Dual wireless routers (2nd as bridge/secondary) .. not working

[Maverick2002]

So here's the situation:

I have a wireless network set up at home. 1 router is directly connected to the modem, which is connected to the internet. There's also 1 computer physically connected to the router. I have a bunch of other computers in the house, and it would be a pain to get a wireless card for all of them, especially since 3 are all clustered in 1 area. So, I figured I could get another wireless router, have it somehow link up the main router (which is connected to the internet), and then use physical cables to connect all 3 of the computers to the secondary router. So far it's not working. Can this even be done? Can a wireless router be used like this? Or do I need a different piece of equipment?

 

[Maverick2002]

anyone?

bump

 

[JackMDS]

In order to work as you wish the Router has to be capable to work in Wireless Client Mode. Wireless Network - Configuration Modes. )

96% of Wireless Router can not work as Clients.

Of the Brand Name, most of the Buffalo Tech,. some of thew Belkin, and the Linksys WRT54 flashed with 3rd party fireware can.

:sun:

 

[Maverick2002]

Thanks. So, other than this is there special equipment meant to do this? Like a dedicated client router of some sort? Or would I just have to get one of the new routers?

EDIT: also, I accidentally set my router as an access point and now I can't get to the control panel on it. How do I reset it (or access it)? The reset switch doesn't do anything.

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: Maverick2002
EDIT: also, I accidentally set my router as an access point and now I can't get to the control panel on it. How do I reset it (or access it)? The reset switch doesn't do anything.

You generally have to hold the reset switch down for a while. Something like 30s iirc. Your documentation should specify.

Are you connected to it by wire? Do you know what subnet it's on and what it's ip address is? If you remove all network connections except a wire from one pc to the router you should just be able to assign a static ip to the pc on the same subnet and go from there.

 

[mjia]

Originally posted by: Maverick2002
Thanks. So, other than this is there special equipment meant to do this? Like a dedicated client router of some sort? Or would I just have to get one of the new routers?

EDIT: also, I accidentally set my router as an access point and now I can't get to the control panel on it. How do I reset it (or access it)? The reset switch doesn't do anything.

There are also some generic brand routers (usually running Linux) that also support client/bridge mode. Gigafast makes one that I've been using for a few months (as a wireless bridge): http://www.gigafast.com/products/product_detail/WF719-CAPR.htm

The reset button is usually located on the same side as the ethernet ports.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: Maverick2002
So, other than this is there special equipment meant to do this? Like a dedicated client router of some sort? Or would I just have to get one of the new routers?

You got it in the subject line -- the application you're talking about is a wireless bridge, and there are devices that are designed to do this. There's some more info about hacked client mode and bridges in this thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=36&threadid=1786866&enterthread=y

Another option is to get a wireless network adapter in one of the remote computers, using internet connection sharing on it and connecting that via the internal wired network card to the other computers via a local switch (the 2nd router can be used for this purpose). Not a really good or elegant solution, but could do the job at a lower cost. I'd go for the bridge / client mode solution myself.