Configuring WiFi devices
Table of Contents
Introduction
The WiFi architecture for GMS is described at http://gms.pejaver.com/WiFi.pdf. It sets up a flat LAN using multiple Access Points. One AP is a "Router" and the others are "Bridges".
Two inexpensive options are DD-WRT routers and the D-Link DAP 1620. Instructions for setting them up follow.
DD-WRT
Some inexpensive home routers can be re-programmed to be very powerful by using DD-WRT.
Click on the screen shots below to expand them. The fields outlined in red are the key configurations. Click on "Save" when each screen is filled out. At the end, click on "Apply Settings".
Set up IP address on PC
The command line steps described here may be easier than via Windows network configuration screens. The default IP address of some routers may be different. The GMS Windows distribution includes batch files called SetStaticIP.bat and RestoreDHCP.bat that may be useful.
1. Connect a PC Ethernet port to a LAN port on the WiFi device.
2. Open a PC Command window in Administrative Mode.
3. Determine the name of the Ethernet port by typing 'ipconfig'. It is the name following the text 'Ethernet Adapter'. Windows 8 seems to use the name 'Ethernet' and other versions call it 'Local Area Connection'. Use that name in the following command:
netsh interface ip set address name="Ethernet" static 192.168.1.10 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1
4. Open a web browser and browse to 192.168.1.1.
5. Login using User Name: root, Password: admin
6. To reset the PC address back, to use DHCP:
netsh interface ip set address name="Ethernet" dhcp
Set up Device as Router
1. To start, click on Setup, then Basic Setup. Click Save when this screen is filled out.
2. Next click on Advanced Routing. Click Save when this screen is filled out.
3. Click on Wireless, then Basic settings. Click Save when this screen is filled out.
4. Click on Wireless Security. Click Save when this screen is filled out. Then click Apply Settings. Wait for screen to refresh.
5. Connect Router's WAN port to the "Internet".
Set up Device as a Bridge
Note that, what I call "Bridge", DD-WRT documentation calls it an "Access Point".
1. To start, click on Setup, then Basic Setup. Click Save when this screen is filled out.
2. Next click on Advanced Routing. Click Save when this screen is filled out. Note that the Operating mode is "Router" and not "Gateway".
3. Repeat steps 3 and 4 from the previous section "Set up as Router".
4. Connect a LAN port from the Bridge to a LAN port on the Router.
Optional configurations
1. To enable local DNS
a) In Setup / Basic Setup, enable DNSMasq by checking "Use DNSMasq for DNS"
b) In Services / Services, section DNSMasq, Additional DNSMasq options, enter:
address=/gms/gms.com/ipAddress
2. To enable more than 253 DHCP addresses:
a) In Setup / Basic Setup, enable DNSMasq by checking "Use DNSMasq for DNS"
b) In Network Setup / Router IP / Subnet Mask, enter: 255.255.0.0
c) In DHCP Server / LAN Domain, enter: lan
d) In Services / Services, section DNSMasq, Additional DNSMasq options, enter:
dhcp-range=lan,10.2.2.10,10.2.5.10,255.255.0.0,1440m
DAP 1522
FIRST distributed the D-Link DAP 1522 WiFi AP in the FRC Kit of parts in the last few years. They are no longer permitted in competitions. However, they can be used as GMS WiFi routers. Either Version A (2011) or Version B (2012-2015) can be used. You can configure one as the Router and rest as Bridges.
A DAP 1522 User Manual is available at Version A or Version B.
Set up IP address on PC
The command line steps described here may be easier than via Windows network configuration screens. The GMS Windows distribution includes batch files called SetStaticIP.bat and RestoreDHCP.bat that may be useful.
1. Set sliding switch (on back) to AP Mode (not Bridge, not Auto)
2. Connect a PC Ethernet port to a LAN port on the WiFi device.
3. Open a PC Command window in Administrative Mode.
4. Determine the name of the Ethernet port by typing 'ipconfig'. It is the name following the text 'Ethernet Adapter'. Windows 8 seems to use the name 'Ethernet' and other versions call it 'Local Area Connection'. Use that name in the following command:
netsh interface ip set address name="Ethernet" static 192.168.0.10 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.50
5. Open a web browser and browse to 192.168.0.50
6. Login using User Name: Admin, Password: <blank>
7. Set new password: Maintenance à Admin à Password: <yourPassword> <press Save>
8. To reset the PC address back, to use DHCP:
netsh interface ip set address name="Ethernet" dhcp
Set up Device as Router
1. Configure DAP 1522 to get its WAN IP address via DHCP
Setup àNetwork Settings à LAN Connection Type: DHCP
2. Configure Wireless Network Settings
Setup à Wireless Settings à Manual Wireless Setup à Wireless Network Settings:
· Enable Wireless: Checked
· Wireless Network Name (SSID): Staff1
· 802.11 Band: 2.4GHz (Use 5GHz for FTC/FLL events)
· 802.11 Mode: Mixed 802.11n, 802.11g
· Enable Auto Channel Scan: Checked
o Uncheck to manually select Wireless Channel, if you know what you are doing
· Channel Width: Auto 20/40 MHz
· Visibility Status: Invisible
3. Configure Wireless Network Mode
Setup à Wireless Settings à Manual Wireless Setup à Wireless Security Mode:
· Security Mode: WPA-Personal
· WPA Mode: WPA2 Only
· Cipher Type: AES
· Passphrase: <xxxxxxxx> (at least 8 chars) <Press Save Settings>
4. Configure one DAP as a Router
Advanced à DHCP Server à DHCP Server Settings
· Enable DHCP Server: Checked
· IP Assigned From: 10.10.111.15 (for mobile devices)
· Default Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
· Default Gateway: 10.10.111.1 (Press Save Settings)
· Reset PC’s IP address to DHCP (use RestoreDHCP.bat in GMS directory)
5. Connect WAN Ethernet port to the Internet (if available)
6. Optionally, assign static IP addresses for laptops as follows:
Advanced à DHCP Server à DHCP Reservation
· Enter MAC address as 12:23:34:45:56:67 (your PC MAC address)
· Enter IP address as 10.10.111.11 (or .12, .13 ) (Press Save Settings)
Set up Device as a Bridge
Follow steps to set up the device as a "Router", but replace steps 4 through 6 with the following.
4. Configure DAP as a Bridge
Advanced à DHCP Server à DHCP Server Settings
· Enable DHCP Server: Unchecked (Press Save Settings)
5. Connect a Bridge Ethernet port to Router LAN port. This forms a wired back-haul network.