Setting up two wireless routers on the same network

[skynarc]

Hi,

I have an older DGN2000 that I am trying to set up as a secondary Access Point in my house but not able to get right.

I have read a number of posts, so this is what I have done so far.

• Modem 1 - Set to IP range 10.0.0.3 to 10.0.0.100
• Modem 1 - Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
• Modem 1 - Channel = auto
• Modem 2 (DGN2000) - Setup in modem mode
• Modem 2 (DGN2000) - IP address 10.0.0.2
• Modem 2 (DGN2000) - Channel = 11

I´m following instructions from these pages.
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/routers/f/two_routers.htm
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/routers/a/how-to-connect-two-routers-on-a-home-network.htm

I´m not sure if I am missing a step somewhere or perhaps it´s a problem with the DGN2000 not being able to bridge (is that the right term to use?)

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/199016-DGN2000-bridge-mode

Anyway, I hope someone might be able to point me in the right direction please?

Thanks

EDIT:

Both routers need to be on the same network as Wifi Networks (not hard wired). Basically the DGN2000 needs to be a repeater of the first modem.

 

[krieg]

Why not put the second modem in repeater mode, then you only have one wireless network instead of two?

 

[DominionZA]

I have been fiddling with this kind of setup for a while and think I finally have it right.
I have seen recommendations to use channels 1,6 and 11 for complete separation.

My setup involves 3 x wireless access points dotted around the house. Initially I just gave them all the same SSID with a suffix of 2.4 and 5 for the relevant bands. I did not focus on channels much (left them on auto due to ignorance).
While it worked - and I could roam around the house and stay connected - I frequently had drop outs with no connection for a few seconds, and it was a bit slow.

On Tues I got fed up and did quite a bit of research on a multi wifi home setup, and this is what I ended up with.

Router 1: 192.168.1.10 channel 1 on 2.4Ghz and 32 on 5Ghz
Router 2: 192.168.1.11 channel 6 on 2.4Ghz. No 5Ghz here.
Router 3: 192.168.1.12 channel 11 on 2.4Ghz and 140 on 5Ghz
NB: All 3 are hardwired via ethernet to each other. Recommended too.

All 3 have the exact same security setup and identical SSID (both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz).

I used wifi analyser on my phone to check channel separation and interference with neighbours.

Since doing this I have noticed a huge improvement in performance on the network with wireless devices - and roaming is seamless.
My Asus N66U (running Tomato) shows the link speed negotiated with clients. Before it never went above 40mbps. I am now seeing between 300 and 450mbps speeds negotiated!
Unfortunately the 2.4Ghz band on the Asus reports severe interference (5Ghz reports acceptable). Wifi analyser shows all is good and speeds still seem to be fine so not bothered to troubleshoot this - yet.

I did the wifi extender thing a while back and did not like it. I found speeds to be very slow on the extenders. Could have been a bad setup due to ignorance, or faulty extender somewhere. Not sure.

Hope this helps somewhat.

 

[isie]

Hi,

I have an older DGN2000 that I am trying to set up as a secondary Access Point in my house but not able to get right.

I have read a number of posts, so this is what I have done so far.

• Modem 1 - Set to IP range 10.0.0.3 to 10.0.0.100
• Modem 1 - Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
• Modem 1 - Channel = auto
• Modem 2 (DGN2000) - Setup in modem mode
• Modem 2 (DGN2000) - IP address 10.0.0.2
• Modem 2 (DGN2000) - Channel = 11

I´m following instructions from these pages.
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/routers/f/two_routers.htm
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/routers/a/how-to-connect-two-routers-on-a-home-network.htm

I´m not sure if I am missing a step somewhere or perhaps it´s a problem with the DGN2000 not being able to bridge (is that the right term to use?)

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/199016-DGN2000-bridge-mode

Anyway, I hope someone might be able to point me in the right direction please?

Thanks

Are you trying to connect the 2 Routers via WiFi or will they be joined via ethernet cable?

 

[GforceD]

Why not put the second modem in repeater mode, then you only have one wireless network instead of two?

this^
anything else just sounds like a lot of work.

 

[skynarc]

Hi Krieg, that exactly what I am after. Forgive the misunderstanding
I've added an edit to my initial post

 

[isie]

Hi
I see your problems:

Modem 1 - Channel = auto
Modem 2 (DGN2000) - Setup in modem mode

Modem 2 is you wifi extender?, it should be in Router mode

Modem 2
Modem 1 should have a defined Chanel so if modem 2 is set at 11 set Modem 1 to between 1, and 9 get a wifi app to scan what your neighbours are using and avoid those channels- its probably fine in Auto but if it Auto assigns channel 11 you have a problem.

 

[krieg]

Ok, so in the DGN2000 config page under wireless, what modes can you set the router to? There should be options like "Access Point", "Wireless Bridge" etc. Basicly what you want to do is set the second router to repeater mode, it should be able to scan the wireless networks (main router) it picks up. Simply select your first router's SSID. The second router is basicly just a dumb repeater is just serves as an access point, all the security, routing, firewalls config needs to be done on the main router.

 

[Tim the Techxpert]

Hi There,
I am with isie on this one. Also follow what krieg says.
It is essential that you have them running in different channels or you will get quiet areas where the device you are using does not know who to talk to

Regards

Tim

 

[murraybiscuit]

Ok, so in the DGN2000 config page under wireless, what modes can you set the router to? There should be options like "Access Point", "Wireless Bridge" etc. Basicly what you want to do is set the second router to repeater mode, it should be able to scan the wireless networks (main router) it picks up. Simply select your first router's SSID. The second router is basicly just a dumb repeater is just serves as an access point, all the security, routing, firewalls config needs to be done on the main router.

Wireless bridge. Start your router 1's ip assignment from .10 so you have some room for more static ip's in future.

 

[skynarc]

Hi
I see your problems:


Modem 2 is you wifi extender?, it should be in Router mode

Modem 2
Modem 1 should have a defined Chanel so if modem 2 is set at 11 set Modem 1 to between 1, and 9 get a wifi app to scan what your neighbours are using and avoid those channels- its probably fine in Auto but if it Auto assigns channel 11 you have a problem.

Thanks Isie, and everyone else.
Half my problem is not knowing if the DGN 2000 can actually do what I need it to do?
I've read a lot on this, and there are mixed opinions on the topic.
I'm just wondering if I should be spending the time on it, if the router doesn't support the ability to repeat?

I will try this suggestion anyway and see if I come right but if someone could confirm the above for me, it would save us all a lot of time

Thank you

 

[krieg]

It is possible!

http://documentation.netgear.com/dgn2000/enu/202-10390-01/DGN2000_RM_4Aug08-07-17.html

 

[skynarc]

Ok, so in the DGN2000 config page under wireless, what modes can you set the router to? There should be options like "Access Point", "Wireless Bridge" etc. Basicly what you want to do is set the second router to repeater mode, it should be able to scan the wireless networks (main router) it picks up. Simply select your first router's SSID. The second router is basicly just a dumb repeater is just serves as an access point, all the security, routing, firewalls config needs to be done on the main router.

Ok, I have followed Isie´s instructions but I still don´t see what would make the one talk to the other? I´m therefore assuming it must what Krieg is suggesting which is to set it up in Bridged or Access Point mode which would then make sense.

I am not sure if Bridged mode means that I need to hardwire the two routers, which is what I am trying to avoid? The two need to be speaking to each other wirelessly.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[krieg]

The second router needs to be in "repeater" mode. It does not get an IP address, it does not give out addresses, it does not do routing, it does not get a different channel etc, it only does repeating. So it simply scans for the network you selected and bounces any info to and from the main router.

Can you go into your config page and post the options under wireless mode?

 

[skynarc]

It is possible!

http://documentation.netgear.com/dgn2000/enu/202-10390-01/DGN2000_RM_4Aug08-07-17.html

Thanks Krieg, I´ve followed these instructions too but my configuration is slightly different.

Modem 1 is a newer Telkom modem
Modem 2 is the old DGN2000 I want to use as the repeater.

These instructions are great, but the other way around?

 

[skynarc]

The second router needs to be in "repeater" mode. It does not get an IP address, it does not give out addresses, it does not do routing, it does not get a different channel etc, it only does repeating. So it simply scans for the network you selected and bounces any info to and from the main router.

Can you go into your config page and post the options under wireless mode?

Hi Krieg,

Here is a screenshot of the settings

Hope that helps?

 

[FlatspinZA]

It is possible!

http://documentation.netgear.com/dgn2000/enu/202-10390-01/DGN2000_RM_4Aug08-07-17.html

^ From this, you need to know the MAC address of your main AP.

"In the repeater mode with wireless client association, the DGN2000 modem router sends all traffic
to a remote AP. For the repeater mode, you must enter the MAC address of the remote “parent”
access point."

"Configure AP 2 with the MAC address of AP 1 in the Remote MAC Address field." AP2 being your DGN 2000, and AP 1 being your Telkom router.

 

[krieg]

Hi

From the screenshot it looks like it's in access point mode. Is there another page besides that one with wireless settings on it?

You can identify it as an access point, because of the ssid, password etc it requires.

Don't put any identifiable info in your network name. I guess that's your adress.

 

[isie]

I am not sure if Bridged mode means that I need to hardwire the two routers, which is what I am trying to avoid? The two need to be speaking to each other wirelessly.

.

hence my first posts question. AFAIK The problem i have learned with most standard router firmware they not meant to be connected wireless, you need to flash your router with something like ddwrt, problem is i don't think DDWRT is compatible wih your router.
Only option is connect them via ethernet cable

 

[FlatspinZA]

hence my first posts question. AFAIK The problem i have learned with most standard router firmware they not meant to be connected wireless, you need to flash your router with something like ddwrt, problem is i don't think DDWRT is compatible wih your router.
Only option is connect them via ethernet cable

According to the manual, there should be an option for repeater mode, it's just a little more complex than scanning for wireless networks and entering a password as is the case with the Asus routers I have installed in this fashion.