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Tag: Netgear WGR614

Netgear WGR614/WGT624 Antenna Replacement

by on Nov.16, 2009, under Technology


The Netgear WLAN routers WGR614 and WGT624 come with a stock 4dBi antenna that has some limitations in regards to range. Further, the stock antenna is not detachable which makes it complicated to replace the antenna with one with more gain and/or one that can be placed somewhat distanced from the device. I use the WGT624 as a WLAN router and have two WGR614 configured as access points (see this post on how to do that) on my network. To allow for a more wife-compatible placement of the access points, I needed to be able to replace the stock antennas on all three devices. With this achieved, the access points can be hidden in a drawer, behind a desk or on top of a shelf with only the antenna sticking up.

Here’s how you do it:

  • Obtain a U.FL to RP-SMA female pigtail, about 10 cm / 4 ” in length from your local supplier of network gear
  • Probably from the same source, obtain a bigger gain WLAN antenna with RP-SMA connector and enough cable length
  • Cut and strip the U.FL end of the pigtail and pre-solder the bare wires for easier soldering
  • Remove the four torx screws from the bottom of the router and remove the plastic cover
  • Using a soldering iron, carefully disconnect the stock antenna wire from the circuit board
  • Detach the stock antenna from the case and remove it
  • Fit the pigtail to the case and loop the wire in a non-obstructive way in the general direction of the antenna connection points on the circuit board
  • Connect the pigtail bare wire end to the antenna connection points on the circuit board, using the soldering iron
  • Reattach the plastic cover and secure it with the four torx screws
  • Connect the bigger gain antenna

Tip: Use washers of appropriate size and dimension to compensate for differences between the antenna hole in the case and the pigtail. This will provide a more secure fit.

Don’t expect too much in terms of increased signal strength by replacing the antenna with one with more gain (higher dBi value). You may notice a slightly better value in signal strength but no revolutionary improvements. If you need better range of your WLAN you may want to consider additional access points.

Waiver. Replacing the stock antenna will void the warranty of the device. The text in this summary has been prepared with uttermost care but is, despite of this, strictly to be considered a guide to be used in conjunction with normal and cautious computer practice, including the safe operation of electric equipment. I cannot accept liability for your actions. Work smart! Work safely!


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Using Netgear WGR614 as Access Point

by on Nov.16, 2009, under Technology


The Netgear WGR614 is a popular and inexpensive 54MBit/s wireless router that can be tweaked to be used as a wireless access point on a threaded LAN. As such, it will contribute to extending the range of the wireless segment of the same LAN or – if the router used does not have WLAN capability – will add WLAN capability to the network. Several access points can be used to extend the range even further.

Follow these simple steps:

  • Make sure there are no network cables attached to the WGR614 (neither LAN nor WAN)
  • Make sure your laptop or PC used in the following steps is not connected to the network
  • Connect your laptop or PC to any of the LAN ports of the WGR614 using a network cable
  • Log on to the WGR614 via your web browser (usually 192.168.0.1 or similar – check the manual for correct address and default logon credentials)
  • Disable the DHCP server of the WGR614
  • Change the IP address of the WGR614 to something else than the IP address of the router
  • Connect the router to any of the available LAN ports of the WGR614 using a network cable
  • Configure the SSID on the router and the access point so that they are the same
  • Configure different wireless channels on each device (use the non-overlapping channels 1, 6 and 11 to avoid interference)
  • Configure the WGR614 to the same security level and settings as the router, including the access control list
  • Separate the devices to the edge of their wireless ranges

Please consult the manual and/or the Netgear Support Pages if you get stuck in any of the above steps. The network DHCP server IP address range on the router must not include the IP addresses reserved for the access points. If you have the router (that is connected to the Internet through its WAN port) on IP address 192.168.0.1 and, say, two access points on 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3 respectively, the DHCP range on the router should start with 192.168.0.4 (and end with whatever number you think you will need for your network attached gear). Understand that having duplicate IP addresses on your network will put you in a situation you don’t want to be in, so take steps to ensure that the router and the access points never have the same IP. Note also that this setup will not extend the WLAN range of an unthreaded network, i.e. the access points must be connected to the router via cables in this solution. If your aim is a wireless-only network, you need to look in to access points with repeater functionality.

Tip: If the router is configured with the internal IP address 192.168.0.n on the LAN try configuring the access points with internal IP addresses that are easy to remember, such as 192.168.0.n+1, 192.168.0.n+2, etc.

Waiver. The text in this summary has been prepared with uttermost care but is, despite of this, strictly to be considered a guide to be used in conjunction with normal and cautious computer practice, including the safe operation of electric equipment. I cannot accept liability for your actions. Work smart! Work safe!


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