Noob question on Network

[veepulbb]

Hello

Just trying to figure out what am i doing wrong here

A) Router A
https://www.asus.com/Networking/DSLN10/
I use this asus adsl modem cum router to connect to internet.

B) Router B
http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/cat-9_TL-WR740N.html
-I connected this routers WAN port to one of the Lan ports of the asus router (PartB) above and hence get internet from A.
-This router then provides internet to one desktop via ethernet and various Wifi devices.

C) Router C
http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/cat-9_TL-WR740N.html

This router has been set up to repeat the wifi signals from RouterB. I enabled it from under WDS Bridging.
(Router B&C are same models from tplink)


My set up has never been stable especially with router C. I have to reconfigure it very frequently. There are always disconnections, ip conflicts etc.

Are there any extra settings or specific ones i need to do?

After lot of googling, I disabled the DHCP on Router C but then lost access to the routers settings page. The internet would work fine.

My knowledge on ip, subnet, dhcp is very weak.

I access Router A by 192.168.1.1 and Router B by 192.168.0.1

Please advise/suggest.

 

[Emerald]

I would configure router B as an Access Point by changing its IP of the LAN to 192.168.1.254 and disable DHCP. Then connect Router B LAN to LAN to router A.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/36406-43-convert-wireless-router-wireless-access-point

In addition I would load the DD-WRT firmware on router C and con figure it as a Repeater Bridge.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/support/router-database
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Repeater_Bridge

Use 192.168.1.253 for router C

 

[veepulbb]

Wow Emerald! And all this while i was connecting the lan wire coming out of the Lan port from router A and going into the WAN port of B! and it worked as well. But why it stalls, i have no clue.

Never knew connecting 2 lans also work. Now did that and its working.

You said to install DDWRT on router C. But it already has this WDS function. Cant i use that? Just want to save the time installing ddwrt. Never done it before, so would have to start from scratch.

 

[Emerald]

if the connection is stable using the WDS function, than don't change to DD-WRT.

 

[veepulbb]

Ya its quite stable as of now. And now my wifi is seamless across routerB to C (Using the same SSID for both the routers).

I cant believe i didnt do that before! This was the link i was trying to do from but got lost http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/33700-42-ultimate-modem-router-setup-thread

By the way, can you tell me why did you ask to take ip address as 192.168.1.254 and 253?

 

[Emerald]

Usually those addresses are outside the DHCP IP range of the main router and don't conflict with other devices.

You need to assign those addresses to router B + C so the wireless will be on the same network as the main router, and wireless device will receive an IP from the main router.

 

[veepulbb]

I have decided to add another access point Router D to extend my wifi to some dead spot area.

I will set this up as wds and want this router to get wifi from Router C. But now that RouterA and B have same Ssid, what will happen?

The location of router D is such that there can sometimes be faint signal of router B, but I don't what D to connect to B. Only get internet from C and repeat it.

 

[Emerald]

I think a better idea would be to replace router C with this one since it has two antennas:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704039

then use the old router C as D to connect to the new router C.

the new router C will have 150Gb/s per antenna One for connecting to B and the other to connect to D

 

[veepulbb]

Excellent. But this model does not support wds, which is how router C is getting internet from Router B i.e wirelessly.

The newest version 9 of this model is not supported by Ddwrt as well.

 

[Emerald]

How about using the new router as Router B and connect the old routers to it? Would that be an option?

It is not a good idea to daisy-chain routers.

 

[veepulbb]

By Daisy chain, do you mean connecting Router X --> Router Y --> Router Z and so on?

And yes, I think i will buy the new model you suggested and install that in place of Router B as that is hardwired to Router A.

Even if i do so, i will still need an access point at Router D's location?

Just to make it clear,
--> Router A (ADSL Modem cum Router) and Router B are at Basement sitting next to each other
--> Router C is at 1st Floor on the opposite of the building
--> Router D (Planned) To install on 3rd Floor

 

[Emerald]

I think another option would be to use Powerline adapters, one in the Basement and one on the third floor. Then configure the router on the first floor as an Access Point like router B.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704165&cm_re=network_over_powerline-_-33-704-165-_-Product

 

[veepulbb]

Powerline adapters are too expensive in my country and not worth the price considering the model you suggested.

 

[Emerald]

This one here says it has WDS

http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/cat-9_TL-WR841ND.html#specifications

If this would work for location C then the load would be split between the two antennas, one for receiving and the other for repeating.

That should allow you to connect the third one for location D.

Location D can that be on the Second floor? Or do you need the LAN ports on the third floor? If you only need the wifi signal on the third floor you might get a better connection to the other router if the Router D is on the second floor.

 

[veepulbb]

Strange that I missed the wds function. I have ordered it and should receive in a couple of days. Will set up and update you.

What should be the settings for this router? I already assigned 253 and 254 for the 2 routers. Is there a range?

 

[Emerald]

252 should work

 

[veepulbb]

My connection is all set and working just as i want.

Just curious, so wanted to ask this.

I have a PC connected via Ethernet on Router D. Sometimes i do a file transfer over wifi sitting right next to my PC and Router D.

Since router D is only an Access point and DHCP is handled by main Router A which is 2 floors below, would it mean that the whole data goes from my PC through Ethernet to Router D and then wirelessly to C to B to A and back same way to D and then to my iPhone.

Sorry if its too confusing, but had to ask this.

 

[veepulbb]

Where are you Emerald? I think only you have the patience to answer my questions.