Using 2nd router as bridge/access point?

Question

I am trying to set up a 2nd router as an access point and cannot for the life of me work out why it isnt working, here is the setup:

Virgin Super Hub (Inc Modem):
IP: 192.168.0.1
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
DHCP: Enabled
DHCP Pool: 192.168.0.2 > 192.168.0.50

Bebox (Bridge mode)
IP: 192.168.0.55
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
DHCP: Disabled

Now my setup is like this:

VirginHub > Port 1 (Ethernet) of Bebox
PC > Port 2 (Ethernet) of Bebox

Now to my knowledge since the bebox has no DHCP i have to use a static IP on my PC (I did try DHCP on PC but it times out)

PC IP: 192.168.0.7 (Free according to Virgin Hub)
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1 (Virgin Hub)
DNS1: 192.168.0.1 (Virgin Hub)
DNS2: 192.168.0.55 (Bebox)

I can access the Bebox but not the Virgin hub nor the internet.

What am i doing wrong?

P.S I need the 2 routers on the same subnet as i need access to the machines connected to the virgin hub.

Answer 1

For a second router to be used, you need to make it a non-router...

Forget bridge mode, that's to do linking the LAN with the WAN port; routing.





A home broadband router consists of a (modem input to) WAN port -> NAT Firewall -> Ethernet switch -> LAN ports & optionally WiFi access point.



All you need to extend a home network are the switch & WIFi sections.





Reset it from scratch.

Set it's LAN address to something unused on the main routers subnet (eg. 192.168.0.240 or whatever for your setup).



Disable it's DHCP server - the main router should provide this service.



The connection from the main router should go to a LAN port, and other PCs can connect to other LAN ports.



At that, it should work exactly the same as using a stand-alone ethernet switch to add ports to the main router.



Note that the main router is the only DHCP server on the system, so that is allocating IP addresses and telling the machines on the network what the default route gateway address is - itself. No machines 'know' the second router exists, any more than they would an extra switch.





If there is any difference at all between connecting directly to the main router or looping via the LAN ports on the second box, it implies there is a fault in the second unit.



If it works OK, then configure the WiFi AP (if it has one) to exactly the same ssid, security mode and password as the main router, but on a different channel out of 1, 6 & 11.



That will allow WiFi devices to roam between the APs without disconnecting.





[Electronics designer, programmer & network installer for many years].

Answer 2

Bebox Internet

Answer 3

Have you looked at the FAQ section of the Belkin site? There should be detailed instructions on their site.

Answer 4

Be sure you are connecting the LAN port of the 1st(main) router to a LAN port on the 2nd router.



You may need to set the LAN address on the 2nd router before connecting it to the main router.

Answer 5

Yes your right it can work. I have two routers bridged and they working perfectly since 3 years. To be honest I do not have any experience with the Bebox Router your referring to. For a start since your using virgin internet both routers must be the cable type routers and not the ADSL routers. From your cable modem (virgin) the Ethernet cable should go to the Ethernet port on router one (not port 1) once you have net on there, get another Ethernet cable plug it Port 1 of that router and plug the other side into Ethernet port of your 2nd router. Also reset both of the routers and enable DHCP on both of the routers. Note if you have internet on the 1st router, it should be simply connect the Ethernet cables to the router and you will get Internet on the second router you just need to configure the security. Hope that helps.

Answer 6

That will never work. You should NEVER use more than one router on a connection. And routers must NOT operate on the same subnet. A router will ALWAYS try t send all traffic out through the WAN port to the Internet. If that is not directly available it will fail. You need to buy a proper access point. And you will need to set its' IP address into the same subnet as the router, but outside of the router DHCP pool of addresses or you can get IP conflicts which can stop the network. If yiu do not set the IP, it may work, but you will never know what address to use if you need to remote restart it or change configuration.