I needed to set up an internet connection in my new home but wanted to keep a low budget. After quickly finding out I was near a local Optimum Hot Spot I was curious to know if it was possible to turn the hot spot into a private network. I did some digging and this is what I found.
You can use an ordinary access point already set up with dd-wrt v24 to repeat the optimum signal and dish out 192.168.xx.x. The process is very simple and the cost of the access point is well worth the total savings. Also if you are curious I was able to get speeds of 10Mbps down and 5Mbps Up
If you are unfamiliar with flashing a supported router with dd-wrt then head to step 1. If you think you are capable of flashing your own router here is a link to the most recent supported devices: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices follow their instructions then come back here and jump to step 2.
Hardware
1. Purchase the Buffalo AirStation AC 1750 also known as the WZR-1750DHPD currently on amazon for $130 bucks or so here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I2N6O0W?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
2. flip the device over and copy down the MAC address. it will be 12
characters long. Be sure NOT to grab the serial number (S/N)
Optimum Setup
3. Log into your Optimum Online account and go to the top "My profile" >
"My Wireless devices". Click on the top right "Enable new device"
A: enter in the MAC address you wrote down earlier, click continue, it will then ask you to enter it again, just to confirm.
B: Choose "Laptop" as device type.
C: Enter the name of the device as "My device" DO NOT LABEL IT , "Buffalo router" for obvious reasons.
D: Enter in your e-mail address, check off terms of use. You're all done!
Router Setup
Attach your computer directly to the router using an ethernet cable. Be sure to plug into a LAN port. After you are connected log into your router by typing in its IP address into your web browser. (For the WZR-1750DHPD it's 192.168.11.1). A window will pop up, you must login using default user and password. (For the WZR-1750DHPD it's (admin) and (password)).
Once logged in follow these steps:
1. Go to the tab "setup" then sub-tab "Basic Setup"
A: Connection type : Automatic Configuration - DHCP
B: STP: Enable
C: Router name: repeater
D: Host name: repeater
C: Network setup: can be the normal: 192.168.x.1 or 172.16.x.1 or 10.x.x.1
Click save, then apply settings
2. Go to the tab "security" sub-tab firewall
A: SPI firewall: disable
B: everything should not have anything checked
Click save, then apply settings
3. go to the tab "Status" sub-tab "Wireless"
A: click "site survey"
B: click on the "Join" of the "optimumwifi" device closest to you.
(the negative number will be lower. -90 is far away, -50 is close)
Click save, then apply settings
4: Go to the tab "wireless" sub-tab "Basic Settings"
A: Wireless mode: Repeater
B: Wireless Network Mode: Mixed
C: Wireless Network Name (SSID) : should be populated from step 3
D: Wireless channel: Auto
E: Wiresless SSID Broadcast: Enable
Click save, then apply settings
5. Stay on current tab and sub-tab
A: Under "Virtual Interfaces" click "Add"
B: Wireless Network Name (SSID): Enter anything you wish or enter in "DD-WRT REPEATER"
C: Wireless SSID Broadcast: Enable
D: AP Isolation: Disable
E: Network Configuration: Bridged
Click save, then apply settings
6. Go to the tab "Wireless" sub-tab "Wireless Security"
A: Physical Interface wl0 SSID [optimumwifi]: Disable
B: Physical Interface wl0.1 SSID [repeater]: WPA2 Personal
C: WPA Algorithms: TKIP
D: WPA Shared Key: (Enter in your shared key that you would like to use, not easy to guess)
Click save, then apply settings
You are all done, enjoy your free hot spot network!!
(Images are coming soon)
