Having real trouble getting two routers to talk - please help!

Barno

Barno

Barno

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2 Aug 2004
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1,160
Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me with a networking problem. I've been trying all morning to get my wireless routers, a Speedtouch 585 and a Tenda W311R+, to talk to each other. I'm trying to extend the range of my newtwork using the Speedtouch as my main router connected to the internet and my PC and the Tenda as a repeater bridge connected to my xbox 360 (wired) and a macbook (wireless).

I've tried setting them both to use the same mode, channel, security etc. Set the Tenda as a repeater, it finds the Speedtouch ok and the Speedtouch can find the Tenda if I switch on WDS but whatever I try the Tenda can't get an IP address from the Speedtouch. Static IPs aren't really an option because of the nature of my network, so I'm stuck with DHCP. For some reason the two routers just refuse to talk to each other.

If I switch on WDS on the Speedtouch I can select the Tenda as an access point, but I read somewhere that I shouldn't do this and only the Tenda would need WDS on. Didn't help me anyway.

I'm really struggling to see what I'm doing wrong so if anyone could help I'd really appreciate it. Might just save some of my hair as I'm close to tearing it out!
 
So what your looking to do is to make your Tenda W311R+ a wireless reaper? or are you looking to connect your Speedtouch to your Tenda via wired and use the Tenda as a wireless access point?

Using the Tenda as a wireless access point is going to be a better solution in terms of setting up and speed, as with a wireless reaper you are only going to get Half Duplex speeds.

I am unsure what the specific options are to setup your Tenda as a wireless access point but some general points on making a router a wireless access point would be:

1) Turn of DCHP server on the Tenda
2) Make sure any SPI firewall is turned off on the Tenda
3) Disable NAT on the Tenda (if this is possible, not strictly needed as you will connecting the to LAN port on the Tenda)
4) Make sure the Tenda's IP and Web Administration page is on the same subnet and mask as your Speedtouch's DCHP range (ie 192.168.0.x /24)
5) make sure you connect the speedtouch and Tenda via ethernet via their LAN ports.


I apologize if you were trying to get the Tenda to work as a wireless repeater- as this makes my answer somewhat pointless
 
Thanks for help mate. The Tenda is going to have to be a wireless reaper as the whole point of the exercise is to avoid the need for wires all through the house. My PC, main router (speedtouch) and internet point are in one room and my 360 and laptop sit in the other. The 360 doesn't have wireless capability and I'm hoping to get a better signal to the laptop, hence the need for extending my network.

I've made a bit of progress by setting up my Speedtouch with a static IP. The problem comes with the two manufacturer's explanation of various settings. Makes things pretty confusing.

The gateway I got from my ISP is 192.168.124.1, so I've set up my PC and speedtouch like this:

Speedtouch IP: 192.168.124.2
Speedtouch DHCP range: 192.168.124.64 - 192.168.124.253
PC IP: 192.168.124.3
Gatway (both):192.168.124.1

The Tenda has settings for both WLAN and LAN IP addresses (which it won't allow to be on the same subnet). Any idea how I would configure it so it can talk to the speedtouch?
 
Barno, this all seems a little weird.

You have set the ip range from .64-.253 yet you pc has the ip of .4?? is this static too?

you ISP never gave you the ip of: 192.168.1.1 unless you mean this is the ip addy of the gateway port on your router.

i would suggest getting everything turned off and turn it all off and start turning it on in reverse order so modem/adsl router then router(if applicable) then wireless ap a few mins later once the router has had a chance to get its connection (idealy you want to change the subnet too so the dhcp lease's all get renewed) then the wireless ap and finaly the pc's
 
Arsey 2 said:
Hi mate, been having a search for you (anything to avoid revision)

http://www.chasingdaydreams.com/2010/01/wds-bridging-wireless-networks/

someone in the similar position to you
Click to expand...

Thanks for that mate, interesting read but I have tried WDS and although the two routers can see each other the Tenda can't get an IP from the Speedtouch.

Kerrgreg, it seems wierd cause I fried my brain trying to sort it earlier :) I see what you mean about the DHCP, it wasn't enabled but I guess I should start off the range at .1? The PC's ip is static.

What I meant by my isp giving me the ip is that I'm with a wireless isp, and effectively the connection comes into the house from a wireless receiver box. I have to specify 192.168.124.1 as the gateway to get any connection, unless I use DHCP, so I guess its the gatway port on the router box.

All very confusing.

The problem is that I can't get the Tenda to get an ip from the Speedtouch and thereby connect to the internet. They can see each other all right, as confirmed by WDS, but thats as far as it goes for now.
 
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