[yzeater]

Hey ya'll-
Here's my issue. We've got an SMC Barricade wireless router now hooked up to a cable moden , and it sucks. The router (cable is fine) will freeze when you try to transfer big files, it needs to be restarted (unplugged and replugged) as often as every 20 minutes. This isn't normal with wireless routers, right? The range with it isn't very good either. So right now it's in our basement, etherneted to a PC desktop, but we use the wireless network essentially on the opposite side of the house...What we'd like to do is:
1. Have all the computers on one network so we can transfer files, etc.
2. Have strong signal all over the house.
3. Have a system that is consistent

So...can we have a wireless router in the basement and one upstairs? How would we get them to be on the same network if they're using different cable modems? Can you have two cable modems anyways..? Would it be worth getting 802.11g for the next routers anyways...is it the 'future' standard? Those questions should keep you occupied for a while. Thanks
-Stephen

[superlarry]

i've got an SMC Barricade that works fine.. do you have the newest firmware? find your router on here: http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?sec=Sup...t=5&site=c

as for having two: i don't think you can have two cable modems, but you can certainly use two wireless routers.
i think you'll have to run an ethernet cable to your other router, because i'm not sure you could do it wirelessly without a third wireless access point. so here's the wired way:
you'll need to run a cable from the LAN port of your first router to the WAN port of the second router. then set up the second router as usual, but make sure it's on a different wireless channel than your other router (don't want them to interfere with each other).
set your wireless computers to join the wireless network with the strongest signal, and you should have a continuous network throughout your house.
i'll note that this is all theoretical because i haven't tried it ;c)

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by superlarry:
so here's the wired way:
you'll need to run a cable from the LAN port of your first router to the WAN port of the second router. then set up the second router as usual, but make sure it's on a different wireless channel than your other router (don't want them to interfere with each other).

The second router MUST be set to NOT distribute IP's. This is what will keep all the machines on the same subnet.
You can also try searching this forum for 'wireless bridging', as there are a bunch of threads discussing this.

[jdhindes]

I have 2 wireless routers on my network. I have a Compaq router connected to my DSL radio (Wireless DSL to my home.). That is my main router connected to the outside world. Then I have a second Apple AE Base Station so I can print wirelessly. The AE Base Station is set to NOT distribute IP addresses. I have an ethernet cable running from LAN port on the AE Base Station to an ethernet port on the Compaq router. All is working fine now. I also have both devices set on different channels. My Powerbook can see both wireless networks! I use the AE Base Station network if I know I need to print wirelessly. This took some doing, but it IS working! I already had the Compaq router when I purchased my AE Base Station--I purchased the base station when I only had dial-up and wanted the modem in the AE Base Station--in case you were wondering why I would have both!

Jim

[Camelot]

Superlarry:

I don't think you can have two cable modems

Sure you can, but you won't be able to roam between them - you'll have to manually connect to one network (and gain one IP address), or connect to the other (and get a different IP address).
Of course, this is far from ideal, but it is possible if that's what you really want.

I think you'll have to run an ethernet cable to your other router, because i'm not sure you could do it wirelessly without a third wireless access point

Depends on your base station.
The original Apple Airport Base Station, for example, required a physical connection between base stations since they would only bridge wireless-to-wired.
The Airport Extreme Base Station, on the other hand, can do wireless bridging, so it will accept the wireless signal from base station 1 and relay it on to clients that are within its range, but too far for base station 1 to reach.

yz:

As to your specific questions, you can get two Airport Extreme base stations. Configure one to run NAT/DHCP and connect one to the cable modem in the basement (or wherever). Put the other on the other side of the house in bridging mode (no NAT or DHCP). As long as the two base stations can 'see' each other over the wireless network you should get good coverage over the house. Of course, you can adjust the postitions of the base stations to get optimal signal strength in the places you need it most, or get a third base station if your house is too big