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 APs LAN port via an Ethernet cable (wireless connection isnt recommended to use for configuration). Then you need to perform four procedures: 1. 2. 3. 4. Assign a static IP address for your computer (Just like 192.168.1.100). Change the APs IP address to fit your 2Wire ADSL2/2+ modem router network. Configure universal repeater mode on the AP. 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.

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 computers 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 TLWA501G 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.

. 2. Change the APs 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, its 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.

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-WA501Gchanging the IP address to 192.168.1.1 and Gateway to 192.168.1.254 is shown below:

Screen image for TL-WA901Nchanging the IP address to 192.168.1.188 (for example) and Gateway to 192.168.1.254 is shown below:

*** 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 APs 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:

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 2wire box, and hit the Connect in the corresponding row.

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.

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.