help with wireless router settings

can somebody help me set up my wireless router? everytime i connect on my iphone or laptop, it will work for awhile, but then after awhile the ip will just change to 169.254.64.152. i know that ip means that its not getting a ip from the DNS server or something along those lines. but ive turned off my DNS on the wireless and also put it to bridge mode and everything, it still doesnt work. everytime i want to connect through wifi on my devices i have to restart the router.

heres my setup:

router 1(802.11b netgear router) ---------->modem
------------> router 2 (802.11g linksys router)

the modem is connected to router 1 and then router 1 is connected to router 2. the reason behind this is because i have the modem on the first floor. then i have some computers on the upper floor (so router 1 takes care of that). but i also have a computer in the basement where i am usually at (where router 2 is).

can anyone help me out?

 

wow that sounds kinda complicated...is the second router (router2) that is hooked up to router1 acting as an Access Point?..or is it also distributing IP addresses...router1 should be configured as DHCP or as a Static Router and router2 should be like an AP. I think this will work...and u need to use the DNS in the Wireless Adapters on the iphone/laptop. I suggest pluggin the Modem directly to the laptop via an eternet cable, enable the LAN connection. Left click on the connection in the task tray go to the Status tab, click details and take note of the DNS IP...Now u need to use that DNS as ur laptop/iphone DNS. Or u could try 192.168.1.1 as the DNS which should be the router's default DNS.

 

well the thing is, my desktop is also in the basement (hooked to router2 via cat5)
i just checked my DNS settings on my netgear(router1) and its set on get automatically from ISP. and my linksys(router2) is all default. everything works great on cat 5 but its the wireless thats messed up. and i do get the right DNS and everything when i connect, but like a random time later, it just automatically goes to 169.254.64.152 and i would have to restart my linksys (router2) to get it to connect back to the regular ip again. i would just use my 802.11b but that signal is too weak..

yea.. its complicated. i dont know if this matters, but the cat5 cable running from router1 to router2 is connected in slot 1 in router2 not WAN.

 

aarrgghhh.......

 

I think R2 needs to be set up as an AP, and i would think that R1 should be going to the WAN port of R2. Then the desktop there in the basement going into port 1 of R2.

I must say thas a hell of a network u got there man.

 

so i just tried plugging the wire from upstairs to the Internet port (thats WAN right?) and the internet does not work. so i have no idea whats wrong lol.

 

Alright...i think u should try this..hopefully u can get into the routers and configure them...most likely by typing 192.168.1.1 in the Address Field of Internet Explorer...if that IP don't log u into the router settings then find out what ur Default IP is by typing ipconfig /all in a command prompt window on ur laptop (but first u should be directly connected to the said router when using the command)...ok i want u to first connect ur laptop directly to R1 (port 1) and configure it as a DHCP router..which it sounds like it is already. Then connect the laptop directly to R2 (port 1) and set up R2 as an AP. Using all defaults...when thats done connect R1 to R2 via the Internet (WAN) port...i don't see y this wouldn't work even though i've never done it.

EDITED

 

What type of connection do you get when you connect your laptop to the ethernet port of router 2? Do you get anything?

 

i'm gonna assume your using 'Linksys' routers...anyways should be the same for other router brands...router#1...if it still has its default gateway of 192.168.1.1...router#2...unhook all cables...do a reset to factory defaults...configure it on a bench (without internet...PC nic to WAN port on router)...just like if it were new...on main set-up page...depending how you've got #1 set-up...that is static or automatic...set up #2 the same way...rename the default IP from (192.168.1.1)...to 192.168.1.2...disable all DHCP functions on router #2...this includes no portforwarding...or port range triggering...on the advanced tab in the main set up page select the mode to router...no need to add any numbers to the destination IP or Default Gateway...if they both happen to be wireless routers...use same SSID...same type of encryption...and same network security key...after you've configured everything...pull the power supply on the router...and power off the computer...as a good measure power off all computers connected to router #1...pull the power supply cord out of router #1 as well as all ethernet cords attached to it...unplug your broadband modem...wait for about a minute...now in start to finish order...power up broad band modem and wait for it to initialize its connection...connect ethernet cable from the modem to router #1 WAN port...power up router #1 and wait for it to initialize its connection...connect any LAN ethernet cables to router #1...connect router #2 from router #1 LAN to LAN...(NOT LAN to WAN)...power up router #2...after it initializes its connection if your using any of the LAN ports on router #2 connect them to their equipment...now router #2 is a dummy switch...or a dummy wireless switch...if its wireless...Problems occur when you have two routers trying to dispatch DHCP addresses...collisions occur with the signals and thus wireless networks become unstable...as well as wired networks...in a nutshell this operation is called Cascading Routers...you will be able to reach each routers interface from either connection...easy as pie...anymore questions feel free to ask...

A#1

 

A#1. i just did what you said.
my router1 is a netgear so the default gateway is 192.168.0.1. so its diff from linksys' gateway which is 192.168.1.1. anyways. i made the ssid the same and moved the cable from r1 to r2 to port number 1. (the 1 2 3 4 ports are the LAN ports right?) you said that i should be able to access both routers. but right now i can only access the netgear(router1). the wireless seems to be working at the moment but not sure if it will later on. also, on r2. i disabled dhcp and made it into router mode instead of gateway. hopefully this works.

before i read this, i was messing around with it and i had the cable from r1 in my Internet(WAN) port of r2 and disabled dhcp in r2 and left it as gateway. everything seems to work and i was able to go into both routers. but the wireless didnt work for some reason(i had the 168. whatever ip).

 

...k...that's your problem atm...leaving the 'Linksys' at 192.168.1.1...puts it another network or gateway layer...the third ocelot or number defines what network layer it transmits...since netgear is router #1...change the default IP of the 'Linksys' to 192.168.0.2...this is why you can only access the netgear router...due to the ocelot jump from 0.1 to 1.1 explains the access issue...no need in resetting the 'Linksys' router again just change the default IP to (192.168.0.2)...shut down and restart every thing again...sometimes this step is not necessary...but it helps sycronize your network system...

 

^cool! i just did that and i can access both routers now. and wifi is also working atm. hopefully itll stay this way! if it doesnt, ill update! thanks alot!

i have a question about the same ssid though.
lets say im in the basement, ill be connected thru the linksys router. but if i walk upstairs (out of the range of linksys but in range of netgear) will it automatically switch over to the netgear router?

 

onistly...i can't answer that...i have only cascaded two linksys routers together...but being as the Linksys router is DHCP disabled and getting all of its information from the netgear...i really don't see why you would have any problems...remember...all the Linksys is now is a dummy switch...it just transmits what it receives from the netgear...if you have a config utility on any of your computers...see what mac addresses and networks its picking up...if you only see one network (your network) that shares the same name...then all is good...

Edit: experiment around a little...give both routers different SSID's...use the same key to make things easier...you'll now see two independant wireless networks...pretty sure there is a utility in windows that lets you automatically switch from network to network as signals drop...but for me its easier just to name them the same...basically doing this you've made an el cheapo Wireless Access Point...it just doesn't have the signal boosting capabilities like a more expensive WAP does...