Range Expander not working .. Desperately needed HELP

Question

I just bought the wireless expander yesterday. At first, i followed the instructions which came with it. As my network is WPA-enabled, i insert the CDrom to start the utility. Everything went well and the utility was able to find my network and the wireless expander. My network had a boosted range after that.  However, after one of my family members accidentally pressed the auto configuration button, everything went haywired.
I tried to reset the wireless expander and start the utility again. However, this time,  the utility wasn't able to find the wireless expander.I tried it over and over again , to no avail.
I came to this forum and realized that quite a lot of people are facing the same problems as me. I followed the solutions as stated. I was able to get 2 blue lights lit after that. However, my laptop kept prompting something abt ip (can't remember the exact words) And i can't used the internet at all. I went on the forum and found the solution to it. I did what it says but it's still the same. So i decided to reset the wireless expander and at the same time taking note of the ip problem.
However, after i reset the wireless expander, whatever i did wasn't able to get the 2 blue lights lit. I have been at this for 6 hrs and on my way to madness.
Can someone help me out here?
My Modem : Motorola ( Can't remember the exact model)
My wireless router : NetGear WGR614 v5
My wireless expander : Linksys WRE54G v2
What i did :
1) I connected the wireless expander to my laptop using an ethernet cable. Thus, getting a lan connection.
2) I changed the static ip address of it
IP -- 192.168.1.155
Subnet mask - 255.255.255.0
Default gateway -- 192.168.1.1
3) I was able to access to http://192.168.1.240
4) I changed the settings
ok -- here's the problem ..
When i run cmd --> ipconfig /all --> i get ip: 192.168.1.137
                                                               subnetmask : 255.255.255.0
                                                        default gateway : 192.168.1.1
When i went to my wireless router settings it was  IP : 222.164.18.197
                                                                   Subnet mask : 255.255.248.0
                                                                   Default gateway: 222.164.16.1
I do not know which one to use , so i tried both settings. For the 1st one, everything went fine , until after the power cycle. The blue lights still did not lit up .
For the 2nd IP , i can't even get the webpage to change my settings.
I have tried a combination of things. Set the SSID to the same as my wireless router SSID . I have download the firmware and yet when i tried it , all 3 trys were used and nothing happened.
I have tried doing this over and over again , looking for a step that i might have missed , but i think that i have reached my wit's end..
SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!

Answer 1

MINdReAdEr, yep you are in trouble with the unit. The WRE54G does a good job but it can be quirky to set up. When I bought mine from Amazon, i went first to the Customer reviews for info and I there found the right way(s) to install the unit. First of all, of course, forget about the CD instructions. Too frustrating when they start to backfire. ************************************ Better ways - got from Amazon (in fact, go there and search for WRE54G and see all review): ************************************ 1. The one below outlines easy installation if your network/wireless router are on the SAME SUBNET AS THE WRE RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, i.e. 192.168.1.xx 279 of 285 people found the following review helpful: It does what it's supposed to, once you can set it up, August 1, 2004 By Anthony Taylor (Sherman Oaks, CA) - See all my reviews If you're having trouble setting it up, definitely call the 800 number as opposed to going online. I tried with three different people through their website online and none could help. Right before I sent it back I decided to try phone support and it got the expander a reprieve. I've copied some instructions that Y.A. Escalante was kind enough to leave in his review, but corrected and elaborated some of the items based on my experience. I would've given this 4 stars, but I deducted 1 for it not having clear enough instructions with its initial shipping. (Would've saved Linksys some headaches) Here goes: 1-Disable WEP on your Router or AP 2-Hold the auto-configuration button for 30 seconds(if everything goes well both lights on the expander will turn blue) and unplug while still holding button. Plug back in after 10-15 secs. 3-open your Internet explorer browser and type 192.168.1.240 (default ip of expander), a window will pop up. leave the user name blank and put admin as a password (this is default password). 4-make sure that the default gateway and subnet mask settings are identical with your Router or AP,change password on the expander if desired & save settings. (all settings should be correct due to auto configuration) 5-Enable WEP on the expander, once again remember use same settings as in your Router or AP, save settings again. 6-Go to your Router or Ap settings and enable WEP. Bang you're DONE. Enjoy Hope this helps some of you...if not call the 800 number on the box and be patient. ******************************** 2. The one I put together with help from forums and amazon customer reviews applies to cases where the Router and the network are on a DIFFERENT subnet than the WRE out of the box (mine for example is 192.168.0.xx), and also when you want to install the WRE WITHOUT doing anything to the wireless router on your network (I like that!): 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: WRE54G: as usual w. Linksys product, installation is rough, January 16, 2007 By Roger J. Thomas "WirelessInn" (ZUNI, NM United States) - See all my reviews I am getting to think that I buy Linksys products just because I am getting used to their idiosynchrasis - i.e. the products' installation instructions are basically somehow flawed (even though I am sure they work if one makes a few adjustments to what the manuals say!) I must also say that product reviews by users on Amazon.com are an excellent source of technical info/help. My setup consists of a Satellite (Hughes) internet service with corresponding modem, feeding into a WRT54G Linksys Wireless Router which in turn is connected via cat5 to a Desktop and wirelessly to a Dell Laptop. I have to mention that the range of the WRT54G (a stock v.5 unit) is very good as it is. I want to use the WRE54G to extend range. 0. DO NOTHING to your wireless router (mine is a WRT54G - see above) - leave Router's IP address/channel alone and encryption (WPA or WPE) in place if you are using such protection. That's what I like about those steps: no disruption of the wireless network's settings in use! Also, my wireless laptop is at WRE54G install time in range of the Wireless Router. NOTE: That Laptop can actually be any computer. Preferably however one normally used as wireless unit on the network including the Internet connection>B'Band Modem > Wireless router > and now the WRE54G. 1. Change the IP of that computer/laptop you are using to setup the WRE54G if needed - i.e. if that computer's IP (from the local LAN NIC, not the wireless card) is on another subnet than 192.168.1.xx. Use something like 192.168.1.1 for example. This is necessary to access the WRE54G's internal web screen (default: 192.168.1.240). Disable wireless on the computer you are usng to set up the WRE54G. 2. MAKE SURE that your internet connection DOES NOT at this time do through a proxy - mine normally does (Satellite Internet provider=Direcway/Hughes - proxy server advised/required). You have to dig really deep into Linksys EsyAnswer/KB site to even see that suggestion!! Momentarily disable proxy server in IE > Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN settings. I.e. the wired LAN connection you are using to set up the WRE54G must not go thru any TCP/IP proxy. 3. Power up and connect the WRE (I have version 3) to that computer's newly re-IP'd LAN port (the WRE54G comes with a short cat5 cable). So, at this point, BOTH the WRE54G and your LAN connection are on 192.168.1.xx subnets. 4. Just to make sure that a LAN connection has been established, ping the WRE thus connected. Should return satisfactory result. (Again, the computer wireless connection should be disabled at this point) 5. Access the WRE's web screen via 192.168.1.240. Screen should come up. Defaut PW is of course admin at this time. 6. And now we are ready to enter specific information pertaining to your own wireless network, as follows: a. Enter - if necessary - the IP address you want the WRE54G to have on your wireless network - to be on same subnet as Wireless router used for your wireless network. My network is on subnet 192.168.0.xx: I set the WRE54G on IP address 192.168.0.240. b. Same with subnet and gateway c. Check mode (mixed/b or g only) d. SAME CHANNEL as the router e. Enter new SSID and enable/disable broadcast - same settings as Wireless Router's. 7. Now it is time to select/enter Wireless Security settings for the WRE54G: actually exact same settings as your Wireless Router's. 8. Change the WRE54G password while you are at it! Save settings and that's it! Finally unplug the WRE54G from power outlet AND LAN connection to the computer used to set up the Extender; locate/power up the WRE54G somewhere appropriatly a bit away from the laptop, in range of the Wireless Router, and in sight from the wireless laptop for initial testing (just so you can actually see if the blue lights come on: they should in the following sequence - top blue > top red/bottom blue > both blue if everything is OK.) To initially test-drive everything, I placed the WRE54g about 30ft from the Wireless Router and 20ft from the wireless laptop (which I make sure still connects to the Wireless Router.) 9. Now re-enable the wireless connection on the computer used to set up the WRE54G. Experiment with the new connection with the WRE54G. It should kick in as the stronger connection right away (if you are CLOSER to the WRE54G then the router). You'll see that when you are connecting to/using the WRE54G to connect to your Wireless Router, the signal strength is indeed higher. In fact, if you can run NetStumbler (free wireless detection software) and thus run a Site Survey, you'll see that two APs show up, same network SSID (i.e. the Wireless Router and the WRE54G, now considered as an AP itself). Of course the WRE54G will show much stronger signals. 10. Then if all is OK, experiment with placing the WRE54G as suggested otherwise - i.e. at the periphery of the wireless range obtained by just using the Wireless Router. 11. Seems to work so far. I do not otherwise detect loss of signal or b'band speed. This thing does work. I have placed the WRE54G in many different locations and I am truly AMAZED at its range extension potential. NOTE: I assume that in case of presence of signals from BOTH the Wireless Router and the WRE54G at a given location (since both devices are on same channel/SSID/Protection scheme), one might have to reset the wireless connection on the remote(s) laptops (or to reboot) to allow it(them) to pick just one (the stronger of course) connection. I was looking all along for a way to set up the WRE54G without having to go thru the rigamarole of changing other settings elsewhere on the network, using the dreaded Install CD or other cumbersome procedure! As I change my encryption WPA code often, I'll just have to change that info in one more device (besides my WRT54G and the Linksys wireless bridge WET54G - another excellent, not cheap Linksys product which i recommend also and which I use to make my Sat internet service available to another building on my business premises). Simple enough however! Note: you can also use that device to allow a web access to a computer that does not have a wireless card: plug the WRE54G into elect outlet, make sure that the unit is in range of the wireless network, connect a LAN cable from the WRE54G to the card-less computer, and voila, ths computer can get online. **************************************** Hoping this helps! - Roger T