Connecting wireless router to to a wired hub wirelessly

[JSoul]

This is really a simple question or so I thought. I have Linksys
wireless router that connects computers A and B together via ethernet
cables. I use the wireless for my laptop to connect. Let's call this
"network 1" -- so far so good.

On the other end of the house I have computers C and D. They are
connected to a Linksys 4-port hub which I'll call "network 2.". I want
to connect computers C and D to A and B using some wireless device to
link the two networks. So it's just a wireless connection between
network 1 and network 2 -- sounds simple.

Leave it to the good folks at Linksys and Belkin in India to send me
on a dozen wild goose chases for the wrong equipment. At first I was
told to buy a wireless access point and stick that into the 4-port hub
and all would be well. Not true apparently as a second call after
buying it resulting in their telling me I needed a bridge and NOT an
access point to connect the two networks.

Linksys doesn't seem to make any wireless G bridges that one can
acquire in my area. So I got the Belkin Wireless Bridge. Couldn't
connect the bridge to the wireless router. They told me that this
product wouldn't work since I needed a wireless access point. Say
what?

I'm hoping that someone here will be able to tell me what I need
instead of being connected to India to someone who doesn't know or
understand and asks me to wait 5 minutes while they call someone else
to repeat what I told them. Pathetic.

I use WEP for security and assume this is not the problem. I have the
key and can insert it. What I first need to find out is what
hardware!!! Thank you for your help.

 

[JSoul]

This is really a simple question or so I thought. I have Linksys
wireless router that connects computers A and B together via ethernet
cables. I use the wireless for my laptop to connect. Let's call this
"network 1" -- so far so good.

On the other end of the house I have computers C and D. They are
connected to a Linksys 4-port hub which I'll call "network 2.". I want
to connect computers C and D to A and B using some wireless device to
link the two networks. So it's just a wireless connection between
network 1 and network 2 -- sounds simple.

Leave it to the good folks at Linksys and Belkin in India to send me
on a dozen wild goose chases for the wrong equipment. At first I was
told to buy a wireless access point and stick that into the 4-port hub
and all would be well. Not true apparently as a second call after
buying it resulting in their telling me I needed a bridge and NOT an
access point to connect the two networks.

Linksys doesn't seem to make any wireless G bridges that one can
acquire in my area. So I got the Belkin Wireless Bridge. Couldn't
connect the bridge to the wireless router. They told me that this
product wouldn't work since I needed a wireless access point. Say
what?

I'm hoping that someone here will be able to tell me what I need
instead of being connected to India to someone who doesn't know or
understand and asks me to wait 5 minutes while they call someone else
to repeat what I told them. Pathetic.

I use WEP for security and assume this is not the problem. I have the
key and can insert it. What I first need to find out is what
hardware!!! Thank you for your help.

Let me add the equipment:

Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Router
Linksys - 4 port hub (nothing special)
Belkin - F5D7330 Wireless Ethernet Bridge

The one thing I noticed subsequently was that the Belkin transmits by
default on channel 11, the Linksys on 6. I fixed them both on 6 but
that still doesn't help.

 

[Tony]

This is really a simple question or so I thought. I have Linksys
wireless router that connects computers A and B together via ethernet
cables. I use the wireless for my laptop to connect. Let's call this
"network 1" -- so far so good.

On the other end of the house I have computers C and D. They are
connected to a Linksys 4-port hub which I'll call "network 2.". I want
to connect computers C and D to A and B using some wireless device to
link the two networks. So it's just a wireless connection between
network 1 and network 2 -- sounds simple.

Leave it to the good folks at Linksys and Belkin in India to send me
on a dozen wild goose chases for the wrong equipment. At first I was
told to buy a wireless access point and stick that into the 4-port hub
and all would be well. Not true apparently as a second call after
buying it resulting in their telling me I needed a bridge and NOT an
access point to connect the two networks.

Linksys doesn't seem to make any wireless G bridges that one can
acquire in my area. So I got the Belkin Wireless Bridge. Couldn't
connect the bridge to the wireless router. They told me that this
product wouldn't work since I needed a wireless access point. Say
what?

I'm hoping that someone here will be able to tell me what I need
instead of being connected to India to someone who doesn't know or
understand and asks me to wait 5 minutes while they call someone else
to repeat what I told them. Pathetic.

I use WEP for security and assume this is not the problem. I have the
key and can insert it. What I first need to find out is what
hardware!!! Thank you for your help.

They were right second time by saying you need a wireless bridge connected
to the hub of C & D. It may be that the Belkin Bridge is not compatible
with your router. I have a similar set up but use all D-link. Up stairs is
the wireless router and downstairs I have a DWL-700AP set up as a client,
plugged into a hub that serves the PC's downstairs.

Unfortunately D-Link don't make the 700AP anymore, they have replace it with
the DWL-G810.

I personally avoid Belkin networking stuff. They may be good at making
cables but a lot of their wireless networking kit is troublesome!

Tony

 

[CWatters]

I believe that's correct. You use a bridge to connect two LANs. Another way
would be remove the wired link between C and D and fit two wireless LAN
cards into them.

Is the signal strength ok?

Try this site for an article on bridging...See "contents" at the bottom of
the main panel..
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article36.php

It does recommend using the same make of product at each end of the bridge.

Later on if you get it working check what version of firmware the bridge
has. This user had a similar set up. He could only get one PC to connect to
the remote LAN (eg PC C but not D would work).
http://hardware.mcse.ms/message230435.html

And if you aren't using IE...
http://forums.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=3242&PN=1

Colin

 

[JSoul]

I believe that's correct. You use a bridge to connect two LANs. Another way
would be remove the wired link between C and D and fit two wireless LAN
cards into them.

Is the signal strength ok?

Try this site for an article on bridging...See "contents" at the bottom of
the main panel..
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article36.php

It does recommend using the same make of product at each end of the bridge.

Later on if you get it working check what version of firmware the bridge
has. This user had a similar set up. He could only get one PC to connect to
the remote LAN (eg PC C but not D would work).
http://hardware.mcse.ms/message230435.html

And if you aren't using IE...
http://forums.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=3242&PN=1

Colin

Thanks much Colin. I found the article interesting but it seems to
recommend two bridges -- one on the end of each network.

Unfortunately it appears Linksys no longer makes a bridge for under
$150. That will teach me...

I can't use a wireless card for each device on "network 2" because one
of the components is actually not a PC but a device with an ethernet
connection. I'd need to connect another bridge aka gaming adapter to
that device. Thus it's easier to just have the wired network and a
bridge.

Will keep you guys posted as I work this out.

 

[Chris Watts]

Up stairs is
the wireless router and downstairs I have a DWL-700AP set up as a client,
plugged into a hub that serves the PC's downstairs.

What wirelss router do you use with the DWL-700AP?

I have two DWL-700APs. On is set up as an Access Point connected, by cable,
to a router/switch; the other is set up as a client with a hub and some
devices attached. I find that I only get partial communication between the
two DWL-700APs. They certainly communicate at the RF level but pinging and
accessing shares and printers across the DWL to DWL link doesn't work fully.
If I replace the DWL-DWL link by a cable all is fully functional. Perhaps I
have overlooked something? Route command???

Chris

 

[James Egan]

Thanks much Colin. I found the article interesting but it seems to
recommend two bridges -- one on the end of each network.

Unfortunately it appears Linksys no longer makes a bridge for under
$150. That will teach me...

I can't use a wireless card for each device on "network 2" because one
of the components is actually not a PC but a device with an ethernet
connection. I'd need to connect another bridge aka gaming adapter to
that device. Thus it's easier to just have the wired network and a
bridge.

If one of the machines attached to the wired network is windows xp,
you can install a wireless card alongside the wired one and bridge the
connection using winxp's built in bridging functionality.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/xpbrdgnt.mspx


Jim.

 

[Tony]

What wirelss router do you use with the DWL-700AP?

I have two DWL-700APs. On is set up as an Access Point connected, by
cable,
to a router/switch; the other is set up as a client with a hub and some
devices attached. I find that I only get partial communication between
the
two DWL-700APs. They certainly communicate at the RF level but pinging
and
accessing shares and printers across the DWL to DWL link doesn't work
fully.
If I replace the DWL-DWL link by a cable all is fully functional. Perhaps
I
have overlooked something? Route command???

Chris

Hmmmm, my "wireless router" consists of a PC running Smoothwall (this
provides internet access using a USB Frog) plugged into a Netgear switch
with a DWL-700AP plugged into the switch setup as an access point. My
printers are also attached to the PC's plugged into the switch and they work
fine over the network.

Has worked flawlessly for a couple of years. Only upgrade I have done is to
replace a Linksys hub with the Netgear switch.

Just makes me feel more comfortable having a hardware firewall between the
internet and the PC's.

Tony

 

[JSoul]

If one of the machines attached to the wired network is windows xp,
you can install a wireless card alongside the wired one and bridge the
connection using winxp's built in bridging functionality.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/xpbrdgnt.mspx

Jim --

That is a great suggestion. I decided "screw it" and just paid an
extra $70 to buy another linksys wireless-G 5 port bridge and solve
the whole problem. I can now store the 8 port away as well and end the
whole story.

What's also sad is that Linksys made these neat looking boxes so you
could stack them and now they have forsaken that design for some ugly
boxy version that doesn't match. Where the hell has this company gone?
I thought Cisco was supposed to represent quality...