Can I tie 2 wireless routers together?

Jim · 2005-01-12, 11:30 AM

OK, I am moving as "everyone" knows by now. The house is big and we have quite a few PCs. So, I have 2 cable modems setup. I bought a new wireless router with a repeater and another wireless router exactly the same as the one with the repeater.

http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=4835662

So, is there a way to make both routers work with this repeater? Or I gues, the PC's to work with both routers.

cd34 · 2005-01-12, 12:53 PM

If I am understanding what you are asking, the short answer is no.

Basically 1 router + two repeaters would work. Then, everything goes through 1 cable modem.

2 routers + two repeaters would work, but, your PCs would be on separate networks.

What I would do:

Buy an Ethernet crossover Cable
patch the two boxes together
Set IP on 1 as 192.168.0.1
Set IP on 2 as 192.168.0.2
Set SSID on 1 as JAVES1
set SSID on 2 as JAVES2

set up DHCP on 1 so that the pool is 192.168.0.32-63

set up DHCP on 2 so that the pool is 192.168.0.64-95

This way, machines on one side of the net can still see the other side of the wireless net.

since they are in the same subnet, and chained together with the crossover cable, as long as every machine is in the same workgroup, you should be set.

Unless your house is massive (more than 300' or so to the router), I would be surprised if you needed the repeater anyhow. The way the repeater works is that it just takes 1 SSID and rebroadcasts it. I do not believe it will rebroadcast more than 1 SSID.

Cleo · 2005-01-12, 12:55 PM

Your best bet is to set the 2nd router to be on a static IP on the WAN side.

Assuming that your first router is set to the usual IP setup set the second one to 192.168.1.100 as its IP and set its gateway to 192.168.1.1 with the subnet mask set to 255.255.255.0.

You may also need to give it DNS servers. If you do just log into your first router to see what they are and then give these to your second router.

Cleo · 2005-01-12, 12:59 PM

CD34's answer I'm sure is more correct but I have gotten it to work with my answer.

Jim · 2005-01-12, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cd34
If I am understanding what you are asking, the short answer is no.

Basically 1 router + two repeaters would work. Then, everything goes through 1 cable modem.

2 routers + two repeaters would work, but, your PCs would be on separate networks.

What I would do:

Buy an Ethernet crossover Cable
patch the two boxes together
Set IP on 1 as 192.168.0.1
Set IP on 2 as 192.168.0.2
Set SSID on 1 as JAVES1
set SSID on 2 as JAVES2

set up DHCP on 1 so that the pool is 192.168.0.32-63

set up DHCP on 2 so that the pool is 192.168.0.64-95

This way, machines on one side of the net can still see the other side of the wireless net.

since they are in the same subnet, and chained together with the crossover cable, as long as every machine is in the same workgroup, you should be set.

Unless your house is massive (more than 300' or so to the router), I would be surprised if you needed the repeater anyhow. The way the repeater works is that it just takes 1 SSID and rebroadcasts it. I do not believe it will rebroadcast more than 1 SSID.

Holy Shit...How soon can you be here

zack2004 · 2005-01-12, 03:07 PM

Hooking the two routers together assumes they are close to each other (if they are on different ends of the house, running a wire defeats the purpose of a wireless network)
I like the kiss (keep it simple stupid!) rule for networking. Unless you have over 254 nodes on your network you do not need two routers.
300 feet is the maximum range under ideal conditions: no walls, no cielings, no concret. The repeater is what extends the range of your network to overcome these obstacles.
I found that after setting up the router I can walk around the building with my laptop and monitor the signal strength on the wireless nic. When I see the signal start droping below acceptable levels that is where the repeater is needed.
The repeater does not need a computer hooked up to it (except for configuration), so it can be placed anywhere you have a power outlet. You can use more the one repeater per router as long as you give each one a unique ip address that is not in the dhcp scope.
Since you have two cable modems you might consider setting up two indepndent wireless networks, one for you and one for the family. This can be done by changing the internal network address of the second router and giving the network a unique ssid.
Or you can return the second modem and router and get your money back!