[FAQ] Using two routers together/ Extending Wi-Fi

mickevh

When you apply the LAN IP address change to the netgear, your setup computer (which will at that time be a 192.168.0.something) will loose access to the setup pages until the setup computer refreshes it's IP address and gets a 192.168.1.something from the primary router.

Either reconnect your configuration computer to the primary router and reboot it, or reconnect to the primary router, open a CMD window and ICONFIG /RELEASE followed by IPCONFIG /RENEW.  And if you want you can IPCONFIG /ALL to see what IP addresses the machine if currently using.

BTW - The Netgear needs an IP address outside the range the Cisco DHCP server offers (192.168.1.100 up to 150) to avoid a future bear trap. 149 is within that range, so  150.

Davemazo

Ok thanks, like I said I`m sorted now but I don`t know what you mean by "bear trap" and if my Cisco only gives out IP addresses in the range 100-150 how does the Netgear see it if it is outside that range.

As you can tell my networking knowledge is limited

mickevh

Bear trap = problem you've stored up for the future. If you're lucky, you'll never step into it. If unlucky, it'll snag you leg whem you least expect it.

In IP subnets, everything must have a unique IP address. If you've set your DHCP range 100-150, then if you manually assign any of those IP addresses to something else and the DHCP server subsequently offers it out, you'll get a duplicate and one or other device will "fall off the network."

So to look at a practical example, with your DHCP range, some device in your locale is probably already using 192.168.1.100. If you set the second router's LAN address to 192.168.1.100 - instant IP duplication.

Same deal with 192.168.1.149, except it's unlikely your DHCP server has never given that out yet (and in a SOHO unlikely that it ever will until you attach your 50th device) however the possibility remains, so it's good practice to ensure all statically assigned IP addresses are outside the DHCP range.

I your case, rather than mess with the secondary router again to change it away from 192.168.1.149, I'd change the DHCP range on the primary router so it ends on 148 - it'll be easier to do.

Davemazo

Ah gotcha. Not heard of the expression bear trap before, I thought it was a networking term Before I read your reply I changed the secondary to 192.168.1.75 and everything seems to be working fine

Thanks for all your help and patience

chaz206

Hi mate, i changed the home hubs ip add countless times and each time while the internet was still working i could never access the Bt home hub.

So for the time being ive left the home hub with its original ip add - 192.168.1.254.

So if i disconnect the LAN cable from the primary to secondary router i can access the home hub

(Hope that makes sense)

dmd1357

So I have searched and searched and read and read and this thread in particular seems to cover everything, so to improve wireless around the house I have ordered a new router and some cable. My current sky modem is at the front of the house on the 2nd floor with 2 pc's hard wired to it. A cable then goes to a switch in the lounge which is on the 1st floor at the front into which all my networked stuff is wired into, tv, bluray, etc etc. Now to the point, is it best to hard wire the 2nd router to the modem or to the switch? i want it in the kitchen on the ground floor at the back of the house ? I am sure I will be back when everything is delivered for help with setup but so that I can organise the wiring now, could someone please advise. My thanks in advance for your help

Davemazo

I`m no expert but I can only tell you how mine was eventually got to work.

Upstairs I have my primary router, plugged into this I have a switch because I have 3 computers, 2 NAS boxes, a printer and a separate network hard drive.

A cable runs from downstairs where I have a further switch for my TV, Sky, Acer Revo, X-Box and now my secondary router. So thats two switches in between my secondary router and primary and everything works fine. Things are mostly wired but now again we use the laptop or phones wirelessly.

I`m sure someone will come along and tell me thats wrong

dmd1357

Thanks for the reply davemazo, so if i get your set up right your 2nd modem is wired to one of the switches and that extends your wirelss signal around the house ? I particularly ask as it would be easier for me to wire my 2nd modem to the switch rather than the main modem.

Davemazo

Yes its plugged into the switch behind the TV downstairs. A cable then runs from that switch to another switch upstairs which is then connected to my primary router

I have a lot of stuff connected I know, but it all seems to work fine.

dmd1357

Thanks davemazo, great help, I'm off to run the cable and hope my modem comes soon !! lol