I set up my netgear router with dd-wrt, sp2. I followed this tutorial to set the router up to repeat my fios main router: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Client_Bridged. I am able to connect to the internet via ethernet. the wireless light is on, but when I go to connect to the wireless, I only see my main router. when I check the mac address of the wi-fi ap, it is my main fios router. I don't think my wireless is working/putting out a signal, even though the light is on. not sure where to go from here. i have my netgear router set to client bridge (routed) and default gateway is the fios router address. I put the same name of the main router.

Try getting access to it and see what interfaces are available + print out what dmesg or lspci to see if its listed.

In client bridge mode the router basically acts like a wireless adapter for any device connected to its LAN port. In this mode the device is not a wireless access point.

Repeater mode will create a secondary wireless access point that extends the range of the main router wireless. No devices are connected to the LAN ports.

Repeater bridge mode will act like both a repeater and a client bridge.

So which mode to you want to use?

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Repeater_Bridge

so I just follow the Broadcom instructions on the page then?

Depends on the wireless chipset in your router.

These are the only options I see for wi-fi modes. Which one do I want? I don't see repeater bridge.

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Does not appear like your DD-WRT version supports repeater or repeater bridge modes. What is the model number for you Netgear.
The repeater functions may not be available with the version that supports your router.

WNDR3700. Should I try something else, like PFsense then?

PFsense is for X86 no? Have you tried posting on the DD-WRT forums for help?

You also have the option of OpenWRT and Tomato.

I post on there, but they seem to get removed - not sure why. I heard good things about openwrt. will that allow me to accomplish this?

Does not look like the WNDR3700 can be used as a repeater.

not even with another firmware? why is that?

Sniper have you looked at this? http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/netgear/wndr3700

I do not know exactly. Could be the wireless chipset.
I found a few threads on this topic at the DD-WRT website.

The other thing is repeater may be the wrong term: client bridge might be better? Are you attempting to do a wireless bridge and have the second router direct the traffic to the original AP?

Edit::: I actually think you want a client bridge(routed)