[SOLVED] Wireless network with wireless router as an access point

[samwise141]

I live in a large house. The main wireless router is 3 floors below my room. I used the crappy signal I would get for too long, so I decided to do something about it. I looked around and the best way to boost a wireless signal is using another access point. There is a few rooms on the third floor that have wired access and I was wondering if I could just take a wireless router plug it into the wall and connect if that would work. Well I tried and it didn't work. The network is password protected but I didn't think that mattered unless you were trying to connect from wireless. There was no password needed to connect to the other wireless router I setup only a few rooms away from mine, but I still had no internet. Any suggestions? I'll post the routers im using if its any help to you guys.

[johnwill]

If you connect the router using the following configuration to one of the wired jacks, it should work. Note that depending on the routers involved, you may need to use a crossover cable to make the connection.

Note that it's ALWAYS handy to have exact details of the configuration and hardware make/model numbers.



Connecting two (or more) SOHO broadband routers together.

Note: The "primary" router can be an actual router, a software gateway like Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing, or a server connection that has the capability to supply more than one IP address using DHCP server capability. No changes are made to the primary "router" configuration.

Configure the IP address of the secondary router(s) to be in the same subnet as the primary router, but out of the range of the DHCP server in the primary router. For instance DHCP server addresses 192.168.0.2 through 192.168.0.100, I'd assign the secondary router 192.168.0.254 as it's IP address, 192.168.0.253 for another router, etc.

Note: Do this first, as you will have to reboot the computer to connect to the router again for the remaining changes.

Disable the DHCP server in the secondary router.

Setup the wireless section just the way you would if it was the primary router, channels, encryption, etc.

Connect from the primary router's LAN port to one of the LAN ports on the secondary router. If there is no uplink port and neither of the routers have auto-sensing ports, use a cross-over cable. Leave the WAN port unconnected!

This procedure bypasses the routing function (NAT layer) and configures the router as a switch (or wireless access point for wireless routers).

For reference, here's a link to a Typical example config using a Netgear router

[samwise141]

Thank you!!! I followed your instructions and it worked. No more crap internet in my room anymore!

[johnwill]

Glad it all worked out.