wireless router as bridge?
I have a problem using two wireless routers on my network, need to program second router only as a bridge. I have wireless internet from my first router (main one) in my house in the 1st floor, when I add to my network in the 2nd floor another wireless router it gives me network problems, I believe I need to configure the 2nd router so it only works as a bridge (is bridge the right word or meaning?), how can I do this? please help me. In my network, first there is the cable modem and then the first or main router, from this 1st router many cables come out to many switches for ip cameras and for xbox, but I canot seem to install a wireless router 2nd one) in the 2nd floor of my house, how can I do this???? Please explain me. The first router is a Belkin brand and the second one is a Dlink brand, do I have to configure the 1st router (main one, Belkin brand)? or only the second one?
The second wireless router is connected through cable (not wireless) from the 1st router.
3 Responses
jon144au
31 Aug 2010
steve_loir
31 Aug 2010
You need quite a good understanding of IP addressing and networks to do this.
Essentially you need the second router to use another network address for its downstream connections. The first you leave as it is.
BigE
31 Aug 2010
jon is right. You aren’t bridging, but converting the second router into a wireless AP or access point. You might be able to google that for procedures on the exact brand and model you are converting. You might need to cross over the ethernet line, I am never sure that the automatic detection works correctly. Just plug in the straight through (lan to lan) and if it doesn’t light up, you will need to cross it over.
a bridge is a dedicated wireless connection between two routers.
what you actually want is WDS (wireless distribution service) that allows the two routers to connect wirelessly, but also serve as wireless access points for other devices on your network.
unfortunately, the operating systems that came with your routers won’t have this ability… you would need to flash a new operating system onto the routers like DD-WRT.
check here to see if your routers are flashable: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices
Your easiest solution is to run a cat5 cable to the router on the 2nd floor.
EDIT: if they are connected with a wire, all you need to do is:
1) make sure you are plugged into router #2′s LAN ports… not the WAN port
2) set the IP address on router #2 to a fixed address, usually i give it the next number after router #1′s number, like 192.168.1.2
3) turn off DHCP on router #2
4) name the ssid on router #2 the exact same as that on router #1
5) set router #2 to a different wireless channel than router #1. i usually pick a channel that is at least 3 channels different than router #1