I finally got around to doing the dd-wrt firmware upgrade on the Linksys router C gave me, and it worked just fine. I also have our old Linksys; newer firmware, but still supported. I had no more than got the repeater set up than the goddamned power went out (a damaged line somewhere, according to Ameren’s site), but thankfully, I hadn’t yet started the upgrade for the second router, which involves precise timing, DO NOT TOUCH THE ROUTER, requirements for uninterrupted power, and waiting five earth minutes. Anyway, the repeater works, and if I can find an outlet that doesn’t have something cat-related plugged into it, I might move it to the gradge. Dunno…we’ll see when the power comes back on. At least we have OK’s fireplace to keep the gradge warm, and it’s not freezing outside (it’s actually raining ).

EDIT: After I trusted the power to stay on (and watched some Netflix), I flashed the other one. Great signal strength, but no Internet access, and I’m betting I forgot to change the IP from the 192.168.1.2 that I initially typed (before grabbing a clue about IP conflicts). Actually, I know I changed it, but it’s entirely possible that I forgot to click the little Save button, then switched to another tab, losing the change. Now, I can’t get into the settings interface, so I’m going to try a 30-30-30 reset and hope that restores the dd-wrt defaults. Fingers crossed; we could use the signal strength in the Man Cave!

EDIT AGAIN: HALLELUJAH! I’m a god damn network genius!! Okay, I’m the poor slob who finally thought to check the security type. Yep. That’s all it was. I’m such a dumbass. BUT, I’m a dumbass who flashed two old routers and turned them into repeaters so we have better intarwebz in the gradge, and P’s Man Cave connection is literally twice as fast. I also bought two high gain 7dBi antennas on ebay for the gradge repeater. The ones that come with those Linksys routers are 2dBi; I know the antennas are removable on one, so if it makes enough difference, I’ll check the other and if they can be replaced, I’ll be back on ebay! Anyway, yay for wifi coverage!

P.S. My Sennheiser earphones are awesome! Great sound quality, and most importantly, I can lie on my side without having to remove one earphone!

EDIT DAYS LATER: I’ve looked at that screencap many times, and it only just occurred to me that I should’ve immediately realised it wasn’t getting a connection to the main router because it’s broadcasting on channel 6, which means it’s trying to be a router, not a repeater, which would be broadcasting–repeating–the signal on the channel the original uses, which is channel 11. Duh.