Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[hmkabaker]

With the newest firmware, the Mixed n/g/b mode doesn't recognize our iBook. So for now I'm running the 655 in g/b mode for the iBook, a MacBook and a Dell laptop (2 Dell laptops when my daughter is home from college), and a HP wireless printer.

I tried splitting off the iBook to an old D-624  (runs g and b), running the 655 at g/n, and connecting the routers with an Ethernet cable between LAN ports.

Theoretically, it should work, but I couldn't find the right combination of settings to do it. Either that, or it won't work at all.

I think I need these conditions:

1. The 655's DHCP assigns IP addresses from 100 to 199.
2. The 624's DHCP assigns IP addresses from 200 to 255.
3. The 655 has IP address 192.168.0.1.
4. The 624 has IP address 192.168.0.2.

5. The iBook's Airport network goes to the 624.
6. The other devices connect to the 655.

7. The DSL modem feeds the WAN port in the 655.

So far, so good. They connect via Ethernet and via Airport to their respective stations.

When I hook the 624 and 655 together, I can't get to the Internet from the iBook. Network analyzer says it's connected to the Internet, but the browser acts like there's no connnection, or the DNS server is missing. So, assuming it will work with the correct settings, I'm thinking I need the right combination of DNS addresses for all components.

Separately, I'm not sure whether the 655 is connecting to the Ethernet when the 624 is wired to it.

What DNS should the iBook look for via the 624, and what should the 624 look for through Ethernet? Previously, the  laptops all used the 655's IP address.

Has anyone tried this?

Thanks.

Harvey

[Sammydad1]

Hi,

Usually you need to disable the routing on the 2nd router and just use it as a switch off the DIR-655.

Also you might want to change the IP for the 624 unit to  192.168.1.1 so the various DHCP functions don't conflict on the 192.168.0.0 IP numbers...that also might lead to disabling DHCP on the 624 as well....so all DHCP activity comes off the 655.

I guess the far better question is why B/G/N mode isnt working for you in the first place and my initial thought would be to ask if you are using encryption on your wireless ?  WEP only runs with B/G, N only uses WPA WPA2 etc....

SD1

[hmkabaker]

Thanks for the suggestion.

No password security on either router. There's a flaw in the 655 n/g/b mode that D-Link acknowledges is an issue. The router simply doesn't pay attention to b with n running. They're working on a fix, so I'm hoping to find a short term workaround with the 624, in effect converting b to g for the 655.

I don't know which will come first: We retire the iBook, or D-Link finds a fix.

I hear Apple Airport Extreme-n can handle n/g/b, and can take a dual setup as well. Had I known then what I think I know now . . .

Harvey

[wib]

I would turn off DHCP on the second box making it effectively a wireless switch as stated. Can you change the default gateway from the client side?

[hmkabaker]

Disabling DHCP on the 624 is the key. In a limited test from one Mac, I can get to the Internet connecting via Airport or Ethernet to the 624 bridged to the 655, which is doing DCHP and DNS service.

Now I have to expand the setup to bring the iBook through the 624, with everything else connecting to the 655 in n/g mode. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks.

H

[Sammydad1]

Hi,

Don't forget to test out the Wireless Partitioning setting in the 655...it may well appply very well to your situation while running the B/G on the 624 right near the N/G of the 655...


Sd1

[bananaman]

H, SmallNetBuilder has a nice set of instructions describing what you need to do.

[hmkabaker]

Running well. The iBook connects through the 624. The router doesn't tell me what speed he gets. The 655 sees a 54 Mbps connection.

The MacBook shows rates up to 130Mbps on the 655. My wife's Dell Inspiron has a b/g card and comes into the 655 at 54.

The 655 guide says to turn off the "Extra Wireless Protection" to prevent degrading its performance when 802.11b is nearby.

But it's not clear whether I need to enable WLAN partition. For now, it's off.

For browsing the 'Net and an occasional large download, I'm happy. My Verizon service is 3 Mbps DSL. I can't complain about the download time yesterday for the 160 MB Open Office upgrade .dmg.

Thanks to all for your advice.

Harvey