WiFi Routers

A WiFi Router is especially useful for Portable HamWAN Nodes, and can be used to access your HamWAN signal from a wireless device such as a tablet, smart phone, or laptop, and can allow you to share your bandwidth with other users:

There are two useful configurations for the Linksys WiFi Router:

  • Home / Office / Lab / Workshop Configuration, for use when configuring your Mikrotik router. In this configuration, the Mikrotik obtains Internet service through the Ethernet interface, and the Wireless interface is not used.
    • The Internet Port of the Router is connected to your cable modem, DSL modem, or office / lab Internet using an Ethernet cable, and obtains its configuration using DHCP.

      If this configuration is being used in an environment (e.g. a workshop in a library) in which no Ethernet connection is available, the Netgear WNCE3001 Wi-Fi to Ethernet Adapter can be used to connect the Linksys router to the Internet through a public WiFi network. The Netgear WNCE3001 is often available used on eBay. Refer to this Configuration Diagram.

    • The LAN side of the Router is configured with static IP address 192.168.88.100/24 (Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0).
    • The Router is a DHCP server, and serves IP addresses in the range 192.168.88.101 to 192.168.88.200 to both Ethernet and wireless devices.
    • The Mikrotik is connected to one of the LAN ports on the Router using an Ethernet cable, and is configured with a static IP address of 192.168.88.1.
    • The computer that you use to configure the Mikrotik can be connected to one of the LAN ports on the Router using an Ethernet cable, or can be connected using WiFi. It would normally obtain its configuration using DHCP, but could be configured using a static IP address in the range 192.168.88.2 to 192.168.88.99.
  • Field Configuration, for use when setting up a portable Node in the field. In this configuration, the Mikrotik obtains Internet service through the Wireless interface, and provides Internet service to the Router and other devices through the Ethernet cable connected to the Internet port of the Router.
    • The Internet Port of the Router is connected to your Mikrotik using an Ethernet cable, and obtains a configuration using DHCP. (The Mikrotik is configured with a static IP address of 192.168.88.1 and assigns an IP address of 192.168.88.100 to the Internet side of the Router.)
    • The LAN side of the Router is configured with static IP address 192.168.0.1/24 (Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0).
    • The Router is a DHCP server, and serves IP addresses in the range 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.200 to both Ethernet and wireless devices.
    • The Mikrotik is connected to the Internet port using an Ethernet cable, and is configured with a static IP address of 192.168.88.1.
    • The wireless devices (smart phones, tablets, or laptops) that you use in the field are normally connected using WiFi, but could be connected to one of the LAN ports using an Ethernet cable. They would normally obtain their configuration using DHCP, but could be configured using a static IP address in the range 192.168.0.201 to 192.168.0.254.