Need Advice On Connecting 2 Routers To Same Network

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johnrutter

51 posts

Master Geek

#68439 21-Sep-2010 22:53

Hi Guys,

I'm trying to connect 2 routers to the same network/connection at home but am failing miserably at doing it.

My 2 routers:

Dynalink RTA1025w

Netcomm NB6Plus4Wn

The reason why I want two routers connected to the same network is because I have recently purchased an XBOX 360 and have connected it upstairs with my computer monitor. The downside is that the router is connected downstairs and in the past few weeks, I have been getting disconnected from XBOX Live continuously which disrupts my gaming. I got some advice from friends to switch to LAN.

I have connected a second router in my room and followed these instructions but this isn't working for me:

http://www.devhardware.com/c/a/Networking-Hardware/How-to-Connect-Two-Routers-on-the-Same-Network/

Windows 7 keeps telling me that there is no "Internet Access" from the network icon in the taskbar.
I tried disabling DHCP on the second router but Windows 7 is telling me that there is no "Internet Access"
I also changed the IP Addresses for my first router to 192.168.1.1 and the second one to 192.168.2.1

I asked about Wireless Access Points/Repeaters etc. but was told it won't improve network lag & XBOX Live disconnection.

Has anyone successfully connected 2 routers to the same network or knows how to do it?

If so, could you please help me out?

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#382935 21-Sep-2010 23:14

Your description of how everything is wired was not very detailed.

You should have a router down stairs - which one is that?
Then a cable going upstairs to your xbox. Dont see why you need a second router unless you are trying to do something wirelessly in which case you need a wireless access point with client mode.

Ray Taylor

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richms

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#382940 21-Sep-2010 23:21

Is the upstairs router location too far to just run another cable from xbox to its cable to the downstairs router?

Cascading routers by plugging lan to wan will make you have 2 nats, which may cause issues for your connectivity, and will not achieve anything unless you want to have 2 seperate networks.

Richard rich.ms

johnrutter

51 posts

Master Geek

#383081 22-Sep-2010 10:47

Your description of how everything is wired was not very detailed.

You should have a router down stairs - which one is that?
Then a
cable going upstairs to your xbox. Dont see why you need a second
router unless you are trying to do something wirelessly in which case
you need a wireless access point with client mode.

My apologies. I'll try to explain it more further. My router downstairs is the NetComm Router and the router upstairs (in my room) is the Dynalink router.

At the moment, I've been using just the NetComm Wireless Router for my XBOX as my XBOX is wirelessly connected to the router downstairs.
Last night, I tried to add the Dynalink router upstairs to use LAN for the XBOX. The reason why I want to use LAN is because I get disconnection problems with XBOX Live often.

I want the second router (Dyanlink) to use the same network as the router downstairs (NetComm). But when I connected the Dyanlink router in my room, I get no "Internet Access" as stated from Windows 7. I've connected the required DSL, LAN, Power Adapter correctly except that I am not receiving any Internet Access.

Do you understand what I mean?

Is the upstairs router location too far to just run another cable from xbox to its cable to the downstairs router?

Yes, the upstairs router location is too far to run another cable from the router to the XBOX so thats why I want to add a second router. I have the required DSL Ports etc in my room to connect the router in my room to the router downstairs.

Then what's the point in doing what your trying to do then?just connect the xbox 360 to LAN (with a loooong cable ?)

I wish it was that simple but I don't think my father would agree with loose wire running all the way upstairs.

blakamin

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#383085 22-Sep-2010 11:02

Your link = tl;dr
How are you connecting the router in your room to your modem/other router? Cable?

johnrutter

51 posts

Master Geek

#383087 22-Sep-2010 11:10

Your link = tl;dr
How are you connecting the router in your room to your modem/other router? Cable?

It's connected by cable

blakamin

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#383089 22-Sep-2010 11:13

K. This is probably a stupid question but why a router and not just a hub then?

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raytaylor

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#383105 22-Sep-2010 11:56

Yea thats what I was thinking.
You dont need a router upstairs if it is being linked to the one downstairs with a cable.

You just plug the cable directly into the xbox - or via a $30 network switch if you have more than one computer upstairs.

Ray Taylor

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kyhwana2

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#383108 22-Sep-2010 11:59

Make sure you disable all the NAT/DHCP stuff on the second router and just use it as a switch..
(And don't use any of the "WAN" ports on the 2nd one)

johnrutter

51 posts

Master Geek

#383113 22-Sep-2010 12:02

K. This is probably a stupid question but why a router and not just a hub then?

I think I may have not answered your question wrong about whether it was connected by cable.

When you mean cable, do you mean LAN or DSL Cable?

Make sure you disable all the NAT/DHCP stuff on the second router and just use it as a switch..
(And don't use any of the "WAN" ports on the 2nd one)

I'll try to see if that works.

If not, I'll set the Dyanlink router as a wireless repeater.

blakamin

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#383115 22-Sep-2010 12:04

CAT5, LAN cable...

Oldhat

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#383116 22-Sep-2010 12:05

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johnrutter

51 posts

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#383123 22-Sep-2010 12:12

You mentioned that your father wouldn't be impressed with you running an ethernet cable downstairs, so it is possible you are plugging the Dynalink into a phone jackpoint in your room.

This setup won't work, as you can only have one adsl modem connected to a single line number. You would need to unplug the Netcomm router so that the Dynalink could connect.

See whether you can change the location of the Netcomm so that it is in your room rather than downstairs. Perhaps what other people in your household are using the internet for is so dependent on lag.

Unfortunately, I am connecting the Dyanlink to a phone jackpoint.
So I won't be able to use LAN in my room.

I did previously have a router upstairs as I were connected to Telecom (Big Time Broadband) and my father was connected to Vodafone downstairs therefore I did have LAN for playing online whilst on Telecom.

Ever since Telecom canned the Big Time Plan, I've been connected to Vodafone for Broadband so that's why I've been using a wireless adapter. This is why I was hoping to use a second router upstairs to connect to Vodafone via LAN (but i guess it won't work now)

Can the Dyanlink Router work as a wireless repeater? Could it solve my disconnection with XBOX Live?

Oldhat

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#383128 22-Sep-2010 12:33

johnrutter

51 posts

Master Geek

#383136 22-Sep-2010 12:49

Generally you get better results when connecting two routers of the same make/model in repeater mode.

The Dynalink only supports B/G wireless and the Netcomm supports B/G/N so trying to connect those two would be a backward step as the maximum connection would be G. Also 50% of your available wireless throughput will be used in communication between the repeater and the base unit.

Does your wireless adapter support N? If not, it might be better to upgrade that. Generally though wireless is susceptible to interference which can cause latency issues and isn't the best option for gaming.

I think I'll move the NetComm Wireless upstairs. It seems to be the easiest way to get a good connection with the XBOX. I'm sure my father won't mind since he uses wireless for his work and web browsing.

But thanks for your input. My XBOX Wireless Adapter supports N.

Lastly, regarding broadband usage, if I do use LAN for gaming, does it use less bandwidth compared to playing wireless?

We're on the 30GB Vodafone Ultimate BB Deal and seem to use 30GB within 15 days. There are 5 family members that use the internet on a daily basis but I think I use the most broadband usage.

kyhwana2

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#383140 22-Sep-2010 13:01

johnrutter:

Unfortunately, I am connecting the Dyanlink to a phone jackpoint.
So I won't be able to use LAN in my room.

Yeah, that's not going to work. You can only have one DSL modem/router connected to the phone line at once.
Unless both your routers have wifi and you can have them work as "wifi extenders", you're going to need to run an ethernet/cat5 cable upstairs.

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