How to configure your WiFi Extender / Repeater using the Alfa R36 router and AWUSO36H. Peter Martin, RFShop
Connect up the two units and power them up. You may also need a length of Ethernet cable to connect to your computer if you lose the connection via your WiFi card.
Using your PC wireless card, make a search for wireless networks. It may look a bit different to this depending on your operating system but, if the R36 hasn’t been re-configured previously, you should see an unsecured network called ALFA_AP. Connect to it.
In your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox etc) type 192.168.2.1
User Name = admin PW=admin
You’ll then access the User Interface. Click on Easy setup and choose USB wireless adapter.
Do a site survey to connect to the primary wireless network. You’ll probably need to know its password.
The R36 will automatically reboot as the USB wireless dongle connects.
You’ll need to reconnect with the secondary wireless network ALFA_AP as before. Then type 192.168.2.1 into the browser again.
Check that you’ve connected to the right primary network. In this example we have connected to “RFShop”. Yours will have a different name.
At this point you can check if you have an internet connection via the secondary as well as the primary network. But don’t leave the secondary network unsecured for too long.
Go back into the user interface and you can rename the SSID of the secondary network if you wish. Under Advanced > Wireless Settings > Basic
You can also choose a channel. Best to use a channel well away from the primary and other nearby wi-fi signals. I usually choose 1,6, or 11
Set some security. You can choose either the same or a different password from the primary network. There are various options, but avoid WEP if possible. It’s not that secure. I’ve chosen WPA-PSK below.
If you have problems it can be better to start again. You can restore factory defaults using the button shown below. Advanced > Management
If you lose the wireless connection you will have to use a length of Ethernet cable to connect directly to your PC. Or there is a small hole under the R36. Use a paperclip or similar wire to reset.
Troubleshooting:
Problems Connecting to Wireless Networks:
Temporarily remove or reduce the security level and try again. Make sure the password is correct, including case.
Weak Primary Signal:
You may need to replace the antenna on the USB card with a higher gain antenna
DNS Problems.
If you are having trouble accessing some websites, type in the IP address directly into your browser. For example 74.125.237.208 should give the same result as www,google.com.
If the numerical version works ,but the other doesn’t, then there are problems with DNS. (DNS = Dynamic Name Server)
Then, try using Google’s DNS addresses 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 in your PC’s wireless DNS settings. Also you can use these DNS addresses in Advanced >USB Wireless LAN settings in the R36.
Written by: Peter Martin Version1.0 4/10/2013