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How to configure TP-LINK TL-WA501G (and TL-WA901N) as a universal repeater for 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router?

Suitable for: TL-WA500G, TL-WA501G, TL-WA701N (and also TL-WA901N).

TP-LINK 11G AP (and TL-WA901N) can be configured as a universal repeater. It

extends the range of the wireless network by relaying the wireless signal of your remote

2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router.

NOTE: In the following sections, TP-LINK TL-WA501G or TL-WA901N is represented as “AP”.

To configure the AP as a wireless universal repeater, please connect your computer to

the AP’s LAN port via an Ethernet cable (wireless connection isn’t recommended to use for configuration). Then you need to perform four procedures:

1. Assign a static IP address for your computer (Just like 192.168.1.100).

2. Change the AP’s IP address to fit your 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router network.

3. Configure universal repeater mode on the AP. 4. Wireless Security settings.

1. Assign a static IP address for your computer

The DHCP server is disabled on the AP by default, so we need assign a static IP address for your computer manually.

1) Right click “My Network Places” then click “Properties”.

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2) Right Click “Local Area Connection” then click “properties”.

3) Please double click “Internet Protocol [TCP/IP]” in the pop up window.

4) You need to configure your computer’s IP address in the same subnet with the AP. By

factory default, the IP address of the AP is “192.168.1.254” for TL-WA901N and TL-

WA501G is “192.168.1.1”. (TL-WA501G will change to 192.168.1.254 in the next

firmware update), so you should assign an IP address like “192.168.1.x” (x can be any

number from 1-253) to your computer. When you finish it, click “OK” to save your settings.

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.

2. Change the AP’s IP address to fit your 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router (If

your TL-WA501G default IP address is “192.168.1.1, then please skip this step below).

When the default IP address of TP-LINK TL-WA501G or TL-WA901N is

“192.168.1.254”, it’s the same as 2-wire box, so we need to change the IP address to

avoid an IP conflict. We change it to “192.168.1.x” (x can be any one from 1-253).

Step 1 Open the web browser. Please type the IP address of the AP in the address bar.

When the login window appears, please type the username and password both “admin” in the boxes.

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Step 2

On the left side menu, please go to Network->LAN. You can change the IP address in

the box. Here we take “192.168.1.1” for example. You can set to any IP address as long

as it is not the same as the IP address of the 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router. The

Gateway should be the LAN IP address of your 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router (192.168.1.254 by default). Then please click Save to save the changes.

Screen image for TL-WA501G—changing the IP address to 192.168.1.1 and Gateway to 192.168.1.254 is shown below:

Screen image for TL-WA901N—changing the IP address to 192.168.1.188 (for example) and Gateway to 192.168.1.254 is shown below:

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*** Remember, as you have changed the IP address of the TP-Link Access point

(TL-WA501G or TL-WA901N), the login IP, from now on, will be based on the new IP address you have chosen.

3. Configure universal repeater mode on the TL-WA501G or TL-WA901N

NOTE: Before proceeding, please make sure your 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router wireless function is working properly.

Step 1

Open the web browser. Please type the AP’s new IP address in the address bar, and then

press [Enter].

When the login window appears again, please type the username and password (both are “admin” by default) in the boxes.

Step 2

Please go to Wireless->Wireless Mode, then select “Universal Repeater” on the right

side and click Survey.

Below is the screen image for TL-WA501G:

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Below is the screen image of the TL-WA901N:

Step 3

After Clicking Survey button, the AP List page appears. Please find the SSID of your 2-

wire box, and hit the Connect in the corresponding row.

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Step 4

After Step 3, it turns you back to Wireless Mode Settings page. The MAC address of

your 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router should be automatically filled in the MAC of AP box. Please click the Save button to save your settings.

NOTE: If there is no security set on your 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router, please ignore

the following instructions, and all the basic settings are finished here. Please check your

2Wire ADSL2/2+ user guide on the wireless security settings.

5. Configure Wireless Security Settings

Under universal repeater mode, TP-LINK TL-WA501G can only support WEP encryption.

So you must make sure the security type on your 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router is WEP.

As for TL-WA901N, you can use WPA2 settings.

Please go to Wireless->Security Settings, do the same WEP settings as your 2Wire

ADSL2/2+ modem router. Then click Save to save the security settings. After you reboot

on the TL-WA501G or TL-WA901N, it will connect to your 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router

automatically.

Below is an example on the WEP setting on the TL-WA501G:

NOTE: Finally reconfigure your computer to obtain an IP address automatically.

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Otherwise, you should fill the Default gateway and Preferred DNS server with your 2Wire

ADSL2/2+ modem router IP address manually.

Till here, all the configurations have been completely finished. You do not need to

consider the SSID setting on the TL-WA501G or TL-WA901N as the access point will only

communicate with the 2Wire ADSL2/2+ Modem router through the 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router MAC address.

How to check whether the TL-WA501G or TL-WA901N is working?

First turn off the TP-Link access point. Bring your wireless notebook to a location where

the wireless signal is weak. Now turn on the TP-Link wireless access point and monitor

your notebook wireless signal strength at the same location. You will notice the signal strength will be stronger.