DSL - Router/wireless - Wireless AP - Laptop : Not connecting

[sunspots2002]

Apologies first for what I think will be a long message for help.

I have a ADSL line coming into the building and then the building network is wired to each apartment.

I have the following:
1 * Belkin Wireless Cable/DSL gateway router 54g (F5D7230-4)
1 * Belkin Wireless Network Access Point (F5D6130)
2 * Belkin Wireless PCMCIA cards
2 * Laptops (Windows XP)

I have the network cable connected to the router. Laptop 1 (L1) is next to the router and I can surf the net.

I then have in another room the wireless access point and laptop 2 (L2). If the Wireless access point is switched off I get a weak signal and can surf the net from L2.

Good so far. I then connect the power to the wireless access point (WAP) and the L2 scans and finds the WAP and I now have a strong signal. But cannot surf the net nor see the other laptop.

I have tried changing the channel, SSID, etc and it makes no difference.

The set up on each is:

Router:
----------
IP address: 192.168.0.1
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
DHCP Server: On
IP Pool starting address: 192.168.0.2
IP Pool ending address: 192.168.0.100
WAN connection type: Dynamic
Wireless Channel: 1
SSID: WLAN
Wireless Mode: 54G-Auto
Broadcast SSID: Yes
Wireless Bridge: Enabled
NAT : enabled
Firewall: enabled

WAP
------
AP Name: MiniAP
SSID: WLAN
Channel: 11
RTS Threshold: 2346
Accept "ANY" SSID: Yes
IP address: 192.168.0.254
SUBNET: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 0.0.0.0
DHCP Client: Enabled

PCMCIA * 2
---------------
Mode: Infrastrure
SSID: WLAN
TxRate: Fully Automatic
OS Nide: Disabled
Channel: <not selectable>

WEP: Not set for any wireless devices.

I have done a test of pluging the cable into the WAP and the laptops connectt to the internet and each other okay.

I have tried the same channel number for each, router & AP.

Doing a IPCONFIG /Renew gives "An error occurred while reneewing interface local area connection 6: unable to contact your dhcp server).

So, firstly, can I use the Belkin WAP to extend the range of the wireless router?

2/ What should the settings be? I have tried various combinations with no luck at all..

I would very much appreciate some pointers on where I should look to get this working.

Thanks for taking the time to read my plea for help.

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help.

Link to: Wireless - Basic Configuration. (http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Config.html)

Link to: Wireless Security. (http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html)
:cool:

[sunspots2002]

Hi JackMDS,
Thanks for the information. I re-read the article (Wireless - BAsic Configuration) and still unable to get it sorted.

Anything else you can recommend to look at?

Thanks

[Taino718]

Bridge - used to create a wireless connection between two or more wired networks. This mode connects the physical separated, wired networks using multiple access points.

Set your Access Point to AP client.

Set Router to DHCP on.

Set Wireless Channel to 11 on both Router and Access Point.

Default gateway on Access Point should be the same as router.

Set Static Address on Router, Access Point & PCMCIA cards

AP connected to port on router (any port except WAN port)

example: router static address 192.168.1.1
AP 192.168.1.125
PCMIC (1) 192.168.1.126
PCMIC (2) 192.168.1.127

All subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Same SSID: Router & AP
SSID Broadcast: enable (until secure)
Mode: G only (mixed if you have 802.11b)
AP name: any name that you like

[sunspots2002]

Thanks for the information.

I ended up connecting a CAT cable from the wireless router to the AP. However, the solution I was expecting with the two wireless products is to put the AP in range of the wireless router (maybe just inside the router zone. Then the AP would pick up the signal and retransmit (or boost) the signal and therefore give me greater range.

Reading around now looks as this is not possible, actually isn't possible with my devices. I have been looking at DLINK site and they have a product that is called a range extender (http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=267).

This will boast the signal of the router. Unfortunately, they say it is only with DLink products. Do not know why, since the signal of all suppliers is using the 802.11 standard. Maybe someone can explain why this wont work with my Belkin.

thanks again for taking the time to give me a helping hand.