Adding a wireless router to a router modem

Kei · 5 Oct 2012 at 18:10

I just bought a tplink TL-WR1043ND to use in conjunction with my existing netgear DG834. Problem is I can't get the two working together properly. I've tried running the DG834 in modem only mode, but couldn't get a net connection. I've tried running it with the DG834 plugged into the lan port of the tplink with dhcp turned off on the tplink. Whilst this sort of worked, I can't access the front end to configure anything. Tried accessing it via wireless and i still can't get at the front end.

My goal was to use the DG834 as a modem and use the tplink for everything else. What have I missed, or doing wrong?

Kei · 5 Oct 2012 at 18:59

ISP is metronet which connects via PPPoA.

Kei · 5 Oct 2012 at 19:25

The netgear is antique and pre wireless so haven't got any of that to deal with. I assume that i cannot run the dg834 into the WAN port on the tplink.

The ip range for the netgear is 192.168.0.2 - 192.168.0.254 The tp link ip is 192.168.1.1

Kei · 5 Oct 2012 at 22:38

how did you configure the WAN section on the asus? (assuming you're using an ADSL connection via PPPoA)

I'm presently running the tplink as a switch which is really depressing as it's only giving me 100mbps. I at least get internet and all the wireless devices work too which is a start.

Kei · 6 Oct 2012 at 16:53

Cheers for the image, very helpful. Did you merely switch the DG834 into modem only mode and just configure the asus router or did you make any changes to the 834 config like it's ip address etc?

Kei · 6 Oct 2012 at 18:22

Oddly enough i've just changed the ip on the dg834 to 192.168.0.100 (subnet of 255.255.255.0) and reset the tplink to defaults and all of a sudden it auto detected the dg834 on the WAN port via dynamic IP. Presumably this isn't a good idea as i have nat, dhcp and firewalls on both routers. The internet works fine presently both wired & wireless devices. Attempting to change the tplink ip address to 192.168.0.1 (255.255.255.0 subnet) results in an error:

Error code: 5008
WAN IP address and LAN IP address cannot be in a same subnet. Please input another IP address.

This is how the config panel for the tplink looks atm.

This is the dg834 lan ip page.

Kei · 7 Oct 2012 at 20:52

Azuse05 said:
If you have dgteam firmware then modem only is a selectable option. If you use the official firmware then it's hidden (http://vpncasestudy.com/download/DG/DG834_Tips100.pdf) - this is not rocket science.

The best way to handle ips is separate them i.e keep the modem on 192.168.0.1/255.255.255.0 and router on 192.168.1.1/255.255.255.0 which should work on any recent router (Asus use a modified tomato code for their firmware which is why it "just works" for you andy however your MTU should be 1500).

As for the op connect the dg to your laptop/pc, get that dg into modem mode, double check the lan ip is 192.168.0.1/wifi is off and plug it back into the phone socket.
Now connect lan port 1 on the dg to the wan port on the tp.
Connect your laptop to your router and set it up i.e. put it's ip back to 192.168.1., enable dhcp, sort your dns so it isn't pointing at the router but an actual dns server and enter your isp details under the wan option.

It should then just be a case of restarting the modem, router and renewing the lease of your devices (I've sometimes found restarting windows the only way to get things working).

Done as per this post and i no longer have an internet connection. Setting the dg834 to modem only mode seems to kill it stone dead. The tp link just sits there with the WAN status saying connecting. The dg seems to negotiate the line as the i light blinks orange for a few seconds before turning green.

The tplink wan is set to pppoe with the isp username and password set. Secondary connection is disabled, mtu is 1480 by default (i've also tried 1458 which was the dg default), service name & ac name are blank, use specified ip is off, detect online interval is 0 and no specific dns servers are set.

If i go back to running it via dynamic ip with both routers enabled (which works perfectly as far as i can see), what should i turn off on the dg? (Nat, upnp etc)

Kei · 7 Oct 2012 at 23:48

Can't get an internet connection with the dg834 in modem only mode as the tp link is unable to connect via pppoe even though the settings i've put in are correct. It doesn't give me any failure messages or errors it just stays at connecting.