Router Conflict??

[jpsolo]

I am trying to get two Netgear routers to work in my home network. One is an RP114 wired type. The second is an MR814 wireless. I have two computers, a desktop and a laptop, both running Windows XP Home. The desktop is in my office and the laptop is in another room (den). I have installed cable through the attic connecting the office with the den. What I want to do is run the office PC wired to the RP114 and run the laptop off the MR814 using an MA401 PCMCIA card.

With the system connected up as described, I can make either of the computers work alone but when both are on neither will access the internet. I have read something about base address conflicts when two routers are in the same network but I can't seem to find a way to get them to peacefully coexist. I'm not even sure which port I should be using on the wireless router (i.e. internet port or LAN port). Obviously, I'm a real beginner in this networking thing. I am using DSL service. Is this problem solvable?

Jerry

why not just dump the wired router all together and just use the wireless router?

it has ports for wired connections.

[John Prophet]

Two routers on the same network cause problems..cause both are trying to give out DHCP addresses...maybe if you can turn off DHCP on one of them it'd work.

But yeah, as was stated, why not just run cable from the wireless one to the comp and use wireless on the laptop.

JP

[vass0922]

You shouldn't use 2 routers on a home network.
I suppose it COULD work if you have something like

cable modem <---> router 1 192.168.1.x <--> router 2 192.168.2.x

They can NOT be in the address range.

Your best bet is to just get a switch.. that will clear up a lot of frustration and confusion.

A router real purpose is to connect two different networks. It sounds like you're trying to connect PC's that are on the same network with routers.. not a good solution.

So
Either get a switch (easiest solution)
Or at least make sure the two routers are in different IP spaces.

router 1
External port (probably DHCP from ISP)
Interal port 192.168.1.1

Router 2
External Port (possibly DHCP from router 1) 192.168.1.x
Internal Port (the one your other PC will see) 192.168.2.1

Good luck

[jpsolo]

I originally bought the MR814 and the MA401 card to do exactly as some of you suggested. A friend had told me that I should get a router to serve as a firewall. I wired up my desktop to the MR814 and tried to use the wireless feature of the router for the laptop in the other room (about 50 ft. away). Unfortunately, there must be something "dense" about the construction of my home because the signal at the laptop when it was located in the den was so weak the connection would not complete. I returned the first MR814 to Netgear as they told me it appeared to be defective. I tried it with the replacement router and, while it was a little better, the connection is right on the ragged edge all the time and keeps dropping in and out. I can work the system using the either of the routers (singlely) but I had hoped to use the laptop without stringing cable across the den.

[John Prophet]

yeah, but he needs the router to share the dsl connection. JP

might i suggest takening the wireless router back and looking to getting a dlink or linksys router?

[Ptrper]

There is another option you may want to look into...

If you don't mind leaving the desktop on while you are on your laptop, what you can do is install a second NIC in the desktop, have the first NIC wired into the hardwire router, install the wireless router into the second NIC, and bridge the two connections in Network settings under XP on the desktop...

What this accomplishes is that the wireless router will take the settings from the desktop and act as a gateway for the wireless.

You should be able to have the two computers on the same network...

You can follow this link...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e.../02april22.asp

Hope this is a valid solution for your problem...

Ed

[jpsolo]

Thanks to everyone for your comments and advice.