strange nonservice behind repeater / switch

[withoutname]

I am trying to set up a wired/wireless network and I am having some problems. Here is my current configuration:

---> wired
~~~> wireless
-~-> both

Cable Inet ---> WRT54G (192.168.1.1) -~-> 1 pcs 1 wireless laptop
........................ ^~~~> DWL-G710 repeater (192.168.1.2)
.....................................^---> WRK54G (as swtich) (192.168.1.3)
...............................................^-~-> 3 wired pcs 1 wireless laptop

WRK/T are linksys
DWL is D-Link
WRT54G uses WPA-PSK security
WRK54G has dhcp disabled, nat disabled and wireless disabled (in an attempt to turn it into a pure switch - done because its dated hardware and available)
DWL-G710 repeats the WRT54G wireless network.

The DWL-G710 is peer connected to the WRK54 using a LAN port and not the WAN port.

What works:
Wireless laptops can connect through either AP and use the shared key to access the network and extra-net. Checked with vista connecting to avail mac addys.
The wired pcs on the WRT54G also have full access.
The wired pcs behind the WRK54G receive ips(192.168.1.103 etc.), proper dns (xxx.xxxcable.xxx), proper gateway ip (192.168.1.1) and leases. These leases show up in the WRT54G status->client tab with proper pc names and mac addys.

What doesn't work:
The wired pcs behind the router(as switch) have no local net/extra net access. They cant ping the dns or even their gateway. (Even though their ipconfig is complete and proper.) I suspect this is a result of the wireless security that the pcs on my switch are unable to deal with. (I assume that the repeater would add/peel this layer of security away? Am I wrong?)

So my questions are: Any ideas how to resolve this issue (without running cables, I would if I could)? Is there a security layer I need to add on the pc side for compatibility? Or should I just try and make wired/wireless network bridge (and how should I go about doing it in my situation)?

Thx.

[johnwill]

Are you connected to the WRK54G WAN port? If so, try just using the WAN ports and leave the LAN port open.

[withoutname]

Tried that, I get even less functionality. I'm thinking D-Link and linksys dont play well together.

[johnwill]

Connected to the WAN port of that router, you have the NAT layer in the way, that's the root of the issue. Here's the correct way to use that secondary router as a wireless switch/AP.

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).