One 2.4ghz router, one 5.0ghz, daisy-chained. Crazy home setup because I'm cheap, help me make it work!

[Rajani Dobson]

Hello all,

I appreciate any help you have to offer. I know some about networking but not enough to fix my issue. I apologize in advance for my rather long post.

Let me describe my current setup thats functional. I have my ISP service coming through my DOCSIS 3 modem to my Cisco E2000 router(scored on craigslist for $30). From there I have my PC and my Samsung HT-D4500 Blu-Ray player hooked up via ethernet. My Blu-Ray is my primary media player as I use Serviio as a DLNA server on my PC for local content. My TV and any other wireless devices (laptop, phones/tablets) are connected over 2.4ghz.

Everything is working as I want it but living in an apartment complex, the 2.4ghz spectrum is completely saturated without any open channels. I used Wifi Analyzer on my android tablet (supports 2.4ghz and 5ghz) to scan for the best channel and am adjusting my router accordingly every week or so(it doesn't support doing it automatically). My Cisco E2000 router can broadcast either 2.4ghz or 5.0ghz, not both at one time.

I got for free a Linksys WRT310n router through work (they upgraded to a Sonicwall) and I got first dibs. The WRT310 only broadcasts in 2.4ghz. I want to hook up the WRT310 behind my entertainment center to act as a switch that's being fed by my E2000 for my hardwired devices (tv, blu-ray) and act as my 2.4ghz access point. I then want to switch my E2000 router to 5.0ghz and let my newer devices like my android phone, tablet, and girlfriend's laptop take advantage of the faster speeds 5ghz offers in addition to the nearly empty 5ghz spectrum. Things like my Chromecast, my girlfriend's phone and any guests that come over can stick to 2.4ghz.

The only issue that I am having is my Blu-Ray player is not being recognized by my PC. I have put Tomato 1.28 on the WRT310, I have enabled uPnP, NAT-PMP, opened the ports specific to my Blu-Ray player(80 and 400) and increased the range that the WRT310 can see incase there are more ports I cannot identify.

I was told that I need to put my WRT310 into Wireless bridge mode, but that puts it under my current E2000's SSID. Will they both broadcast in their separate spectrums under the same SSID and allow my Blu-Ray player to be recognized while allowing the connected devices handle connecting to the proper spectrum? Or can I keep the routers on separate SSID's and still allow the hardline devices to connect to my PC?

Here's a sketch of my current physical setup. With only having one coax-in plug in my apartment, I'm a little limited.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/93828714/Network%20Map.png

Legend:
Grey cable - Coax
Brown Cable - Modem -> cat6 -> E2000 WAN port
Dark Blue cable - E2000 LAN -> cat6 -> PC
Light Blue Cable - E2000 LAN -> cat6 -> WRT310 WAN port
Orange Cables - WRT310 LAN -> TV/Blue-Ray

Again, any help is appreciated!

 

[bill001g]

If the blue line you have between the 2 devices is a cable then it should be as simple as setting up your wrt router as a AP. You do not even have to use the software settings any router can be a AP. You cable to the LAN port and turn off the DHCP server. You need to assign a IP to the lan that does not conflict. The wireless setting are up to you it is not dependent in any way on the main router. Since you are going to run on different bands you do not even need to worry about conflicts on channels. The SSID should be different just so you can control what you connect to on devices that can run on 2.4g and 5g.

 

[Rajani Dobson]

If the blue line you have between the 2 devices is a cable then it should be as simple as setting up your wrt router as a AP. You do not even have to use the software settings any router can be a AP. You cable to the LAN port and turn off the DHCP server. You need to assign a IP to the lan that does not conflict. The wireless setting are up to you it is not dependent in any way on the main router. Since you are going to run on different bands you do not even need to worry about conflicts on channels. The SSID should be different just so you can control what you connect to on devices that can run on 2.4g and 5g.

Yes, the light blue line is the cat6 cable that connects the two routers. I currently have the light blue cable plugged into the WAN port of the WRT310. The WRT310's IP address is configured as 192.168.1.2 while the E2000 is 1.1. I currently have the WRT310 router configured at an Access Point with the DHCP server setting checked.

I will try disabling the DHCP setting and see what happens.

 

[Rajani Dobson]

Bill001g,

You are correct. I disabled the DHCP server on the WRT310 router and moved the light blue cable from WAN to LAN on the WRT310 and everything is working how I want it.

Thank you sir, I have been pulling my hair over this one. I knew it was something very simple that I was overlooking.