Can I use (setup) a Repeater/Extenders without physical access to the router

[Borderline]

HELP,
So far I was not able to find an answer to my "simple" question, so I am very hopeful I can get some help here.

I am connected to a wifi in a apartment building (using user + password).
I HAVE NO PHYSICAL ACCESS TO THE ROUTER.

Can I buy repeter or extender and make it work without been able (or need to) to change settings on the main router.

All I found so far after spending a lots of time on the web, requires me to do something to the router, which I can not do (I do not have access to it).

Thank you
from Spain

 

[Wamphryi]

No you cant. You need to be able to access the router at least through the software interface. Otherwise anyone could simply attach a repeater to a wireless signal and tap into that feed. You need to be able to configure the router security.

 

[mcnumpty23]

are you trying to get a stronger signal from the router to one pc/laptop?

or repeat it to more than one device?

 

[bill001g]

Most likely you can.
And the comment of "Otherwise anyone could simply attach a repeater to a wireless signal and tap into that feed" . Yup its a huge security exposure. Any authorized user can create their own network and if they don't protect it the main network is also at risk. This is why you do not give access to people you do not trust.

I would not use a cheap repeater there are too many restrictions on the encryption keys and such. The really stupid ones only configure via WPS ...and in that case you do need to push the physical button on the router. The better ones you can manually configure.

You can load dd-wrt on a router and it is a ok repeater but it still has the issue with requiring the same channels and keys. I would use 2 routers one configured as a bridge which gets access from the main router and puts the signal out on the ethernet. The second router you would configure either as a AP or a router depending on how you want the IP to work but in either case you would connect it to your "bridge" router via a ethernet cable.

 

[Borderline]

No you cant. You need to be able to access the router at least through the software interface. Otherwise anyone could simply attach a repeater to a wireless signal and tap into that feed. You need to be able to configure the router security.

are you trying to get a stronger signal from the router to one pc/laptop?

or repeat it to more than one device?

I do have to LOG IN to the ruter, so thats the security you are talking about. I assume the repeater does the same as my computer, it asks for permission from the router and it provides the log in info. Then the repeater has the signal from the router and amplifies it.

 

[bill001g]

I do have to LOG IN to the ruter, so thats the security you are talking about. I assume the repeater does the same as my computer, it asks for permission from the router and it provides the log in info. Then the repeater has the signal from the router and amplifies it.

It is actually much more complex than that and it depends what exactly is asking for the userid/password.

First option is they are using 802.1x in conjunction with the wireless encryption. If this is true then your plan is sure to fail. This is done to prevent exactly what you are trying to do. It is used to valid the end device. It is unlikely that are doing this since many non pc type devices do not support 802.1x. Because they would get screamed at if they did not let peoples phones or xbox connect it is not common use this method outside of a corporate environment.

Most likely they are using a intercept type device that relies on IP address. If they are encypting the wireless they many times used a common preshared key and that you would need to put in your router/repeater. After this they talk to the end device and "assume" that a IP means a unique machine which of course it does not. You would likely still need to log from your PC.

You may just want to start with a router that can run in bridge/client mode and plug your pc into that with a ethernet cable. This is the simplest way to test it. This will likely work since this is how people with a XBOX or a desktop PC would need to connect and you would have to think they would allow it.

 

[Borderline]

I do have to LOG IN to the ruter, so thats the security you are talking about. I assume the repeater does the same as my computer, it asks for permission from the router and it provides the log in info. Then the repeater has the signal from the router and amplifies it.

It is actually much more complex than that and it depends what exactly is asking for the userid/password.

First option is they are using 802.1x in conjunction with the wireless encryption. If this is true then your plan is sure to fail. This is done to prevent exactly what you are trying to do. It is used to valid the end device. It is unlikely that are doing this since many non pc type devices do not support 802.1x. Because they would get screamed at if they did not let peoples phones or xbox connect it is not common use this method outside of a corporate environment.

Most likely they are using a intercept type device that relies on IP address. If they are encypting the wireless they many times used a common preshared key and that you would need to put in your router/repeater. After this they talk to the end device and "assume" that a IP means a unique machine which of course it does not. You would likely still need to log from your PC.

You may just want to start with a router that can run in bridge/client mode and plug your pc into that with a ethernet cable. This is the simplest way to test it. This will likely work since this is how people with a XBOX or a desktop PC would need to connect and you would have to think they would allow it.

OK, now we are getting somewhere, thank you for your answers
Here is the info I get from router:
(Name) I have hidden the actual name since it is not relevant here.
PHY Mode: 802.11g
BSSID: 00:0c:42:39:94:63
Channel: 8
Country Code: ES
Network Type: Infrastructure
Security: None
Signal / Noise: -78 dBm / -87 dBm
Transmit Rate: 5

Interestingly it says "Security": None!
but I am asked to enter User + Password in a log in screen displayed.
The router is a MikroTick model? (Routerboard.com), that is all the info I have without actually seen the POS.

I was thinking that one of those "Universal Range Extender WiFi Repeater" would do the trick.

 

[Borderline]

are you trying to get a stronger signal from the router to one pc/laptop?

or repeat it to more than one device?

I do have to LOG IN to the ruter, so thats the security you are talking about. I assume the repeater does the same as my computer, it asks for permission from the router and it provides the log in info. Then the repeater has the signal from the router and amplifies it.

It is actually much more complex than that and it depends what exactly is asking for the userid/password.

First option is they are using 802.1x in conjunction with the wireless encryption. If this is true then your plan is sure to fail. This is done to prevent exactly what you are trying to do. It is used to valid the end device. It is unlikely that are doing this since many non pc type devices do not support 802.1x. Because they would get screamed at if they did not let peoples phones or xbox connect it is not common use this method outside of a corporate environment.

Most likely they are using a intercept type device that relies on IP address. If they are encypting the wireless they many times used a common preshared key and that you would need to put in your router/repeater. After this they talk to the end device and "assume" that a IP means a unique machine which of course it does not. You would likely still need to log from your PC.

You may just want to start with a router that can run in bridge/client mode and plug your pc into that with a ethernet cable. This is the simplest way to test it. This will likely work since this is how people with a XBOX or a desktop PC would need to connect and you would have to think they would allow it.

Well, it looks like you were right after all.
When I try to connect with my phone, it brings the login screen but will not accept and connect.
I am afraid they are using the 802.1x.
The reason I belive they do it, is when I log in, it briefly redirects it to the Apple advertisement page, so they are checking what type of device is connecting.

Now to the question, how do I fake the wifi repeater to act as a PC or Mac to the WiFi router.

 

[bill001g]

No 802.1x is much more cyptic that that. You generally won't even get a IP address if you fail 802.1x authentication. 802.1x is almost impossible to defeat...which is why it is used in corporate security.

Since there is NO authentication on the router it is likely you can get a repeater to work but I still would not go that method if you goal is to get your phone to connect. The main router would still want to you to authenticate and it does not support your phone.

I would go with the bridge connected to a router method. You would then have to log into the web page the first time with a PC behind your router, after that you could connect your phone to the router and since the both the PC and the phone share the routers IP address it will allow the phone though.

The other way to do this ...and this even beat 802.1x... is to use a PC with 2 wireless cards. You run ICS on it using one nic to connect to the router and running the other nic in adhoc mode to allow incoming connection. Although this works it is huge pain to get working stably. It is really just a variation of the bridge-router combination but in a single device.