Wired and wireless, help needed

plindboe · 11th March 2007, 09:53 AM

Hi everyone. I have a question regarding setting up my connections, as I have run into a puzzling problem.

I've had my own wired connection for a while, but am now trying to set up a wireless connection through the same router that my girlfriend can use on her laptop. I've bought a switch and an access point, and have placed them like this:

Wall
|
Router
|
Switch--Access point )))) Laptop
|
Computer

The lines are wires and the parantheses are wireless.

Now, both connections work, but the problem is that they don't work on the same time. If I have power to the access point, then my own wired connection doesn't work, and if I unplug the power for the access point, then my own connection works again. So what is the problem here? Would I be better of getting rid of the switch, and buying a wireless network card for my own computer? Be aware that I'm a complete retard concerning computers, so not too many fancy words, or I won't be able to understand.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Router: Cisco 677
Access point: Linksys Wap54G
Operating systems: Laptop has XP, my own computer has Vista.

gnome · 11th March 2007, 01:16 PM

This may reveal that I'm too uninformed to help... but why router, switch, and access point? Why not just a single wireless router?

vIQleS · 11th March 2007, 06:29 PM

I assume the router is for the internet... Can you get WAP/internet routers?

My question would be - why the switch?

Plug the router into the phoneline, and the WAP and your computer into the router. Does that work?

plindboe · 12th March 2007, 04:42 AM

Good point guys. I started out with a normal router. I got told on another forum that all I needed was an access point, for my girlfriend to get online too. But there was only 1 ENET socket in my router, so I couldn't both plug my own computer, and the access point in. I was then told that either I would go wireless with both computers, by buying a netcard to my own computer, or I could buy a switch, so I could hook up both things to that ENET socket. I chose the switch option. Both connections doesnn't seem to be working on the same time though, so something is definitely wrong. I bet it's probably some setting in Windows, or with my router that I have to change before it works. But perhaps taking the switch back, and getting a netcard for my own computer would be the 2nd solution.

Blue Bubble · 12th March 2007, 05:08 AM

Sounds like you might have the same IP address on both machines.

Easy enough to check, even on Windows.

plindboe · 12th March 2007, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by Blue Bubble

Sounds like you might have the same IP address on both machines.

Easy enough to check, even on Windows.

Thanks for the answer. If that's the case, what can I do to change it?

stormer · 12th March 2007, 06:54 PM

Your setup does not work properly because both the Cisco 667 and the WRT54G have routers built in.

What you need is

Wall
|
"Modem"
|
Access point (WRT54G))))) Laptop
|
Computer

The WRT54G has 4 built in ports which you can use to hook up the desktop computer with wires.

Version 1
The thing to do right now would be to login to the Cisco and enable "bridge" mode - This makes it a pure modem.

Connect the Cisco to the "WAN" port of the WRT54G

Enter your account login information into the WRT54G.

The alternate Version 2 way is:
Leave the Cisco as is. (router enabled)

Login to the WRT54G and disable the router part of it. (This may or may not be able to be done, depending on the firmware in the WRT54G)

Connect the Cisco to one of the ethernet (LAN, not WAN) ports of the WRT54G (and get rid of the switch)

Wall
|
Router
|
Access point (router disabled)))) Laptop
|
Computer

----
As to why I think this problem is hapening, I'd say it's because the Cisco and the WRT54G have the same IP. Hope this helps and is not too confusing.

vIQleS · 12th March 2007, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by plindboe

Good point guys. I started out with a normal router. I got told on another forum that all I needed was an access point, for my girlfriend to get online too. But there was only 1 ENET socket in my router, so I couldn't both plug my own computer, and the access point in. I was then told that either I would go wireless with both computers, by buying a netcard to my own computer, or I could buy a switch, so I could hook up both things to that ENET socket. I chose the switch option. Both connections doesnn't seem to be working on the same time though, so something is definitely wrong. I bet it's probably some setting in Windows, or with my router that I have to change before it works. But perhaps taking the switch back, and getting a netcard for my own computer would be the 2nd solution.

OK - when i say 'router' I'm usually talking about a (DSL) modem with (4 usually) Ethernet ports in it. (for home applications). So that would do the job of the switch as well...

In that case your setup should work... (with the modifications suggested above).

plindboe · 13th March 2007, 07:01 AM

Thanks alot for the responses guys.

stormer, it is not the router I have. It's WAP54G, which is only an access point. I was specifically looking for that in the shops, as I'd heard that two routers can cause complications.

I think I might have written the router's IP in the settings when I setup the access point. The router is 192.168.1.2 or something. Should the access point be 192.168.1.3 or something like that?

But curiously both connections seems to be working now. I've no idea why, as I have changed nothing.

vIQleS · 13th March 2007, 10:19 PM

It was all the help...

We sent you good energy.

stormer · 14th March 2007, 04:27 PM

Oh cr@p! Proof that alcohol (in moderation, over the years, ehm) kills brain cells.

I read your post twice, and STILL came up with "WRT"!!

Sorry for the bad advice in the previous post

11th March 2007, 09:53 AM	#1
plindboe Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,244	Wired and wireless, help needed Hi everyone. I have a question regarding setting up my connections, as I have run into a puzzling problem. I've had my own wired connection for a while, but am now trying to set up a wireless connection through the same router that my girlfriend can use on her laptop. I've bought a switch and an access point, and have placed them like this: Wall \| Router \| Switch--Access point )))) Laptop \| Computer The lines are wires and the parantheses are wireless. Now, both connections work, but the problem is that they don't work on the same time. If I have power to the access point, then my own wired connection doesn't work, and if I unplug the power for the access point, then my own connection works again. So what is the problem here? Would I be better of getting rid of the switch, and buying a wireless network card for my own computer? Be aware that I'm a complete retard concerning computers, so not too many fancy words, or I won't be able to understand. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Router: Cisco 677 Access point: Linksys Wap54G Operating systems: Laptop has XP, my own computer has Vista.
	__________________ Peter "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." (Bertrand Russell)

11th March 2007, 01:16 PM	#2
gnome Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,869	This may reveal that I'm too uninformed to help... but why router, switch, and access point? Why not just a single wireless router?
gnome Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,869	__________________

11th March 2007, 06:29 PM	#3
vIQleS Muse Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Auckland NZ Posts: 861	I assume the router is for the internet... Can you get WAP/internet routers? My question would be - why the switch? Plug the router into the phoneline, and the WAP and your computer into the router. Does that work?
	__________________ ==--New NZ Skeptical Podcast--== http://thecusp.org.nz "vIQleS, Slap me. Slap me twice." - Foolmewunz Last edited by vIQleS; 11th March 2007 at 06:41 PM.

12th March 2007, 04:42 AM	#4
plindboe Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,244	Good point guys. I started out with a normal router. I got told on another forum that all I needed was an access point, for my girlfriend to get online too. But there was only 1 ENET socket in my router, so I couldn't both plug my own computer, and the access point in. I was then told that either I would go wireless with both computers, by buying a netcard to my own computer, or I could buy a switch, so I could hook up both things to that ENET socket. I chose the switch option. Both connections doesnn't seem to be working on the same time though, so something is definitely wrong. I bet it's probably some setting in Windows, or with my router that I have to change before it works. But perhaps taking the switch back, and getting a netcard for my own computer would be the 2nd solution.
	__________________ Peter "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." (Bertrand Russell)

12th March 2007, 07:47 AM	#6
plindboe Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,244	Originally Posted by Blue Bubble Sounds like you might have the same IP address on both machines. Easy enough to check, even on Windows. Thanks for the answer. If that's the case, what can I do to change it?
	__________________ Peter "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." (Bertrand Russell)

12th March 2007, 05:08 AM	#5
Blue Bubble Sharper than a thorn Join Date: May 2005 Location: Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK Posts: 2,221	Sounds like you might have the same IP address on both machines. Easy enough to check, even on Windows.

12th March 2007, 06:54 PM	#7
stormer Thinker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 131	Your setup does not work properly because both the Cisco 667 and the WRT54G have routers built in. What you need is Wall \| "Modem" \| Access point (WRT54G))))) Laptop \| Computer The WRT54G has 4 built in ports which you can use to hook up the desktop computer with wires. Version 1 The thing to do right now would be to login to the Cisco and enable "bridge" mode - This makes it a pure modem. Connect the Cisco to the "WAN" port of the WRT54G Enter your account login information into the WRT54G. The alternate Version 2 way is: Leave the Cisco as is. (router enabled) Login to the WRT54G and disable the router part of it. (This may or may not be able to be done, depending on the firmware in the WRT54G) Connect the Cisco to one of the ethernet (LAN, not WAN) ports of the WRT54G (and get rid of the switch) Wall \| Router \| Access point (router disabled)))) Laptop \| Computer ---- As to why I think this problem is hapening, I'd say it's because the Cisco and the WRT54G have the same IP. Hope this helps and is not too confusing.
stormer Thinker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 131

12th March 2007, 09:32 PM	#8
vIQleS Muse Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Auckland NZ Posts: 861	Originally Posted by plindboe Good point guys. I started out with a normal router. I got told on another forum that all I needed was an access point, for my girlfriend to get online too. But there was only 1 ENET socket in my router, so I couldn't both plug my own computer, and the access point in. I was then told that either I would go wireless with both computers, by buying a netcard to my own computer, or I could buy a switch, so I could hook up both things to that ENET socket. I chose the switch option. Both connections doesnn't seem to be working on the same time though, so something is definitely wrong. I bet it's probably some setting in Windows, or with my router that I have to change before it works. But perhaps taking the switch back, and getting a netcard for my own computer would be the 2nd solution. OK - when i say 'router' I'm usually talking about a (DSL) modem with (4 usually) Ethernet ports in it. (for home applications). So that would do the job of the switch as well... In that case your setup should work... (with the modifications suggested above).
	__________________ ==--New NZ Skeptical Podcast--== http://thecusp.org.nz "vIQleS, Slap me. Slap me twice." - Foolmewunz

13th March 2007, 07:01 AM	#9
plindboe Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,244	Thanks alot for the responses guys. stormer, it is not the router I have. It's WAP54G, which is only an access point. I was specifically looking for that in the shops, as I'd heard that two routers can cause complications. I think I might have written the router's IP in the settings when I setup the access point. The router is 192.168.1.2 or something. Should the access point be 192.168.1.3 or something like that? But curiously both connections seems to be working now. I've no idea why, as I have changed nothing.
	__________________ Peter "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." (Bertrand Russell)

13th March 2007, 10:19 PM	#10
vIQleS Muse Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Auckland NZ Posts: 861	It was all the help... We sent you good energy.
	__________________ ==--New NZ Skeptical Podcast--== http://thecusp.org.nz "vIQleS, Slap me. Slap me twice." - Foolmewunz

14th March 2007, 04:27 PM	#11
stormer Thinker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 131	Oh cr@p! Proof that alcohol (in moderation, over the years, ehm) kills brain cells. I read your post twice, and STILL came up with "WRT"!! Sorry for the bad advice in the previous post
stormer Thinker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 131