Wireless access points and modem/routers - help!

Help!

I've managed to set up wireless networks before using WLAN cards and
APs made by D-link but I was offered a wireless Belkin router when the
D-link DSL 604 was out of stock at my preferred supplier.

I'm trying to connect a group of PCs wirelessly up to my wireless
Belkin modem/router which is in another room. The group of PCs are all
hard wired to a switch which is then connceted to the D-link DWL
900AP+ access point. The Belkin device is giving me WAN access so I'm
really trying to bridge the two devices wirelessly.

I've tried to set them up logically, having all security switched off
to make sure that they can communicate at the lowest, most basic
level.

I've set them up to use the same channel and the same SSID.
The firewall on the router is switched off and any restrictions on the
Access Point and the router are all disabled.
They are on the same network (192.168.2.0)


The access point has a number of "modes":
..Access Point
..Wireless Client
..Wireless Bridge
..Multipoint Bridge
..Repeater


The default is "access point". There is no method to search for an
available network using this, though.
"Wireless client" allows for a "site survey" which DOES show my SSID
set up on the Belkin wireless modem/router.

The D-link manual does mention that the "wireless client", "wireless
bridge" and "multipoint bridge" modes MUST be communicating with other
D-link 900AP+ devices.

The last statement really means I don't have much choice but for
Access Point.

In "access point" mode, will I be able to have the router and D-link
AP communicate?

Is an access point purely a point for PCs with wireless cards to
communicate to?


No matter what I do, I can't ping my wireless modem/router. The D-link
access point doesn't seem to be connected to it any point.

Unfortunately, the wireless modem/router has no means of connecting or
searching for wireless networks either!

The firmware for both products has been updated (latest firmware
downloaded from each site).



I appreciate any posts in reply to this (no matter how brief).


- thanks!

"manbo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Help!
>
> I've managed to set up wireless networks before using WLAN cards and
> APs made by D-link but I was offered a wireless Belkin router when the
> D-link DSL 604 was out of stock at my preferred supplier.
>
> I'm trying to connect a group of PCs wirelessly up to my wireless
> Belkin modem/router which is in another room. The group of PCs are all
> hard wired to a switch which is then connceted to the D-link DWL
> 900AP+ access point. The Belkin device is giving me WAN access so I'm
> really trying to bridge the two devices wirelessly.
>
> I've tried to set them up logically, having all security switched off
> to make sure that they can communicate at the lowest, most basic
> level.
>
> I've set them up to use the same channel and the same SSID.
> The firewall on the router is switched off and any restrictions on the
> Access Point and the router are all disabled.
> They are on the same network (192.168.2.0)
>
>
> The access point has a number of "modes":
> .Access Point
> .Wireless Client
> .Wireless Bridge
> .Multipoint Bridge
> .Repeater
>
>
> The default is "access point". There is no method to search for an
> available network using this, though.
> "Wireless client" allows for a "site survey" which DOES show my SSID
> set up on the Belkin wireless modem/router.
>
> The D-link manual does mention that the "wireless client", "wireless
> bridge" and "multipoint bridge" modes MUST be communicating with other
> D-link 900AP+ devices.
>
> The last statement really means I don't have much choice but for
> Access Point.
>
> In "access point" mode, will I be able to have the router and D-link
> AP communicate?
>
> Is an access point purely a point for PCs with wireless cards to
> communicate to?
>
>
> No matter what I do, I can't ping my wireless modem/router. The D-link
> access point doesn't seem to be connected to it any point.
>
> Unfortunately, the wireless modem/router has no means of connecting or
> searching for wireless networks either!
>
> The firmware for both products has been updated (latest firmware
> downloaded from each site).
>
>
>
> I appreciate any posts in reply to this (no matter how brief).
>
>
> - thanks!

You need a wireless bridge, looks like the 900AP will not be suitable
because it needs to connect to another 900AP to work in bridge mode. Try
configuring the AP as a wireless bridge to your router ?, with the latest
firmware it might just work...A longshot but..

"manbo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Help!
I'll try.

> I'm trying to connect a group of PCs wirelessly up to my wireless
> Belkin modem/router which is in another room. The group of PCs are all
> hard wired to a switch which is then connceted to the D-link DWL
> 900AP+ access point. The Belkin device is giving me WAN access so I'm
> really trying to bridge the two devices wirelessly.
>
> I've tried to set them up logically, having all security switched off
> to make sure that they can communicate at the lowest, most basic
> level.
sensible start

> I've set them up to use the same channel and the same SSID.
> The firewall on the router is switched off and any restrictions on the
> Access Point and the router are all disabled.
> They are on the same network (192.168.2.0)
Disable WEP, MAC address controls and any proprietary 'features'.
Make sure all the clients are configured with static addresses in the range
you want, gateway and DNS set to the router IP.

> The access point has a number of "modes":
> .Access Point
> .Wireless Client
> .Wireless Bridge
> .Multipoint Bridge
> .Repeater
>
>
> The default is "access point". There is no method to search for an
> available network using this, though.
Access point is intended to be used when the Dlink DWL is providing the WAN
access for a number of wireless clients.
Not what you want.

> "Wireless client" allows for a "site survey" which DOES show my SSID
> set up on the Belkin wireless modem/router.
That would be the right mode to use. The Dlink is a client to the Belkin
router.

> The D-link manual does mention that the "wireless client", "wireless
> bridge" and "multipoint bridge" modes MUST be communicating with other
> D-link 900AP+ devices.
That could be a problem for you.
I would give it a try in client mode and see if you can ping your router
from the Dlink network.

> The last statement really means I don't have much choice but for
> Access Point.
>
> In "access point" mode, will I be able to have the router and D-link
> AP communicate?
No. The Dlink is acting as the gateway in this mode. You are in effect
using it as a wireless link to the router.

> Is an access point purely a point for PCs with wireless cards to
> communicate to?
Yes.

> No matter what I do, I can't ping my wireless modem/router. The D-link
> access point doesn't seem to be connected to it any point.
>
> Unfortunately, the wireless modem/router has no means of connecting or
> searching for wireless networks either!
The router is acting as a Wireless access point so it is not designed to
connect to another network in normal mode.

> The firmware for both products has been updated (latest firmware
> downloaded from each site).
>
>
>
> I appreciate any posts in reply to this (no matter how brief).

I have a Belkin access point, this offers a bridging mode where you can use
two Belkin devices to connect to each other and extend a wireless network.
This is what you need, but it only works with a pair of Belkin devices, in
your case Dlink has the 'bridge mode'.

Might be you are stuck I'm afraid and have to decide whether to get another
Belkin Access point for the remote PCs, or a Dlink router.

Graham

Thanks for any replies till now.

I've spoken to D-Link (Tech Support AND Sales) as well as checked
manuals for some of their equipment: it seems that their wireless
routers do not have a wireless "bridging" mode. They act as access
points, ie accept connections from wireless clients.

I may be stuck with trying to get my two networks communicating in
their current setup. It looks like I'm going to fork out for another
D-link wireless access point (900AP+ or better) to get the wireless
bridging done.

I'm undecided about what to do with the Belkin wireless modem/router.
I can't see myself getting a wired modem/router for a cheaper price. I
may just decide to keep it ... it's still cheaper than getting a
separate router and modem. The modem routers out there seem to be
around the same price I got the Belkin for... (£72).

I do have a Cisco 2514... but that's too noisy to keep in my living
room (which is the only place I have a live telephone line)!


Thanks again for your posts.

Any more suggestions are welcomed.


- Manbo

"manbo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Thanks for any replies till now.
>
> I've spoken to D-Link (Tech Support AND Sales) as well as checked
> manuals for some of their equipment: it seems that their wireless
> routers do not have a wireless "bridging" mode. They act as access
> points, ie accept connections from wireless clients.
>
> I may be stuck with trying to get my two networks communicating in
> their current setup. It looks like I'm going to fork out for another
> D-link wireless access point (900AP+ or better) to get the wireless
> bridging done.
>
> I'm undecided about what to do with the Belkin wireless modem/router.
> I can't see myself getting a wired modem/router for a cheaper price. I
> may just decide to keep it ... it's still cheaper than getting a
> separate router and modem. The modem routers out there seem to be
> around the same price I got the Belkin for... (£72).
>
> I do have a Cisco 2514... but that's too noisy to keep in my living
> room (which is the only place I have a live telephone line)!
>
>
> Thanks again for your posts.
>
> Any more suggestions are welcomed.
>
>
> - Manbo
I had a similar problem with the DWL-2000AP's, having to use one as an AP so
it could connect to another in Bridge Mode, bit of a waste as I have a
DI-624 wireless router.
I ended up purchasing a Netgear WGE101 Wireless Bridge, the DWL-2000's are
now redundant, the Netgear box has been a good investment.
Happy shopping ! and any kit you don't want should sell easily on Ebay.