Lara went to Memphis this weekend, leaving me with too much time on my hands and an excuse to spend an overcast afternoon tweaking my wireless network.
My Macbook Pro is still pretty retarded where wireless is concerned. It must be something with the card since Admiral Higgins had perfect reception out on the porch while my computer bricked. Same machines, purchased within a month or so of each other. Overall, the wireless works fine, but the range is lacking, forcing me to use a Verizon Wireless card when I’m surfing on the porch. Annoying, and not as fast as it would be if I were connecting through the network.
So, I pulled an Airport Express that went haywire out of the drawer and started monkeying around with it, hoping that if I could revive it I could use it as a way to extend the existing network’s signal out onto the porch. (Of course, I could just take the laptop to Apple’s alleged Genius Bar, but that would require a trip to the mall and the possible loss of the machine for a few days … and an admission that I couldn’t fix it myself.)
But I wasn’t having much luck. The Express wouldn’t take a firmware upgrade, and I couldn’t get into it at all using the Airport Utility. Then I found this post on the Airport Admin Utility for Graphite and Snow 4.2.5 (I found this solution by searching for the specific error number I was getting … -6765.) Downloaded it, upgraded the firmware and was able to access the Express’ setting. I used a direct Ethernet connection rather than try to do this magic act via wireless.
So now I needed to figure out how to make my Linksys WRT54G router and the Apple Express enter a meaningful and lasting relationship, the kind that would make any conservative Christian proud. More Googling turned up this post on the dd-wrt open source operating system I use on the Linksys router. (Switched to dd-wrt in an attempt to boost the router’s signal strength, but that didn’t do much good though I liked dd-wrt and kept it on the router anyway.)
Now some tweaking and a few adjustments to accommodate the fact the dd-wrt directions are for the Airport Admin utility and I was using a variant version, and viola. I know have the Express set up next to the kitchen table, the outer reach of my laptop’s current range and just around the corner from the deadspot on the deck.
I took the laptop out there and got a strong signal off the Express. Now I can roam the whole house without having to pop in the Verizon card.
So why the mind-numbing detail in this post? I figured that someone somewhere might be able to use this info. Might as well detail it. But most importantly, it’s a testament to how innovative and sharing people can be. In the end, I got this up and running because people had not only figured the problem out ahead of me but also were willing to take time to answer other people’s questions about it and give details on how they set it right. Consider it my contribution back into the Google well of soul.
At some point, though, I’m still going to have to break down and visit the damn Genius Bar …
