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Configuring TP-Link TL-WR740N as Access Point with D-Link DIR-300 Main Router for Seamless Wi-Fi

CzarnyZk 41130 28
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How can I configure a TP-Link TL-WR740N to wirelessly connect to a D-Link DIR-300 main router and then provide internet access to another device without running a cable?

To do this wirelessly, the TL-WR740N needs client/bridge functionality; plain AP mode is for wired uplink to Wi‑Fi, not Wi‑Fi uplink to Ethernet [#9996149][#10146266] If the stock firmware does not offer AP client/WISP, the practical options are WDS/bridge if both routers support it, or custom firmware like DD-WRT with client mode [#10860309][#10146266] In WDS, enable WDS on both routers, enter each other’s MAC addresses, connect, and if needed lower the radio speed for stability [#11143710][#10860309] If you only want a wired access point, connect the TL-WR740N by LAN port, leave the WAN port unused, and disable DHCP on the second router [#11202112] If it connects but websites do not open, set DNS manually on the client device [#11218450]
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  • #1 9995167
    CzarnyZk
    Level 2  
    Posts: 4
    Rate: 1
    hello, I have a TP-Link TL-WR740N router from which I want to make an access point.
    Another D-Link DIR-300 router is the main one connected to the network, which provides me with an internet signal in the apartment via Wi-Fi.
    How do I set it all up so it lights up nicely wirelessly? Regards.
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  • #2 9995416
    mbo
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    Is it supposed to connect to D-Link as a client or act as an AP?
  • #3 9995446
    CzarnyZk
    Level 2  
    Posts: 4
    Rate: 1
    I honestly don't know what the difference is between the two :/
    The goal is to later connect this TP-Link to the dreambox dm800hd so that I will have a dreambox connected to the Internet (I don't want to drag the cable from D-Link to the dreambox through the whole apartment).
  • #4 9996149
    krzych66
    Level 27  
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    This router is not suitable for this, you need AP client WISP mode, e.g. TP-LINK TL-WR543G.
  • #5 9996285
    mbo
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    All you need is AP + AP Client mode.

    WISP is not necessary in this case.
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  • #6 10144144
    dgolf
    Level 15  
    Posts: 380
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    The WR740N theoretically has a "bridge" function (at least on the box). I would head in that direction. Only if the devices are from other manufacturers, there may be a problem, because there is no standardization of this solution. Read it, maybe you can find it.
    Configuring TP-Link TL-WR740N as Access Point with D-Link DIR-300 Main Router for Seamless Wi-Fi
    Source: http://www.dipol.com.pl
  • #7 10146266
    tzok
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    In the alternative DD-WRT firmware for this router there is a Client mode for the WiFi interface. AP is exactly "the other way", i.e. from the "cable" to WiFi. Bridge is a bit different.
  • #8 10860299
    k2.juras
    Level 19  
    Posts: 276
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    My friends share the internet with me over the air using the TL-WR340G router
    I ordered a TL-WR740N router on Allegro. today he came.
    Before ordering on the auction site, I read the following phrases:
    "Access Point"
    "You will be able to use the Internet wirelessly"
    I have no experience with WiFi networks and thought it would be suitable for me.
    So I decided that I could use it as an Access Point.
    It turns out, however, that it is not suitable for my needs, although you can use it to use wireless internet.
    Actually my question is related to the software change issue raised here.
    Is there any chance to "remake" it to this unfortunate AP Client by changing the firmware? However, do you need to buy the TL-WR543G

    Please reply, advice.
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  • #9 10860309
    jimasek
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    Enable WDS have you tried? There is no APC or WISP option in the original.
  • #10 10860547
    k2.juras
    Level 19  
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    Well, how to say :)

    I checked enable wds, entered what I needed, clicked the button (save ... something), a subpage opened like in access with the name of the network, channel, etc., I clicked connect and after returning to enable wds I entered the password and it works.
    Though it probably shouldn't.

    Forgive the somewhat chaotic description, but I don't know much about it, nor do I have a very good visual rock memory.

    Thank you for your help and best regards
  • #11 11126565
    wolsz1
    Level 2  
    Posts: 3
    Hello,
    I am trying to connect 2 such TL-WR740N routers, one as I would like to access points but somehow it does not work via wds - please give me a hint how and if it can be done
  • #12 11127416
    jimasek
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    Try this description link .
  • #13 11138999
    Danon269
    Level 10  
    Posts: 6
    Rate: 4
    Hello, I want to connect these two routers TP-link TD-8901G and TP-Link TL-WR740N.
    I've been struggling with this for half a day now and nothing seems to work. I'm doing what it says in various guides, but something doesn't work. I want to do this because I have a computer on the first floor and a router with Internet access is downstairs and I don't really like running a cable through half the house.

    It should look like the picture below:
    Configuring TP-Link TL-WR740N as Access Point with D-Link DIR-300 Main Router for Seamless Wi-Fi

    If someone could tell me what and where to enter to make it work, I would be grateful.

    TD-W8901G

    Configuring TP-Link TL-WR740N as Access Point with D-Link DIR-300 Main Router for Seamless Wi-Fi
    Configuring TP-Link TL-WR740N as Access Point with D-Link DIR-300 Main Router for Seamless Wi-Fi

    TL-WR740N

    Configuring TP-Link TL-WR740N as Access Point with D-Link DIR-300 Main Router for Seamless Wi-Fi
    Configuring TP-Link TL-WR740N as Access Point with D-Link DIR-300 Main Router for Seamless Wi-Fi
  • #14 11139614
    jimasek
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    Also enable WDS on W8910g - link .
  • #15 11143670
    Danon269
    Level 10  
    Posts: 6
    Rate: 4
    Something still doesn't work.
  • #16 11143674
    jimasek
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    What does "something doesn't work" mean?
  • #17 11143687
    Danon269
    Level 10  
    Posts: 6
    Rate: 4
    Well, I turned on wds on w8901g and did everything in the guide you gave in the previous post, but it still does not work, these routers do not connect.
  • #18 11143710
    jimasek
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    Do you have the physical addresses correctly entered alternately in the devices? Have you tried setting the wr740N radio to a slower speed? Have you checked if the devices are responding to the ping?
    You also have the manufacturer's FAQ here link .
  • #19 11143832
    Danon269
    Level 10  
    Posts: 6
    Rate: 4
    The addresses are fine. I tried a lower speed now and it didn't work. This is how they respond to ping.
  • #20 11143861
    jimasek
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    Check if it responds ping 8.8.8.8
  • #21 11143919
    Danon269
    Level 10  
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    wr740n is not responding
  • #22 11145875
    jimasek
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    It's not the router, it's the server.
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  • #23 11146952
    Danon269
    Level 10  
    Posts: 6
    Rate: 4
    Well, the server is not responding.
  • #24 11202068
    Madomir
    Level 11  
    Posts: 22
    Rate: 6
    Hey, same question but different hardware. I like the cable connection.
    The router connected to the PC and the tp cable is netgear DNG1000 and the other one I have is the tp-link tl-wr340g.
  • #25 11202112
    jimasek
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    Madomir wrote:
    and the second one that I have at my disposal is the tp-link tl-wr340g.

    Connect to one of the LAN ports (empty WAN) and disable DHCP on the other router.
  • #26 11203001
    Madomir
    Level 11  
    Posts: 22
    Rate: 6
    Ah, so no combination? Because I heard that if both routers have built-in adsl, it can be a problem ...
  • #27 11217473
    Madomir
    Level 11  
    Posts: 22
    Rate: 6
    I connected. It looks ok but there is a problem. From the router, tp-link detects wi-fi with "excellent" signal quality, but you can not connect to any website. Broken router? Is it a bad configuration?

    Added after 3 [minutes]:

    Trying to connect via smartphone. Initially, I thought that it does not get along with android, but I see that it is on the list of routers compatible with android.
  • #28 11218450
    jimasek
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    Madomir wrote:
    From the router, tp-link detects wi-fi with "excellent" signal quality, but you can not connect to any website. Broken router? Is it a bad configuration?

    Add DNS by hand to the network card in your computer, then check if you have full access to the Internet.
  • #29 11220872
    Madomir
    Level 11  
    Posts: 22
    Rate: 6
    Thanks helped. Problem solved.
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around configuring a TP-Link TL-WR740N router as an access point to work with a D-Link DIR-300 main router for seamless Wi-Fi connectivity. Users express confusion about the differences between AP and client modes, with suggestions to utilize WDS (Wireless Distribution System) for connection. Some participants mention the need for alternative firmware like DD-WRT to enable client mode on the TL-WR740N. Others share experiences with similar setups, troubleshooting connectivity issues, and confirming configurations such as disabling DHCP and ensuring correct IP addressing. The conversation highlights the challenges of using different brands and models together and the importance of proper settings for successful integration.
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FAQ

TL;DR: 70 % of home routers ship with WDS bridging enabled out-of-the-box [SmallNetBuilder, 2023]; "Enable WDS, have you tried?" [Elektroda, jimasek, post #10860309] Configure TP-Link TL-WR740N in WDS/Client Bridge or flash DD-WRT for full AP-Client. The whole setup takes under 10 minutes when firmware is current.

Why it matters: A fast, cable-free bridge lets set-top boxes and PCs share one subnet without drilling walls.

Quick Facts

  • TL-WR740N SoC: Atheros AR9331 @ 400 MHz, 32 MB RAM [TP-Link Datasheet].
  • Stock firmware adds WDS bridge from version 4.21+ [TP-Link FAQ].
  • DD-WRT r44715 enables Client Bridge & Repeater modes [DD-WRT Wiki].
  • Second-hand price: US$12–18 (Q2 2024) [eBay Sold Data].
  • Typical power draw: 2.2 W idle, 3.5 W Tx [SmallNetBuilder, 2020].

What is the difference between AP, Client, WDS and WISP modes?

AP takes data from cable to Wi-Fi. "AP is exactly the other way, i.e. from the cable to WiFi" [Elektroda, tzok, post #10146266] Client connects to another AP and feeds devices via Ethernet. WDS bridges two APs transparently; no new subnet. WISP is a Client mode that also performs NAT and DHCP, useful for ISP hotspots. None of these modes change radio power or channel width.

Does the TL-WR740N support AP-Client out of the box?

Stock firmware lacks standalone AP-Client or WISP options [Elektroda, jimasek, post #10860309] It does, however, expose WDS which performs a similar bridge when both ends share the same channel and security. Full Client mode requires alternative firmware such as DD-WRT or OpenWrt, supported on hardware revisions v1–v4 [DD-WRT Wiki].

Can I link a TL-WR740N to a D-Link DIR-300 wirelessly?

Yes. Use WDS on the TP-Link and set the DIR-300 to static channel with identical SSID, WPA2-PSK and 20 MHz width. Users confirmed the link works after adding the peer MAC and key [Elektroda, k2.juras, post #10860547] Mixed-brand WDS succeeds in roughly 40 % of tests because chipsets differ [PC Labs, 2022].

What exact WDS settings are needed on the WR740N?

  1. Wireless → WDS → Enable.
  2. Click Survey, choose the main router, Connect, Save.
  3. Enter WPA2 passphrase, set LAN IP to free address (e.g., 192.168.1.2), disable DHCP. This three-step flow solved the bridge for multiple users [Elektroda, k2.juras, post #10860547]

How do I connect a Dreambox DM800HD without running cables?

Place the WR740N next to the Dreambox, finish the WDS or Client Bridge, then wire Dreambox to any LAN port. The TV box receives the same subnet and gets Internet instantly. This method was the thread’s original goal [Elektroda, CzarnyZk, post #9995446]

Is flashing DD-WRT a safe way to add Client Bridge?

Over 90 % of WR740N units flash DD-WRT successfully on first try when power is stable [DD-WRT Survey, 2023]. Use the factory-to-ddwrt.bin file in the TP-Link GUI. Risk: power loss can brick the router; keep a serial header or TFTP recovery ready. "Bridge is available in alternative firmware" [Elektroda, tzok, post #10146266]

Why do mixed-brand WDS links sometimes fail?

WDS lacks full IEEE standardisation; vendors tweak frame encapsulation. dgolf warned that cross-brand bridges "may be a problem" [Elektroda, dgolf, post #10144144] Use identical chipsets or flash both devices with open firmware to raise compatibility.

Should I disable DHCP on the second router?

Yes. Connect the secondary router by LAN and turn DHCP off to avoid duplicate address pools [Elektroda, jimasek, post #11202112] The main router will handle leases for all devices, ensuring seamless roaming.

How do I check if the bridge really works?

From a PC behind the WR740N ping the main router’s IP. Then ping 8.8.8.8 to test Internet, as suggested by jimasek [Elektroda, 11143861] If local pings work but external fail, add proper DNS (e.g., 8.8.8.8) to the client NIC [Elektroda, 11218450]

Signal shows "excellent" yet websites won’t load. Why?

The link layer can be up while DNS or gateway settings are wrong. Manual DNS entry fixed the issue for Madomir [Elektroda, 11218450] Large MTU on PPPoE lines can also stall traffic; reduce to 1492 if needed.

Can two WR740N units form a seamless roaming network?

Yes. Put each on non-overlapping channels (1/6/11), same SSID, WPA2 key, and disable DHCP on the secondary. Clients will roam by RSSI; expect up to 5 s hand-off delay on legacy devices [Cisco Whitepaper, 2021].

Is there a speed penalty when using WDS?

Throughput halves because the radio must receive and retransmit each frame on the same channel. Tests show 37 Mbps drops to 18 Mbps on 150 Mbps-rated gear [SmallNetBuilder, 2020]. Heavy streaming may stutter on 802.11n 20 MHz links.

What distance can a stable 2.4 GHz WDS link cover?

With stock antennas, expect 30–40 m indoors and up to 120 m line-of-sight at −65 dBm RSSI [TP-Link Lab, 2022]. Adding 5 dBi external antennas extends range by about 60 %.

How do I revert to stock firmware if DD-WRT isn’t for me?

Download the TP-Link “webrevert” image for your hardware revision, flash from DD-WRT’s GUI, then factory-reset. If the router becomes unresponsive, hold the reset button, power on, and upload the stock image via TFTP; recovery success rate exceeds 95 % in lab tests [OpenWrt Docs, 2023].
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