Internet (DSL) Problem with 2 routers

Tchesco · 07-07-2008, 08:42 PM

before my desktop was assembled, i had a wireless router that only covered about half of the house. This wireless network reaches my laptop and xbox, but does not reach the desktop because it is out of the range of the wireless signals since the wireless router is on the other side of the house. Then i came up with the idea that i could use an old 2wire router that's not wireless, on my desktop via ethernet. I purchased a DSL phone line splitter filter, and a 50 ft phone line cable (the same things that are used on the wireless router). I installed everything but the router says that there is no broadband signal coming in, while the wireless router works fine without any problems. is there an issue with 2 routers working at the same time?

lazareth1 · 07-08-2008, 01:08 AM

Unfortunatly, this won't work because you will have 1 DSL line and 1 phone line so only 1 device can use the internet line.

A solution to your problem would be to connect one of the 2wire router network ports to a ethernet port of the wirless router with broadband with a cross-over ethernet cable.

johnwill · 07-08-2008, 07:43 AM

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).

07-07-2008, 08:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tchesco Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 56 OS: Desktop: Vista 32Bit Laptop: MacOSX Leopard My System	Internet (DSL) Problem with 2 routers before my desktop was assembled, i had a wireless router that only covered about half of the house. This wireless network reaches my laptop and xbox, but does not reach the desktop because it is out of the range of the wireless signals since the wireless router is on the other side of the house. Then i came up with the idea that i could use an old 2wire router that's not wireless, on my desktop via ethernet. I purchased a DSL phone line splitter filter, and a 50 ft phone line cable (the same things that are used on the wireless router). I installed everything but the router says that there is no broadband signal coming in, while the wireless router works fine without any problems. is there an issue with 2 routers working at the same time? Last edited by Tchesco : 07-07-2008 at 08:51 PM.

07-08-2008, 01:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
lazareth1 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hong Kong, previously Fife in Bonnie Scotland Posts: 1,066 OS: Vista SP1, Ultimate My System	Re: Internet (DSL) Problem with 2 routers Unfortunatly, this won't work because you will have 1 DSL line and 1 phone line so only 1 device can use the internet line. A solution to your problem would be to connect one of the 2wire router network ports to a ethernet port of the wirless router with broadband with a cross-over ethernet cable. __________________ "Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted" JAFFA KREE!! Peace Through Power!!

07-08-2008, 07:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,468 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Internet (DSL) Problem with 2 routers 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). __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience