networking - How can I bridge a Verizon mobile hotspot modem/router to a Linksys router?

04
2013-08
  • CheeseConQueso

    I recently purchased a Verizon mobile hotspot (MiFi 4510L) and was wondering if I could configure my Linksys wireless/wired router (similar, but not the exact model: Linksys router) to use the MiFi as the source of internet.

    The problem is that I want to give internet access to a desktop that doesn't have an internal or an external Wi-Fi transceiver.

    Right now, I'm using two comnputers - one is a Dell Latitude 2100 netbook, and it is capable of connecting to both routers and configuring them. I have it connected to the Verizon mobile hotspot via Wi-Fi and to the Linksys via wired ethernet.

    I know that both routers work - I've been using the Verizon mobile hotspot for a couple days on both 3G & 4G networks without any problems. I've been using the Linksys wired/wireless router for a long time now as well.

    Is there a way to force the Linksys to receive it's internet uplink from the Verizon mobile hotspot? I was looking through all the settings of the Linksys admin page, but don't really know what option(s) would have to be tweaked in order to complete this task.

    If you are wondering why I am trying to use the Linksys router at all, it is for two reasons: First, the linksys has wired connections - this is a critical requirement as my desktop computer does not have any Wi-Fi antennae. Second, the MiFi 4510L DHCP only allows for 10 nodes (+/1 2).

    This problem wouldn't exist if the MiFi 4510L had an ethernet port, but it doesn't. The only buttons/connections it has are for: charging and for device reset. I've checked the battery compartment for anything also.

    I don't want to buy an USB Wi-Fi transceiver if I don't have to, so is there any way, via configuration/manipulation of software, hardware, or both, that would allow my Linksys router to obtain it's internet uplink wirelessly from my Verizon modem?

    • Answers
  • Tom Wijsman

    I'm doing something similar, check out this link.

    Lifehacker - Turn Your $60 Router into a User-Friendly Super-Router with Tomato

    You have to upgrade your routers firmware with either dd-wrt or tomato (your choice). Once you've done that, you can turn your router into a wireless repeater or let it connect to your network and act as a regular router! Then just connect your computer to the router with your regular ethernet cable.

  • slhck

    The image of the Linksys does not identify the model, but most Linksys models do not include WiFi client functionality - which is what is needed for it to connect to a WiFi network. Some Linksys models can be "modified" with non-Linksys firmware which enable them to have WiFi client functionality.

    USB WiFi adapters/dongles can be found for around $20 or less these days.


    • Related Question

    networking - How do I use a Zyxel P660 router as just modem so that I can connect a WRT54GL router in cascade?
  • Questioner

    I have a Zyxel P660HW-t1 v2 router (which has a DSL port) and a WRT54GL router (which does not) and the exact same situation as in this thread (UPDATE: the connection between both devices is the important part, since I have been able to set the zyxel router to act as bridge by itself quite nicely. I have accessed my internet connection directly through a PC using PPPoE without any problems, the issues arise when I try to connect the WRT54GL router between the zyxel "modem" and my PCs).

    I've been trying to use my Zyxel P660 as a modem only:

    1. Setup P660 to bridge mode.
    2. Changed WRT54GL's IP address to 192.168.2.1 to avoid a conflict on the network.
    3. Configured the PPPoE settings as required on WRT54GL.

    The thing is that when I connect the Zyxel modem/router on the WRT54GL's internet port the light doesn't turn on. I can confirm that this port has been working ok, so I'm not really sure what's going between the devices. I checked several settings such as IPs, tried disabling DHCP on Zyxel/Linksys, Firewall on both and still nothing. Also, I tried connecting Zyxel directly to a computer in bridge mode and dialed successfully.

    I have even posted a question here before, thinking that what I asked there was the only thing I needed to get things done. Unfortunately it wasn't, and the guy that solved his issue didn't give enough details in his post (and is quite unlikely to give more details since he was an anonymous user).

    For one, I don't know how to do this part:

    connected to the Zyxel through telnet and forced LAN port 1 to be at 100mb as well

    I can't find the option that does this on the zyxel router. Not through telnet or the web admin.

    Can anyone help me solve this?

    EDIT: I noticed, in the end, that the router takes a while to tell you it "connected" to the WAN. So a bit of patience may be needed before making hasty assumptions. My case was possibly because of this, in the end.


    • Related Answers
  • heavyd

    You should be able to configure your P660 in bride mode as explained in the manual. Once configured in bridge mode configure you WRT54GL to obtain the WAN IP address and DNS automatically. Also, make sure that the WRT54GL's LAN IP address is not the same as the IP assigned to the P660 (192.168.1.1 if following the guide, so something like 192.168.2.1 should work). Make sure the DHCP server is turned on on the WRT54GL and you should be good to go.