I've had the same problem and this is how I solved it.
I followed this guide on creating a wireless bridge. You can either look at that page and/or follow my advice here.
1. Your primary router just needs to be a wireless router of any brand and model.
2. The router you have downstairs needs to be compatible with DD-WRT firmware. Check here on the DD-WRT website to see if your Linksys is compatible. If it isn't compatible, then either buy a router that is compatible or disregard this solution.
3. After finding your router on the DD-WRT router database page click on the router, and then click on "Mini generic" or "Standard generic" to download the firmware and save to Desktop.
4. See the installation guide at the DD-WRT wiki in order to install DD-WRT firmware. Scroll down to "Method 1: Flashing with Web GUI." The instructions are too specific and complicated for me to post here. Follow the instructions EXACTLY!
5. Now that DD-WRT firmware is installed go to Control
Panel/Network Connections/Local Area Connection/Properties. Scroll down
to Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties. Now click Use the Following IP Address and enter
192.168.1.2 as the IP,
255.255.255.0 as the Subnet Mask, and
192.168.1.1 as the Default Gateway.
6. Open your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox etc.) and enter "192.168.1.1". The default login is root and password is admin.
7. Click Setup/Basic Setup. Scroll down to Network Address Server Settings (DHCP).
Click to disable DHCP. This will prevent the bridged router from
assigning addresses, which will be the function of the primary router.
8. Click Wireless/Basic Settings. For Wireless Mode select "Client Bridge." Select "Mixed" for Wireless Network Mode.
9. Click Wireless/Wireless Security. For Security Mode, select the appropriate choice that matches your primary router - either none, WEP, WPA or WPA2 and fill in the appropriate password etc. Make sure this matches exactly or the bridge won't work.
10. Click Status/Wireless. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you'll
see a button labeled "Site Survey." You now need to associate this
router to your primary router to create the bridge.
11. Click the Site Survey button, and a window pops up showing available wireless networks.
12. Select "Join" on the SSID that matches your primary router. Close your web browser.
13. Go to Control
Panel/Network Connections/Local Area Connection/Properties. Scroll down
to Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties. Select "Obtain IP Address Automatically".
14. Unplug network cable, wait 15 seconds, and plug cable back in. Wait another 15-30 seconds and test the bridge by attempting to connect to the internet from your downstairs computer. If it connects to the internet, then congratulations you've successfully setup a wireless bridge!
If it doesn't work:
1. Disable wireless security on your primary router temporarily and then select none for step 9 on your bridged router.
2. Make sure MAC filtering is disabled on your primary router.
Good luck and thanks for using FixYa. Please post back if you have questions.
The router does not work that way, get a wireless card, or wireless USB for the downstairs computer.
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different situation, same solution though. I ended up finding the software download and converted the original wireless router into a bridge. Works well with slightly older linksys products.
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