I bought this router to be used to access city-sponsored WiFi hot spots. 
I will be getting it delivered in the next day or two.

In the meantime, I downloaded a couple of manuals from the manufacturer via 

http://www.tp-link.com/products/productDetails.asp?pmodel=TL-WR541G

It looks like most of the setup is directed at using this router for
taking  data that it receives from a modem that is connected to the
internet and transmitting that data to various computers on a LAN.

I have only one computer, and I want the TL-WR541G to be used solely in
Bridge Mode, that is, to communicate with that city-sponsored WiFi.

Two questions:

1.  Since I don't want to use the router as a router that takes data from
a modem connected to my ISP, can I skip that part of the setup, or can I
just enter some null-type of info for that part of the setup?

2.  In the eighty some pages of the manual, there is just a brief section
on setting up the TL-WR541G in Bridge Mode.  BUT...  this section states
"If you select the Enable Bridges checkbox, you can input MAC address
of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly in Bridge mode."  What is
that about?  I had thought that I could get some sort of list from the
TL-WR541G showing what hotspots are available, and then I would select (it
is hoped) the city-sponsored WiFi from that list.  Do I really need to
know the MAC address of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly in
Bridge mode?

Thanks.

---  Joe

In article
<none-2403110055390001@dialup-4.231.168.69.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net>,
 Joe <none@given.now> wrote:

> I bought this router to be used to access city-sponsored WiFi hot spots. 
> I will be getting it delivered in the next day or two.
> 
> In the meantime, I downloaded a couple of manuals from the manufacturer via 
> 
> http://www.tp-link.com/products/productDetails.asp?pmodel=TL-WR541G
> 
> It looks like most of the setup is directed at using this router for
> taking  data that it receives from a modem that is connected to the
> internet and transmitting that data to various computers on a LAN.
> 
> I have only one computer, and I want the TL-WR541G to be used solely in
> Bridge Mode, that is, to communicate with that city-sponsored WiFi.

no, what you want is client mode.

> Two questions:
> 
> 1.  Since I don't want to use the router as a router that takes data from
> a modem connected to my ISP, can I skip that part of the setup, or can I
> just enter some null-type of info for that part of the setup?

based on the specs at their web site and a quick look at the manual (of
the latest version of the hardware), it will not operate in client mode
and therefore will not connect to your citywide wifi the way you need
to.

> 2.  In the eighty some pages of the manual, there is just a brief section
> on setting up the TL-WR541G in Bridge Mode.  BUT...  this section states
> "If you select the Enable Bridges checkbox, you can input MAC address
> of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly in Bridge mode."  What is
> that about?  I had thought that I could get some sort of list from the
> TL-WR541G showing what hotspots are available, and then I would select (it
> is hoped) the city-sponsored WiFi from that list.  Do I really need to
> know the MAC address of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly in
> Bridge mode?

that's something entirely different, and yes you do need to know the
mac addresses *and* be able to put your router's mac address into their
configuration.

hopefully you can return it.

In article <240320110325274390%nospam@nospam.invalid>,
 nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> wrote:

> In article
> <none-2403110055390001@dialup-4.231.168.69.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net>,
>  Joe <none@given.now> wrote:
> 
> > I bought this router to be used to access city-sponsored WiFi hot spots. 
> > I will be getting it delivered in the next day or two.
> > 
> > In the meantime, I downloaded a couple of manuals from the manufacturer via 
> > 
> > http://www.tp-link.com/products/productDetails.asp?pmodel=TL-WR541G
> > 
> > It looks like most of the setup is directed at using this router for
> > taking  data that it receives from a modem that is connected to the
> > internet and transmitting that data to various computers on a LAN.
> > 
> > I have only one computer, and I want the TL-WR541G to be used solely in
> > Bridge Mode, that is, to communicate with that city-sponsored WiFi.
> 
> no, what you want is client mode.
> 
> > Two questions:
> > 
> > 1.  Since I don't want to use the router as a router that takes data from
> > a modem connected to my ISP, can I skip that part of the setup, or can I
> > just enter some null-type of info for that part of the setup?
> 
> based on the specs at their web site and a quick look at the manual (of
> the latest version of the hardware), it will not operate in client mode
> and therefore will not connect to your citywide wifi the way you need
> to.
> 
> > 2.  In the eighty some pages of the manual, there is just a brief section
> > on setting up the TL-WR541G in Bridge Mode.  BUT...  this section states
> > "If you select the Enable Bridges checkbox, you can input MAC address
> > of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly in Bridge mode."  What is
> > that about?  I had thought that I could get some sort of list from the
> > TL-WR541G showing what hotspots are available, and then I would select (it
> > is hoped) the city-sponsored WiFi from that list.  Do I really need to
> > know the MAC address of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly in
> > Bridge mode?
> 
> that's something entirely different, and yes you do need to know the
> mac addresses *and* be able to put your router's mac address into their
> configuration.
> 
> hopefully you can return it.

FWIW, I got an older WRT-54 at a garage sale (for free!), and put 
Open-WRT on it. Set it up as a client bridge months ago, and it has 
required no attention since. Stable as a Mac    8^}

Isaac

In article <isw-3EEC03.10324224032011@[216.168.3.50]>, isw
<isw@witzend.com> wrote:

> In article <240320110325274390%nospam@nospam.invalid>,
>  nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> wrote:
> 
> > In article
> > <none-2403110055390001@dialup-4.231.168.69.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net>,
> >  Joe <none@given.now> wrote:
> > 
> > > I bought this router to be used to access city-sponsored WiFi hot spots. 
> > > I will be getting it delivered in the next day or two.
> > > 
> > > In the meantime, I downloaded a couple of manuals from the
manufacturer via 
> > > 
> > > http://www.tp-link.com/products/productDetails.asp?pmodel=TL-WR541G
> > > 
> > > It looks like most of the setup is directed at using this router for
> > > taking  data that it receives from a modem that is connected to the
> > > internet and transmitting that data to various computers on a LAN.
> > > 
> > > I have only one computer, and I want the TL-WR541G to be used solely in
> > > Bridge Mode, that is, to communicate with that city-sponsored WiFi.
> > 
> > no, what you want is client mode.
> > 
> > > Two questions:
> > > 
> > > 1.  Since I don't want to use the router as a router that takes data from
> > > a modem connected to my ISP, can I skip that part of the setup, or can I
> > > just enter some null-type of info for that part of the setup?
> > 
> > based on the specs at their web site and a quick look at the manual (of
> > the latest version of the hardware), it will not operate in client mode
> > and therefore will not connect to your citywide wifi the way you need
> > to.
> > 
> > > 2.  In the eighty some pages of the manual, there is just a brief section
> > > on setting up the TL-WR541G in Bridge Mode.  BUT...  this section states
> > > "If you select the Enable Bridges checkbox, you can input MAC address
> > > of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly in Bridge mode."  What is
> > > that about?  I had thought that I could get some sort of list from the
> > > TL-WR541G showing what hotspots are available, and then I would select (it
> > > is hoped) the city-sponsored WiFi from that list.  Do I really need to
> > > know the MAC address of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly in
> > > Bridge mode?
> > 
> > that's something entirely different, and yes you do need to know the
> > mac addresses *and* be able to put your router's mac address into their
> > configuration.
> > 
> > hopefully you can return it.
> 
> FWIW, I got an older WRT-54 at a garage sale (for free!), and put 
> Open-WRT on it. Set it up as a client bridge months ago, and it has 
> required no attention since. Stable as a Mac    8^}
> 
> Isaac

Please explain, if you would.  What is Open-WRT, where did you get it, and
was the set up as client MODE possible and not too complicated?

I'm waiting for delivery of the router and may refuse it to get a refund.

Time is short!  :)

Thanks.

---  Joe

In article 
<none-2403111117420001@dialup-4.231.171.84.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net>
,
 none@given.now (Joe) wrote:

> Please explain, if you would.  What is Open-WRT, where did you get it, and
> was the set up as client MODE possible and not too complicated?
> 
> I'm waiting for delivery of the router and may refuse it to get a refund.
> 
> Time is short!  :)

You might want to ask this (quickly!) in alt.internet.wireless, there's 
at least one knowledgeable person there.
-- 
If you could teach a cat to dance, 
you'd never have to leave the house.
  -- Pat Sajak

In article <4d8b9b6c$0$12884$c3e8da3$9deca2c3@news.astraweb.com>,
Warren Oates <warren.oates@gmail.com> wrote:

> You might want to ask this (quickly!) in alt.internet.wireless, there's 
> at least one knowledgeable person there.

that person is jeff lieberman, who knows pretty much everything there
is to know about networking and routers, and it looks like he already
posted the question there.

In article
<none-2403111117420001@dialup-4.231.171.84.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net>,
 Joe <none@given.now> wrote:

> Please explain, if you would.  What is Open-WRT, where did you get it, and
> was the set up as client MODE possible and not too complicated?

several years back, linksys came out with the wrt-54g wifi router,
which actually runs linux, and released its firmware as open source. it
didn't take long for a number of users to add all sorts of features to
the base linksys firmware, turning it into a very powerful device.

open-wrt is one of the many alternate firmwares available for it.

linksys later switched the hardware design and the alternate firmwares
no longer worked on the new hardware (plus it took a couple of
revisions for the new hardware design to not suck). a *lot* of people
bitched so they re-released the old design as the wrt-54gl (l for
linux) at a higher price. there are also routers from other companies
that can take alternate firmwares, including buffalo. 

> I'm waiting for delivery of the router and may refuse it to get a refund.

what you bought definitely does not do client mode, which is what you
need.

i don't know if it can run open-wrt or other alternate firmware, but if
i had to guess, i'd say no.

In article <isw-3EEC03.10324224032011@[216.168.3.50]>, isw
<isw@witzend.com> wrote:

> > > I bought this router to be used to access city-sponsored WiFi hot spots. 
> > > I will be getting it delivered in the next day or two.
> > > 
> > > In the meantime, I downloaded a couple of manuals from the manufacturer
> > > via 
> > > 
> > > http://www.tp-link.com/products/productDetails.asp?pmodel=TL-WR541G
> > > 
> > > It looks like most of the setup is directed at using this router for
> > > taking  data that it receives from a modem that is connected to the
> > > internet and transmitting that data to various computers on a LAN.
> > > 
> > > I have only one computer, and I want the TL-WR541G to be used solely in
> > > Bridge Mode, that is, to communicate with that city-sponsored WiFi.

....snip

> FWIW, I got an older WRT-54 at a garage sale (for free!), and put 
> Open-WRT on it. Set it up as a client bridge months ago, and it has 
> required no attention since. Stable as a Mac    8^}

keep in mind that he bought a tl-wr541g, not a linksys wrt54.

i have no idea if any of the alternate firmwares will work on what he
bought, and in fact, i had not heard of that manufacturer before.

In article 
<none-2403111117420001@dialup-4.231.171.84.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net>
,
 none@given.now (Joe) wrote:

> In article <isw-3EEC03.10324224032011@[216.168.3.50]>, isw
> <isw@witzend.com> wrote:
> 
> > In article <240320110325274390%nospam@nospam.invalid>,
> >  nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> wrote:
> > 
> > > In article
> > > <none-2403110055390001@dialup-4.231.168.69.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net>,
> > >  Joe <none@given.now> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > I bought this router to be used to access city-sponsored WiFi hot 
> > > > spots. 
> > > > I will be getting it delivered in the next day or two.
> > > > 
> > > > In the meantime, I downloaded a couple of manuals from the
> manufacturer via 
> > > > 
> > > > http://www.tp-link.com/products/productDetails.asp?pmodel=TL-WR541G
> > > > 
> > > > It looks like most of the setup is directed at using this router for
> > > > taking  data that it receives from a modem that is connected to the
> > > > internet and transmitting that data to various computers on a LAN.
> > > > 
> > > > I have only one computer, and I want the TL-WR541G to be used solely in
> > > > Bridge Mode, that is, to communicate with that city-sponsored WiFi.
> > > 
> > > no, what you want is client mode.
> > > 
> > > > Two questions:
> > > > 
> > > > 1.  Since I don't want to use the router as a router that takes data 
> > > > from
> > > > a modem connected to my ISP, can I skip that part of the setup, or can 
> > > > I
> > > > just enter some null-type of info for that part of the setup?
> > > 
> > > based on the specs at their web site and a quick look at the manual (of
> > > the latest version of the hardware), it will not operate in client mode
> > > and therefore will not connect to your citywide wifi the way you need
> > > to.
> > > 
> > > > 2.  In the eighty some pages of the manual, there is just a brief 
> > > > section
> > > > on setting up the TL-WR541G in Bridge Mode.  BUT...  this section 
> > > > states
> > > > "If you select the Enable Bridges checkbox, you can input MAC address
> > > > of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly in Bridge mode."  What 
> > > > is
> > > > that about?  I had thought that I could get some sort of list from the
> > > > TL-WR541G showing what hotspots are available, and then I would select 
> > > > (it
> > > > is hoped) the city-sponsored WiFi from that list.  Do I really need to
> > > > know the MAC address of other APs to communicate with them wirelessly 
> > > > in
> > > > Bridge mode?
> > > 
> > > that's something entirely different, and yes you do need to know the
> > > mac addresses *and* be able to put your router's mac address into their
> > > configuration.
> > > 
> > > hopefully you can return it.
> > 
> > FWIW, I got an older WRT-54 at a garage sale (for free!), and put 
> > Open-WRT on it. Set it up as a client bridge months ago, and it has 
> > required no attention since. Stable as a Mac    8^}
> > 
> > Isaac
> 
> Please explain, if you would.  What is Open-WRT, where did you get it, and
> was the set up as client MODE possible and not too complicated?

It's an open-source, Linux-based alternative OS for many makes and 
models of routers. One reason you'd use it is to get around 
manufacturers' limitations on the flexibility they allow you -- most 
routers that offer bridge capabilities are more expensive, for instance.

I'm not much of a Linux guy, and I was able to download, install, and 
configure it -- took me maybe an hour, total.

All will be revealed by a trip here:

http://openwrt.org/

Isaac