wrt54g V6 and westell 6100 - bridge or change wrt54g IP ?

[xgsound]

I'm new to networking/wireless and have no experience to draw on, so I need some advice as to which direction to persue.

The neighbor got a wrt54g V6 to use with thier Verizon (756 kb DSL) supplied Westell 6100 modem and they ended up with no internet. I've read that the CD setup is to be avoided. I was able to get the westell to work again. The setup page for the WRT54g is corrupted and I'll be setting it up when they get the replacement.

Some searching shows the "preferred" method to set these up is to make the Westell a "bridge" and use the wrt54g to send the sign on info to Verizon. I'd prefer to leave the Westell modem unaltered so they can plug thier computers directly into the modem when they have a problem.

One method I've read about is to change the WRT54g to IP 192.168.2.1 or 192.168.0.1. They suggest that that is about the only change needed. Is this as workable a solution as it sounds? I've also heard that connecting the modem to the #1 port instead of the wan port gets around the IP problem. Can either of these layouts work?

Thier Specs if you need them:
. Verizon DSL 756 kb thru modem to ethernet
. One wired win98se computer
. One new wireless XP home notebook.
. One College student's computer, 2.4Ghz tower with XP, wired (currently instead of first computer)when home.


Jim

 

[JackMDS]

Best would be to set it as a plain Modem.

Otherwise, Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point

:sun:

 

[xgsound]

Thanks for a response, JackMDS. I see your name with helpful answers in many threads. Strike this>Does that mean set up the Westell as a bridge?<Strike that. I'll go to your link now and check this again thread tomorrow.

EDIT: Went to your link and it looks like exactly what I think will serve them best. Let's see if I have this right.

. SETUP
Westell Do nothing. (sounds good if there is ever a problem)
WRT54G
. 1. Set IP seperately to 192.168.1.151 if that's above DHCP range BEFORE connection to Westell.
. 2. Switch off obtain DHCP.
. 3. Filters and DCHP settings off.

. Plug cables
Westell ethernet to WRT54G port 1 with crossover cable. I marked the cable Xover.
Leave WRT54G wan open. I put tape over it.
Wired computers to WRT54G ports 2 thru 4. Wireless internet avaliable

Result should be all wired/wireless computers networked with internet access. This sounds great to me. Looks like I got an unbelievably excellent answer in 21 minutes. And they say Newegg rocks! Thanks JackMDS.


Jim

 

[xgsound]

I just returned from the install. It went excellently.

I set the WRT54G V6 to IP 192.168.1.151, disabled the DHCP and hit save. That's it. Then I plugged the WRT54G as above and all went well. I'll update for other users reference if there is a problem.

Yesterday I looked like a drunk on a bicycle and today I was done in 10 minutes. I wonder why the "prefered" method is to bridge the Westell modem? That required changing several settings in both units and would have made troubleshooting later impossible for the user.

This seems to work so well maybe I'll get a WRT54G also and leech off of thier DSL (I'm still on dialup) for those big downloads.


Jim

 

[WT]

Jesus H ... I coulda used this thread about a month ago .. what a freakin' P.I.T.A. .... I have dealt with two of these particular setups and it is not any fun tracking down what needs to be done to get it to work. Marked this one as a favorite for future use. Thanks for the informative post also.