Connecting ADSL Modem to router without WAN port?

rudeboymcc · 19 Apr 2007 at 20:45

Hi. My router (Belkin F5D7633 adsl modem/router) keeps dropping the internet connection for a minute every so often and it's getting annoying.

I have a Dlink adsl modem which is very stable and want to use it with this router.

How do I set the Belkin up for this? It doesn't have any WAN ports at the back, just a 4 port switch.

I've set the Dlink modem to bridge mode (that's how i had it before when i used a dlink router with a wan port).

And I've set the Belkin to PPPoE mode with the correct username and password but i'm guessing it's just trying to use its internal modem rather than the dlink.

Is this even possible?

csmager · 19 Apr 2007 at 21:25

rudeboymcc said:
Is this even possible?

No - not unless you set the D-Link to a 'router' mode and completely stop using the Belkin as a router. This would only be of use if the Belkin had some other useful functionality - like Wireless.

rudeboymcc · 19 Apr 2007 at 21:36

The dlink is only a modem and doens't have a router mode.

Forgot to mentiont hat hte Belkin is a wireless router so that's why I need it.

I can get the dlink to connect to the internet by itself (putting the username and password into the modem) and it works fine with my computer plugged into the modem.

surely then if i plug my computer and the modem into a router they would be joined and should work?

Otherwise the only other option is to use my dlink router (which has a wan port) to connect the modem to, then connect the dlink router to the wireless belkin router.

is this the route i'm gonna have to take without changing the belkin router?

csmager · 19 Apr 2007 at 21:39

That route would work. 3 bits of kit to do the job of one(!)

If it's the same DLink Modem I have (can't remember the model, exactly - 300T?), there's actually some Russian firmware that will let it do router mode (I think!). Possibly not best to head that way though...

rudeboymcc · 19 Apr 2007 at 21:43

it's the dsl-300G+
I'm pretty good with computers (just not with complicated networks) so if there is a russian solution then it';s a good one!

I still dont understand the theory though. Say the modem is in router mode, why would i have to stop the belkin from being a router? (and how will wireless comptuers connect to the internet through the belkin if it's not acting as a router?)

csmager · 19 Apr 2007 at 21:47

Whichever device (modem, or the d-link router) is acting as router will also be acting as DHCP server - handing out addresses and (cruicially) where the pcs look to (gateway) and how to resolve dns names.

The belkin will just act as a normal wireless access point - it's fairly transparent. All wireless clients will be able to connect to the actual routing device as normal.

rudeboymcc · 19 Apr 2007 at 21:52

ok, well *** dlink modem doens';t have an option to turn it's DHCP server off.
and there are no other settings that I can configure with it like sending ports to certain comptueres etc (which the belkin can do).

so in an effort to keep the belkin's dhcp capabilities, can i not just switch it to use 10.0.0.1 as the addrss? the dlink uses 192.168.0.1 (and i can't change it), so surely they'll be hidden from eachotehr as they're on a differnet subnet mask?

csmager · 19 Apr 2007 at 21:58

The D-Link Modem's DHCP will only be 'seen' by the D-Link Router. As long as the DHCP on the Belkin can be disabled (it should be), then that configuration will work.

You need something to do the routing. The Belkin will only route between its two interfaces, and you can't connect anything to its other interface other than a phone cable.

rudeboymcc · 19 Apr 2007 at 23:42

sweet! cheers for htat it's all sorted now.

Here's the setup:
Dlink modem set to bridge mode (192.168.0.1)
connected to Dlink wireless router (192.168.0.1) which has DHCP enabled and wireless disabled (really bad range, that's why i bought the belkin in the first place).

and also connected to the dlink wireless router is the belkin wireless router (10.0.0.1) with DHCP disabled and wireless enabled.

Now all the settings for routing is done through the dlink (which is good becuase the Belkin forgets what ips i've assigned to what mac addresses after a reboot - useless for port forwarding), and the £55 Belkin Wireless router/modem is being used as just a wireless access point which is all it's good at and the only thing the dlink is not so great at.

So I've got three boxes all sitting next to eachother, each with their own big brick adaptor. Saved me the £120 I was gonna spend on a DG834N (see thread about wireless router suggestions).

thanks!¬

csmager · 20 Apr 2007 at 10:20

Glad it works. Actually surprised it works set up like that - I would've thought the belkin has to be on the same subnet (e.g. 192.168.0.2). Ah well.