O'Reilly Book Excerpts: Wireless Hacks
WET11 Upgrades
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Wireless Hacks |
Editor's note: Rob Flickenger, author of Wireless Hacks, has selected another hack from his book to showcase here. In this excerpt, learn how to significantly increase the range, sensitivity, and functionality of your WET11.
Hack 45: WET11 Upgrades
The Linksys WET11 is one of the most inexpensive Ethernet client bridge products on the market. It will work with virtually any Ethernet device, and doesn't require any special drivers to configure. Many people use the WET11 to connect devices that otherwise can't accommodate a radio with their wireless network. For example, they are ideal for connecting to networked appliances like the PlayStation 2 or Xbox, to avoid having to run Ethernet cable to your television. They can also be used to get entire networks on line when used in conjunction with inexpensive firewalls like the Linksys BEFSR41. Simply connect the WET11 to the WAN port on the firewall, and every device plugged into it can share the WET11's wireless connection. People have had mixed results when using the WET11 directly bridged to a hub or switch, due to the implementation of the tiny device's MAC address handling.
There have been a number of complaints about DHCP not working properly with the WET11, but these issues seem to be resolved by upgrading the firmware to the latest revision and using the ISC's DHCP server version 3 or later, available at www.isc.org/products/DHCP/. As with all embedded hardware devices (particularly those manufactured by Linksys), it is a very good idea to keep up on firmware updates. Updated firmware usually will resolve most flaky behavior, and will occasionally even give you a couple of new features.
The WET11 even has a cross-over switch for the Ethernet side, making it simple to install regardless of whether you are using a straight through or cross-over cable. Its tiny size and simplicity make it an ideal component for any situation where you need to get an Ethernet device to act as a client to an access point.
But these features aren't nearly enough for wireless hackers. Here are a couple of nifty hacks that are floating around for this fun piece of hardware.
Add an Antenna
The WET11 can easily accommodate an external antenna. Simply unscrew the small "rubber ducky" antenna and replace it with an RP-SMA pigtail. This alone will significantly improve the range of the WET11, and when using a directional antenna, can help reject noise and cause less interference for nearby networks. Save the discarded antenna for use in other projects, such as an add-on antenna for your laptop.
Upgrade the Radio
Possibly the greatest drawback to the WET11 is the cheap radio card installed at the factory. It ships with a low-end, 80mW radio with less than average sensitivity. Fortunately, the card is based on the a Prism 2 reference design. If you don't mind voiding your warranty, you can upgrade the card to a much more sensitive, higher power Senao or EnGenius card. The Senao (or EnGenius) 2511 Plus EXT 2 is an ideal card, as it even uses the same internal antenna connector, making the upgrade very easy.
Before you do anything else, upgrade the replacement card with the latest firmware. Unplug the Ethernet and power from the WET11. Remove the rubber feet from the bottom of the WET11, and open the case. Carefully unplug the antenna connector, unscrew the card from the brass stand-offs, and remove the internal card. Unfortunately, you won't be able to reuse the stand-off screws, as the replacement card has a slightly different physical packaging.
Plug in the new card, and reconnect the antenna cable to the card. If the PCMCIA card is oriented with the antenna connectors toward the right (and the Senao / EnGenius label facing you), you want to use the connector on the top. This is the same side that was connected to the original card. Finally, reassemble the case, and power it up. You should now be enjoying the benefits of a much more sensitive radio and a full 200mW of power.
Use a Battery Pack
The WET11 is expecting a 5V DC power source. A number of people have reported success using the WET11 with a battery pack in the field. Using four NiMH batteries in series (~1.2V each) yields a 4.8V battery, which seems to work fine for several hours with the WET11. The WET11 can accept voltages a bit higher five volts (some say as high as 12V), so you could even theoretically use four Alkaline batteries (4 x 1.5V = 6V). If you make your own battery pack, be sure to observe the proper polarity! Also note that operating time will likely be significantly shorter if you transmit a lot and use the 200mW card as described above.
An external battery pack can be handy for generating a signal source when doing a site survey, or hiding one for a game of wireless hide-and-seek. There is a very detailed discussion with photos online from Belgium, although be warned, the entire site is in French. With the size and ubiquity of the WET11, it's no wonder that so many people are hacking on it.
Rob Flickenger is a long time supporter of FreeNetworks and DIY networking. Rob is the author of three O'Reilly books: Building Wireless Community Networks, Linux Server Hacks, and Wireless Hacks.
O'Reilly & Associates will soon release (September 2003) Wireless Hacks
- Sample Hacks are available free online.
- You can also look at the Table of Contents, the Index, and the full description of the book.
- For more information, or to order the book, click here.
Return to the Wireless DevCenter
Showing messages 1 through 13 of 13.
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housemates
2007-02-05 04:52:39 underpressure [View]
some help me, my housemate is controlling when i hit the internet and how long i hit it for its starting to piss me off. he uses a netgear wiress router but this is plugged into an ntl cable modem iks there a way for me to hack into the internet every time he shuts it off, at the mo everytime he does i just unplug it at the wall but this is getting to be boring. any advice would be appreciated as we both pay the bill therefore i shouldnt be sticthed up like this
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connecting to my desktop from my laptop
2005-10-18 07:33:46 guyana [View]
I have bought a netgear router from best buy and i was able to connect to the router via my laptop. But i can't seem to print or share files with desktop. How can i do this from my laptop?
Thank you.
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WET11 and 14 Channels in MKK (Japan)
2005-03-16 19:04:34 marcoa [View]
How can I use an WET11 v2 with MKK (14 channels) accepted in Japan?
I have one WET 11 v1.2 that works fine!
TKS!
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ME102 as a client
2005-03-15 10:41:41 mt8885 [View]
Hello Amitabh,
I had a similar problem to yours, which I managed to fix. The final piece of the jigsaw puzzle for me was setting the "ESSID" and "Name" fields to match those of the Access point at the other end. In your case that means setting the ME102 as a client and setting the Name/ESSID to be that of your Netgear router. I know it sounds funny, but I guess these fields mean something different when the device is set as a client.
I'd recommend trying it out on a desktop/laptop before hooking it up to the print server. It's then much easier to check if it's working. My setup is ME102 as Access Client operational mode with a smartbridges Airpoint PRO as the Access point. I'd also recommend configuring/testing using the SNMP utility (with crossover) rather than the USB utility, because that's how you're going to connect the printer. Set "Enable DHCP client" and "DHCP primary port" over wireless.
Also, it might help if you broadcast the ESSID. I didn't set any encryption, just MAC filtering on the smartbridges AP (not the client).
Hope that helps.
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ME102 as a client for a printer
2005-02-09 11:43:01 aamitabh@yahoo.com [View]
Hello,
I am trying to make Netgear ME102 AP act as a client so that I ca connect it to a printer (has built in print server) which will make the printer available wirelessly to all the computers. I have Netgear wireless router to which I have 1 pc wired and 2 laptops connected as wireless.
I have looked at various hack sites for last 2 days and tried a lot of things but to no solution.
ME102 is currently setup in client mode, the mac address specified is for the access point where all my computers are connected, and the crossover CAT5 cable is connected between the printer and ME102.
Please help! All the sites I have visited recommend Linksys WET11 instead of ME102. Has any one been able to make this work?
Thanks.
Amitabh
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'nother Addendum to msgs below
2004-04-04 21:17:12 gitango [View]
Let's add clarification ((hopefully not obfuscation) to the proposed setup:
There is a central LAN with a Netgear MR814 router attached to cable modem. The MR814 is hosting wired and wireless clients. Wireless currently using WEP. Router IP is currently 192.168.0.1. Acts as gateway to cable modem.
Proposed is a remote LAN, preferably wired <ul.and wireless</ul>, which may consist of a Linksys BEFN2PS4 (this likely functions just like a BEFSR11) and perhaps a WET11 (or alternative) connected with Cat5 to the WAN port of the BEFN2. The WET11 will have a directional antenna to better communicate with the central MR814 wired/wireless router.
In an ideal world, a WAP11 or equivalent would hang off a client port on the BEFN2 and serve one or more wireless clients on the remote premises.
I don't see why this wouldn't work, but when I was reading about using a Netgear ME102 as the remote wireless access client it could only support a LAN of- wired
Is this feasible, or just a pipe dream?
Thanks in advance for your insight.
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Addendum to following msg: WET11 and ISC DHCP etc
2004-04-04 14:03:09 gitango [View]
I meant that the WET11 has a directional antenna pointed at the Netgear MR814... sorry for the ambiguity. 8^)
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WET11 and ISC DHCP server?
2004-04-04 14:01:01 gitango [View]
Rob, you said:
There have been a number of complaints about DHCP not working properly with the WET11, but these issues seem to be resolved by upgrading the firmware to the latest revision and using the ISC's DHCP server version 3 or later, available at www.isc.org/products/DHCP/.
How exactly do you use the isc's dhcp server version 3? Say I want to have the WET11 pointed at a WEPed Netgear MR814 wireless router with a directional antenna. The WET11 would be connected to a BEFSR11's WAN port, as you suggested.
Will this work?
TIA.
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WET11 version 2
2004-01-30 15:51:16 webdog [View]
I've seen posted on the sflan.org discussion board that the WET11 v2 can't be upgraded with a Senao card, only the original WET11. Is this true? Thanks. -
WET11 version 2
2004-10-16 06:19:34 rsoandrew [View]
This is true.
I just bought Rob's book and a WET11. I cracked it open and there is not a separate radio card.
Everything is on a single circuit board. I hear you can tell the difference between the two WET11s by the logo. The new ones (mine included) have a cisco logo on them as well as a linksys logo.
Incidentlly, there are only two screws holding the cover on. I you're looking at the bottom with the logo up, the screws are on the upper left and lower right under the rubber feet.
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WET11
2003-09-18 09:11:27 anonymous2 [View]
Hy,
one, wireless network (A)
two, in another place... 2km far away, another wireless network (B)
In both networks, (A and B) they are suplied by an Access Point (Lucent).
in the middle of the mountain, I can "see" both wireless networks.
Can I connect this two wireless networks (A with B) using two Wet11 from Linksys. One Wet11 as a client from network A an the another wireless network as a client from network B. This two Wet11 are connectet by a LAN cable.
thanks for now.
regards,
Alan G. Dalke
alan.dalke@royalnet.com.br -
WET11
2005-08-02 01:14:21 locell [View]
you can totally use the wet-11 wireless bridge to bridge networks, i have used a wet-11 to feed ethernet to a access point, creating a frankensten repeater. note that the 2 networks you are joining will each have seperate internet gateways.. maybe change it so both networks are fed from one gateway if you can get the bridge over the mountian reliable -
WET11
2003-11-12 10:57:22 anonymous2 [View]
Have you recieved a response? Im curious about the technology!
Kind Regards,
Karl R. Engstrom
CTO - Director of Terrain and Imagery
Pacific GIS
702 Ash St. Suite 102
San Diego, CA 92101
619.231.3077
www.pacificgis.com
Pacific GIS, a global terrain and imagery solutions provider, is located in San Diego, California.
