command «System — Save settings».

   Command to save Static IP settings

DIR-655 will start up with new settings and go online.

Port forwarding on DIR-655 routers

Port forwarding between routers is needed, for example, to optimize torrent distributions, debug a local game server, etc. The latter is also important in city networks — on tariffs with high-speed Internet up to 100 Mbit / s, but having an intracity (or intra-campus, for example, between several nearby university buildings or dormitories) speeds up to one or more gigabits per second.

For example, the PCB setup on the updated D-Link web interface is taken.

1. Give the command: Firewall — Virtual Servers — Add button.

   Click the Add Virtual Server button

2. Select an arbitrary profile template, enter a name for the connection, select the protocol for the external connection to the Network (for example, you are using a PPPoE connection). Select a protocol, such as TCP/IP.

   Assign PR settings rule and port range

3. Specify the range of external and internal ports. If there are communication errors on one of them, the router will automatically sort through the port numbers in these ranges of values ​​until a working one is found.
4. Assign the internal IP address of the server or LAN/CAN router acting as the server to which you want to open these ports. Click the Save button (or Modify if you are changing an existing connection profile). You will have a new/modified port forwarding connection profile.

   Press the save button

5. Press the Save button again. You can restart the router and check if the «forwarded» connection works.

When connecting to a server whose ports you have opened, any of the ports within the specified range will receive a positive response. If the port is outside this range, the router will respond with a communication error message.

Configuring IPTV on the DIR-655 router

IPTV service settings are the same for many DIR routers. The service must be activated at the provider’s tariff.

1. In the Russified D-Link interface, give the command «IP TV — IPTV Setup Wizard». In some firmware versions, the item is called “IPTV Settings”.

   Assign a free LAN port to the IPTV set-top box

2. The port allocated for IPTV cannot be used for regular Internet. Assign one of the free ports of the DIR router for IPTV, and not another port that includes a LAN hub with several cable connections to different PCs — otherwise these computers working in conjunction on this port will be programmatically cut off from the Network.

Turn on your set-top box and connect it to the selected LAN port. The monitor should display a list of IPTV channels.

Configuring LAN and DHCP on the DIR-655 router

The DHCP server distributes local IPs to all gadgets and PCs that are not configured for specific values ​​in your local network. An example is the classic web interface.

Select one of the LAN ports and click the Change button. The setting will be saved, the router will be restarted.

1. Give the command «Settings — Network Settings», set the IP of the main gateway (the subnet mask will be set automatically), enter the name of the network device (to identify it as an end router in any local networks).

   Specify real IP addresses for automatic LAN operation

2. Enable the «DNS fetch» feature. Also enable the «DHCP» function, assign start and end local IPs in the software LAN address pool.
3. Enable the «Broadcast DHCP» function and set the lease time for LAN addresses for PCs and gadgets connecting to DIR-655. Click the «Save Setting» button.

The router will restart with the new DHCP settings, your PCs and gadgets will reconnect, then Internet access will turn on on your network.

Configuring the DIR-655 as a repeater

Repeater mode allows you to expand the coverage area of ​​your Wi-Fi network. Like any real 3G/4G repeater, the virtual Wi-Fi repeater solves the problem of the “last house/block/mile” with coverage, creating a full-fledged wireless local area network of any length with one or more Internet access channels. It turns out a full-fledged network in the image and likeness of a cellular network — with a much smaller radius of «cells» (routers), without cable or FOCL to each of these «base stations», without phone calls and SMS / MMS, but not inferior in Internet speed to technologies on based on 3G (UMTS).

Virtual hotspot / repeater modes are also supported by almost all modern Android gadgets that have Wi-Fi Direct technology (“Internet distributor”) and a third-party application obtained from Google Play or from third-party developers. It is not a problem to pair a Wi-Fi router with a tablet or smartphone (and vice versa) operating in repeater mode.

Wi-Fi repeater mode is of practical interest to the most sophisticated users. As an example, the classic D-Link interface.

1. Give the command «Settings — Wireless Network» and select the bridge mode with precise access (this is the virtual repeater).

   Set the network name, encryption and key for it

2. Enter a name for the Wi-Fi network. Select the channel manually — the one on which the source router broadcasts. If the channel is selected automatically, turn on the «Auto Channel Scan» function.
3. If you need hidden Wi-Fi networks (these routers do not broadcast their SSID), and you know their MAC addresses and WPA-2 settings, enable the «Enable Hidden Wireless Networks» option.
4. Select Wi-Fi Security — Enable Enhanced Wireless Security if the source router uses this level of security. You can also bind to source routers by MAC address by disabling this enhanced Wi-Fi relay security.

   If necessary, specify the MAC addresses of neighboring routers

5. Select the encryption scheme used by the source router. Enable WPA-2 Personal Authentication and enter your Wi-Fi relayed network password twice, click Apply Settings.

   Press the button to apply the setting made

DIR-655 will restart in repeater mode, disconnecting from its own cable internet. After reconnecting the gadgets and PC to the repeater router, Internet traffic will be automatically intercepted from the original router (if available, cable PON, 4G access or taking from the next router in the created chain of repeaters or a gadget that works as a virtual hotspot). You can go online.

Reset, preload and save settings DIR-655

For simplicity of settings, D-Link has reduced the work with the settings of the DIR / DAP line of routers into one submenu. Give the command «More — Save and Restore».

Use all these buttons to control the DIR-655 settings according to the situation

To save the DIR-655 settings, use the “Save” button, to preload settings already saved in a separate file, use the file path form with the “Browse” button and the “Update settings” button «. To reset unsuccessful settings, click the «Restore» button. After each update of the settings, the router restarts.

Firmware update DIR-655

As an example, another version of the DIR-655 interface. Download the updated firmware file from the DIR router manufacturer’s website.

1. Give the command «Advanced settings — System and software update».

   Select software update for DIR-655 router

2. Select your file by pressing the browse button on your PC.

   Open the file for DIR-655 and click the firmware download button

3. Click on the «Download firmware» button and wait for it to be transferred to the flash memory of the router. After restarting the DIR-655, it will be installed «on top» of the previous one.

The router will connect to the network — provided that the default settings are allowed with your provider. This happens when the provider itself simultaneously supports several protocols (without connecting additional services) — dynamic IP, PPPoE and PPTP / L2TP encryption, leaving the user with a choice.

Video: updating the firmware of the DIR-655 router -interface.

It is often faster to restart the router through its settings, if the actions are worked out, with a good set of circumstances, than to keep this very button sharp.

Give the command: «System» — «Restart» (or «Save and restart» if you are changing the settings at the same time).

Select to restart with settings saved

The router will restart and reconnect to the network.

DIR-655 router reviews

DIR routers are easy to set up. You will set up the DIR-655 in a few minutes. Good Internet speed to you — and comfortable work!

• Author: Georgy Kuleshovsky
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