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How to Configure Linksys Range Expander (WRE54G and RE1000)

When we want to extend a wireless network beyond the range of current wireless network, we should use another device called Wireless Range Expander. Range Expander extends the WiFi network range as its name mentions and to increase the range and accessibility of a WiFi network from an access point or wireless router we need to add Range Expander (WiFi Repeater). Wireless Repeater/Expander is working by receiving signals from Access Point (Wireless Router) and repeat the same signal.

 Linksys is one of the reputed Range Extender manufacturers. Two well-known models WRE54G and RE1000 are from Linksys family. This tutorial is an update of one of my old guide to install and configure Linksys WRE54G on a network.

 Now in this new update, we have included steps to setup Linksys Wireless N Range Extender/Bridge RE1000.


Setup Linksys Wireless N Range Extender RE1000 Manually
Manual configuration of Linksys Wireless N Range Expander RE1000 is:
  1. Assign a Static IP Address on your computer

    1. Right Click on Network Adapter on the system tray (right-hand bottom of the screen)
      Setup WRE54G v1
    2. Click on Open Network and Sharing center
    3. Click on Change Adapter settings
      configure Linksys RE1000
    4. Right Click on the LAN Adapter and click properties
    5. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) and click properties
      why we need a static IP to configure range expander
    6. Select Use the following IP address and enter the following values

      IP Address 192.168.1.5
      Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
      Default Gateway 192.168.1.1
      configure Linksys range booster
      Now click OK
  2. Connect Computer to RE1000 using an Ethernet cable

  3. Type 192.168.1.240 on the browser address bar and press enter.   Leave the Username field blank, and type “admin” in the Password field, then click OK.

  4. Enter the SSID and wireless channel of the parent network.
    Setup Linksys Wireless N Range Expander manually

    If the parent network has WiFi encryption enabled, you have to enter the same details here.

  5. Configure WEP on RE1000

    To configure WEP on Linksys Range Expander RE1000, click "Edit security settings" and select security mode WEP and enter the same settings on the parent Wireless router.
    setup WEP encryption on Linksys Expander

    Click on Save settings.
  6. Setup WPA on RE1000 Range Expander

    To setup WPA encryption on Linksys Wireless N Range Extender RE1000, select the security mode WPA Pre-Shared Key and enter the same details on the parent router.
    benefits to adding encryption on Range Expander

    Click on save settings.
  7. Power off RE1000 for one minute after configuration. After 60 seconds power on the device.

Steps to Configure WRE54G to Boost WiFi


Steps to configure Linksys Wireless G Range Expander to boost a WiFi network are:

  1. Assign Static IP Address on your computer as shown in the steps above

  2. Connect Range Expander to your computer using Ethernet cable.

  3. On the Address bar of your browser type 192.168.1.240

    The default IP address of Linksys Wireless Range expander is 192.168.1.240. After this, press enter.

  4. Log on to the setup page of WRE54G

    The default username:
    Default Password: admin

    There is no default username for WRE54G and log on to the Range Expander setup page.


  5. Configure Wireless on WRE54G:

    Click on Basis setup under setup page and type the SSID (Wireless network name) of the network you want to repeat using WRE54G.

  6. Enable Wireless Encryption on Range Expander:

    Select encryption and enter the security key as configured in the parent wireless network.

    If the Wireless network is security enabled we need to set the same settings on our Range Expander. After entering the details click on save settings button.
  7. Power off WRE54G for one minute after configuration. After 60 seconds power on


Reasons to Assign Static IP On Computer While Configuring Range Expander
Since the completion of my previous tutorial, I received many queries asking the need of assigning a static IP address on the computer before configuring Range Expander. The reason is very simple Range Expander does not have a DHCP server.

It cannot provide an IP address to the computer. To log in to the web-based setup page of the device we need to assign a static IP address to the computer in the same IP address range.

While configuring a router, we do not face this issue. To learn more about it follow the link below.
How to Setup Linksys  Router

  1. How to Use PathPing Command
  2. Change Location of Temporary Internet Files Folder

Steps to Reset Linksys Wireless Range Expander
In case if you want to reset Linksys Range expander, you can follow the steps mentioned in the link below.
How to Reset Linksys Range Expander