Second (Slave) Router not issuing LAN IP Addresses

[johndecca]

Hello,

I have set up two routers to work in a similar way to the first option mentioned on the thread 'ultimate modem/router setup'(http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/33700-42-ultimate-modem-router-setup-thread), where we have the routers cascading so that our main router is the one that issues IP addresses, and the second router acts as an extender of the network.

I have set it so the both the netgear routers have the same SSID and passcode, and DHCP is turned off on the second router.

However I have an issue with the second router (NETGEAR DGN2200v3).

For some reason when I try to connect a laptop/phone wirelessly to the network and they are not in the wireless range of the main router, no IP Address is issued and they cannot connect. I have been having to physically walk closer to the main router with the laptop/phone for it to be able to connect to the network, and from then on they are fine connecting to either of the routers.

I will much appreciate any help.

 

[hang-the-9]

Check your configuration over, likely you are missing a setting or set the IP of the second router wrong. Posting the settings of the router here would help.

You have the second router connected as an extender with WiFi connection or with a cable? If a cable, is it going to one of the regular LAN ports or the WAN port? It should be in the LAN ports if it's not.

 

[johndecca]

I would try to send you a screenshot but I cannot access the router settings since DHCP is switched to off. I would have to reset to factory settings.

Here are the settings as I entered them:
Both routers are named NETGEAR83
Both using same password (WPA2 security type)
Main router has IP Address set to 192.168.1.1 and it's DHCP range is 192.168.1.3 to 192.168.1.150
Second router has IP Address to 192.168.1.2 and DHCP set to off (I am not entirely sure of the subnet mask, but I think it was 255.255.255.0)
Both are using different wireless channels

The main router has a very long cable that goes to a switch and the second router is plugged into the switch, via the regular LAN ports.

Everything else is working on the second router(internet access, once it has an IP Address), so most the settings should be correct.

I have not disabled the firewall on the second router yet, would this be an issue?

I did read somewhere that setting both routers to have DHCP ranges that don't clash (say the second router would have a range of 192.168.1.151-254), but I don't know if this is for my set-up?

 

[hang-the-9]

Is the issue the same on wireless and with a cable on the second router?

You can get to the router settings even if DHCP is off, just connect to it with the IP you set it for. Having dual firewalls may be an issue, but I never disabled that in my router, just turned off DHCP and had the network options setup as in that same guide you used. Make sure the subnetmask and gateway are all there, and when you connect to it, do an ipconfig /all and see if the IP info matches what you see on the main router.

 

[johndecca]

It was only for devices that were connected wirelessly.

I didn't know I could still access it, thanks for that! I have disabled NAT and firewall on the second router, and have tested it on my iPhone (by forgetting this network and reconnecting) and it connected straight away.

So hopefully that works, I'll post again if I continue having problems.