two routers networked wirelessly?

duigoose · 03-14-2009, 12:36 PM

Hello everyone. New to this forum and it seems technology has passed me by. I was suffering from very poor wireless signal downstairs so I purchased a new router (Belkin model F5D8236-4 v1) (Firmware 1.00.02 Jul 31 2008 22:32:30). This router is connected to the Westell model E90-610010-06 DSL modem from Hawaiian Telcom.
I moved my 'old' router, a Linksys WRT54G (firmware V.21.1) downstairs with the intent of making it like a wireless extender (excuse my terminology). I assigned the linksys a static ip of x.x.2.90, subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 and gateway of x.x.2.1 which is the ip of the belkin router. The belkin is the dhcp server of course. They are on the same channel and both using WEP with the same key. The Belkin is acting as a gateway and the Linksys is set to router.
The upstairs and downstairs computers and the PS3 all connect to the network (I'll save those issues for another post) and to the internet. My signal strength goes from around 12 Mbps with just the belkin to 54 Mbps when the Linksys is connected.
My problem is, I thought the Linksys would connect to the Belkin wirelessly thus extending my range without wires. It does not. I have to connect the two routers together via cable. Am I missing something? I don't really like the ethernet cable going thru two hallways and down two flights of stairs.
Thanks!!

alpenadiver · 03-15-2009, 06:32 AM

You put the linksys in wireless repeater mode, here's a howto:
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

duigoose · 03-15-2009, 05:30 PM

Thanks for a response but that looks like it would apply if I was connecting a WAP54G to the WRT54G. I don't have a WAP54G, I want the WRT54G to apparently act like a WAP54G.
To sum up, I want the WRT54G to act as a repeater for the Belkin.

Coolie11 · 03-15-2009, 08:39 PM

What you are trying to do is not posible with the WRT54G,
what you could do, is run an ethernet cable from the new router to the WRT54G and set it to gateway mode, then you will be able to use it as a wireless access point.

Or you can buy a Wireless Extender/Repeater.

duigoose · 03-15-2009, 09:28 PM

ok, hardware limitation, that makes me feel a little better (other than needing to buy more stuff)
coolie11, thanks, that is the way i have it set up now which is why i want to rid myself of the wires connecting the routers. didn't know if i could 'get there from here'.

03-14-2009, 12:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
duigoose Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: XP sp3	two routers networked wirelessly? Hello everyone. New to this forum and it seems technology has passed me by. I was suffering from very poor wireless signal downstairs so I purchased a new router (Belkin model F5D8236-4 v1) (Firmware 1.00.02 Jul 31 2008 22:32:30). This router is connected to the Westell model E90-610010-06 DSL modem from Hawaiian Telcom. I moved my 'old' router, a Linksys WRT54G (firmware V.21.1) downstairs with the intent of making it like a wireless extender (excuse my terminology). I assigned the linksys a static ip of x.x.2.90, subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 and gateway of x.x.2.1 which is the ip of the belkin router. The belkin is the dhcp server of course. They are on the same channel and both using WEP with the same key. The Belkin is acting as a gateway and the Linksys is set to router. The upstairs and downstairs computers and the PS3 all connect to the network (I'll save those issues for another post) and to the internet. My signal strength goes from around 12 Mbps with just the belkin to 54 Mbps when the Linksys is connected. My problem is, I thought the Linksys would connect to the Belkin wirelessly thus extending my range without wires. It does not. I have to connect the two routers together via cable. Am I missing something? I don't really like the ethernet cable going thru two hallways and down two flights of stairs. Thanks!!

03-15-2009, 06:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
alpenadiver Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Alpena, Michigan Posts: 346 OS: Windows XP Pro, Windows 7 My System	Re: two routers networked wirelessly? You put the linksys in wireless repeater mode, here's a howto: http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

03-15-2009, 05:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
duigoose Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: XP sp3	Re: two routers networked wirelessly? Thanks for a response but that looks like it would apply if I was connecting a WAP54G to the WRT54G. I don't have a WAP54G, I want the WRT54G to apparently act like a WAP54G. To sum up, I want the WRT54G to act as a repeater for the Belkin.

03-15-2009, 08:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Coolie11 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Win XP	Re: two routers networked wirelessly? What you are trying to do is not posible with the WRT54G, what you could do, is run an ethernet cable from the new router to the WRT54G and set it to gateway mode, then you will be able to use it as a wireless access point. Or you can buy a Wireless Extender/Repeater.

03-15-2009, 09:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
duigoose Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: XP sp3	Re: two routers networked wirelessly? ok, hardware limitation, that makes me feel a little better (other than needing to buy more stuff) coolie11, thanks, that is the way i have it set up now which is why i want to rid myself of the wires connecting the routers. didn't know if i could 'get there from here'.