Connecting VIP722 Using Wireless Network

[zippy the pinhead]

I'm posting this in the hope that my experience with the VIP722 we have can help someone in the future.

We were TiVo users before we got our VIP722 from Dish. We used a wireless connection for the TiVo that was hooked up like this:

Cable Modem --> Hardware router/firewall --> Wireless access point ===== Wireless TiVo USB adapter --> TiVo DVR.

--> means wired connection, and ===== means wireless connection.

Our WAP is a NetGear WG602 and the wireless adapter for the TiVo is from TiVo.

When we got the VIP722, it seemed natural that I would have it connect with the Dish mothership via the Internet, as our TiVo has always done. I searched and found various threads on using a wireless game adapter or homeplug, but what we ended up doing was buying a second NetGear WG602, connecting them via the Wireless Point-To-Point Bridge configuration (with WEP security).

This is a great configuration for us, as our cable modem and home office is at the other end of the house from the TV room, and I was not willing to run 100' of Cat5 ethernet cable from my router to my VIP722. My WAP was in the same room as our cable modem, and the signal strength in the TV room was kind of iffy, due to distance and all the walls in-between.

Now, we're configured almost the same as before, but it works much better:

Cable Modem --> Hardware router/firewall --> Wireless access point ===== Wireless access point --> Dish DVR.

Now the wireless connection is a bridge between the two WAPs, which effectively extends my network's range by about 100 feet. It as though my VIP722 was connected to my router using Cat5 ethernet cable.

BTW, I would like to mention that I chatted online with at least two different DISH techs, both of who stated that it was impossible to connect the VIP722 to the Internet using any kind of wireless connection.

 

[CowboyDren]

That's a very good solution. Especially if you have several devices that want LAN/Broadband access but don't have integrated wireless (like a Samsung BD-P2500 Blu-ray deck and an Xbox360). Using one of these bridge devices also cuts down on overall WiFi traffic and reduces your exposure to noise and hacking.

 

[zippy the pinhead]

The only thing that was a significant impediment was figuring out how to get the two WAPs to bridge. The instructions from NetGear were not totally helpful, so I finally broke down and emailed their tech support people. They sent step-by-step instructions, which worked.

Not being an expert in wireless network technology, I don't think I could have figured all of this out in the absence of tech support.

I wish there was a "how to connect your Dish DVR using wireless" thread stuck at the top of this forum... I bet a lot of people would find it of use.

 

[Jim S.]

The only thing that was a significant impediment was figuring out how to get the two WAPs to bridge.

It should also be pointed out for people who are totally unfamiliar with networking that not all access points will operate in bridge mode. You can also buy devices that only act as a bridge, but they're often at least as expensive as a cheap AP due to lesser demand.

 

[zippy the pinhead]

The box for this particular NetGear WAP plainly states that it supports wireless bridging and repeater modes. But I confess when I bought it that I was basically guessing it would work, not knowing at the time precisely what sort of configuration would be necessary.

We already had the one WG602 and it was working fine. I was hoping (correctly, it turned out) that it would connect with another WAP of the same model.

 

[Widescreen]

I'm using this wireless ethernet bridge to wirelessly connect my 622 to my Linksys WRT54G router.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Technology-AirStation-Converter-WLI-TX4-G54HP/dp/B000BNDEZY]Amazon.com: Buffalo Technology AirStation Turbo G High Power Wireless Ethernet Converter ( WLI-TX4-G54HP ): Electronics[/ame]

I love it because it has 4 ethernet ports on the back so I've got my 622, my slingbox and my Samsung blu-ray player connected to it.

 

[zippy the pinhead]

In case someone else wants to know...

Following are the instructions that NetGear sent me to enable my VIP 722 to connect to the Internet via two bridged NetGear WG602 WAPs, just in case they may be of use to anyone else.

I'm just cutting and pasting... hope the formatting comes through OK.

I believe I followed the instructions, for the most part. I may have deviated on a couple items. Bottom line, it's working for us. We've had the VIP 722 connecting to the DISH mothership via the Internet for about four months now. The phone line to the unit is long since disconnected.

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I understand that you want to configure the WG602v3 and WG602v4 in the repeating mode. We will be working to assist you in resolving the issue you described. Since we are doing this online it may require a few mail exchanges before we can resolve the issue. We will do our best to help resolve your case in the least possible time.

Please follow the steps to configure the wireless access points with the netgear router.

Step 1: Configuring access point 1(WG602v3)

Connect the access point 1(WG602v4) to the computer with a cable and then follow the steps.

1) Reset the access point to its default using the reset button as above. Turn on the access point & the computer.
2) Now assign a static IP address to the computer, which will be 192.168.0.200 & SM: 255.255.255.0 without default gateway.3) Assigning IP address:

a. Right click on 'My Network Places', go to 'Properties'.
b. Right click on local area connection (for wireless)', go to 'Properties'.
c. Under 'General tab', you will find the TCP/IP protocol.
d. Double click on it and assign the static IP address without default gateway. Click OK & Close. Restart the computer.

4) Now try to open the access point web page using http://192.168.0.231" target="_blank">http://192.168.0.231 or http://192.168.0.227" target="_blank">http://192.168.0.227 or http://192.168.0.228" target="_blank">http://192.168.0.228 or http://192.168.0.229" target="_blank">http://192.168.0.229 through Internet Explorer. By default, the username is admin, the password is password.

NOTE: The Username and Password are case sensitive.

5) Configure the wireless settings:
a) Change the name (ssid) to any name
b) SSID Broadcast: Enable
c) Select the appropriate region
d) Channel to 1 & mode: g & b. Click Apply.
6) Then click IP Settings under Setup and change the IP address as 192.168.0.50, subnet as 255.255.255.0 & Default gateway as 192.168.0.1(Select Disable for DHCP client)
7) Click on wireless bridging under advanced and select the option "Wireless Point-to-Point Bridging" and check the option "Enable Wireless Client Association" then enter the MAC address(wireless) of the second access point(WG602v4) and click on apply.
8) Connect the access point to the router with a cable.

Step 1: Configuring access point 2(WG602v4)

1) Reset the access point to its default using the reset button as above. Connect that computer to the access point using an Ethernet cable. Turn on the access point & the computer.
2) Now try to open the access point web page using http://192.168.0.231" target="_blank">http://192.168.0.231 or http://192.168.0.227" target="_blank">http://192.168.0.227 or http://192.168.0.228" target="_blank">http://192.168.0.228 or http://192.168.0.229" target="_blank">http://192.168.0.229 through Internet Explorer. By default, the username is admin, the password is password.

NOTE: The Username and Password are case sensitive.

3) Configure the wireless settings:
a) Change the name (ssid) to any name(the SSID should be the same as that of the access point 1)
b) SSID Broadcast: Enable
c) Select the appropriate region
d) Channel to 1 & mode: g & b. Click Apply.
4) Then click IP Settings under Setup and change the IP address as 192.168.0.60, subnet as 255.255.255.0 & Default gateway as 192.168.0.1(Select Disable for DHCP client)
5) Click on wireless bridging under advanced and select the option "Wireless Point-to-Point Bridging" and check the option "Enable Wireless Client Association" then enter the MAC address(wireless) of the first access point(WG602v3) and click on apply.
6) Disconnect the cable from the computer and try to connect to the access point through wireless and check the status.

We hope that the steps provided above would help resolve the problem/case. Please feel free to contact us again if you will require further assistance.

 

[topcat5]

The easiest way to do this is to get a Linksys WRT54GL (only this model) and re-flash it with DD-WRT. It's very easy to to setup a WAP this way and it it also makes for an excellent general purpose wireless router. I've got two. One for my remote Dish receiver and one as my main house router. If you check around you can get these routers for less than $50 and once they are re-flashed can't be beat. I first got one because it also allows you to adjust the transmit power of the antenna which clears up weak spots around the house.