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[randymadden]

I'm attempting to repurpose my DIR-655 as a gigabit switch.  I've read at least 50 different online posts explaining how to do this - most of them put forth the same steps.  It should be fairly straightforward and seems to be working for many people. 

I keep reading so many posts because NOTHING has worked for me.  Forget about getting the router integrated into my network.  Let's just start at the stage where you tether it to a single PC to do the setup.  I've been through it so many times now I can do it in my sleep.  Everything works fine - AS LONG AS I NEVER STRAY FROM THE ZERO SUBNET!

As long as I use a zero subnet address (192.168.0.xxx), everything works great. I can change all the settings, reboot, get back to the router.  As soon as I either power cycle, or try any subnet other than 0, I can no longer access the router through a browser.  I want to use the 2 subnet as that is what my primary router uses.  But, if I assign an address with 192.168.2.xxx - nothing.  I have to reset and start over.

Even the power cycle thing baffles me.  If I don't power it down, I can change the IP to any 0 subnet address and reboot as many times as I want - and I always get the router back.  But if I change it to something other than 192.168.0.1 (I've mostly been using 192.168.0.50), as soon as I power down I'm unable to get back to the router, no matter what address I put in.  I have to reset and start again.

Am I missing something?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

[FurryNutz]

Link>Welcome!

• What Hardware version is your router? Look at sticker under router.
• Link>What Firmware version is currently loaded? Found on the routers web page under status.
• What region are you located?

What IP address and subnet are you using on the main host router?
Generally 192.168.0.1 and 255.255.255.0 is preferred for home and small business use.

Try this:
 Turning a router into an AP

[randymadden]

Hardware version is A4.  I had just recently updated to the 1.37NA firmware.  My main router (ASUS RT-AC56U) is on 192.168.2.1

I've read that AP post (and several variations of it) many times.  At first I thought I could do the switch and AP at the same time.  Now I'm just trying to get the switch to work.  If I can do that, I'll move on to the AP.

Thanks, Rm

[FurryNutz]

You can to the switch and AP at the same time, if the main host router in on 192.168.2.1 then set the 655 to 192.168.2.50 and you'll be good. Just connect the wired LAN cable to one of the open ports in back from the main host router and you'll be good, you have 3 open ports left on the switch to use.

[randymadden]

Thanks for the advice.  The problem is: I've tried that literally dozens of times. You may have missed my original post.  Here's the salient point:

As long as I use a zero subnet address (192.168.0.xxx), everything works great. I can change all the settings, reboot, get back to the router.  As soon as I either power cycle, or try any subnet other than 0, I can no longer access the router through a browser.  I want to use the 2 subnet as that is what my primary router uses.  But, if I assign an address with 192.168.2.xxx - nothing.  I have to reset and start over.

I'm unable to access the router if I use a "2" subnet.  That's the problem I'm trying to solve.

[FurryNutz]

So after you set a 192.168.2.### and you save settings and reboot the router, are you also changing the PC's IP address to match the same 2.### something different IP address instead of the .0.### address then attempting to connect to the 192.168.2.### you assigned on the router? It should work.

I can give this a try with my Rev A router and see. Generally all D-Link routers are able to use any IP address when in wired AP mode...

[randymadden]

OK, you have my attention now.  Obviously I'm doing (or not doing) something different from all those people who've had no problem with this.  Maybe this is it.

I haven't read anything yet about changing the PC's IP address.  To be honest, I'm not entirely clear on what you mean by that?  When I assign a new IP to the router, I'm not doing anything with IP of the PC. 

If you mean: after I've changed the IP of the router (from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.2.2), do I then put that new IP in the browser?  Then yes.  Still nothing.

Part of the mystery is that I don't have to change the subnet to lose the router.  I can make changes to the settings, change the router IP to, say, 192.168.0.50, reboot, use that new IP to access it over and over - until I power it off.  Then, still connected only to a local PC, using the same 192.168.0.50 IP I just rebooted to 10 times, still (obviously) on the zero subnet - if I put in that IP: nothing.  No router at that address.  I have to reset and start over with 192.168.0.1.

So, I can change the IP of the router (to a zero subnet address), without changing the IP of the PC, and still get to it until I power cycle.  Why would I need to change the IP of the PC if I change to a "2" subnet?

[FurryNutz]

When you are configuring the router on the PC and its IP address is 192.168.0.something, so is the PCs IP address string. When you change the routers IP address to 192.168.2.50 and reboot, the IP address ON the PC needs to be changed to the same 192.168.2.something pool so it can now access any address on the 2. pool. The PC can't access the new IP 2.50 address string using the .0.something string.

[randymadden]

Furry,

Thank you.  You would think an item of that significance would be somewhere else on the internet.  And yet this is the first time I've run into that information in dozens and dozens of posts that I've read.  I'm going to try it as soon as I get home tonight and I'll post an update.

[FurryNutz]

I'll give my Rev A a go if needed. Keep us posted.

 

[randymadden]

Dude!  You deserve some sort of a medal.  Seriously, look around at any post of how to set up a router as an access point and see if you see ANY MENTION of changing the PC's IP when you change the router IP.  I can say with confidence that you won't find any - I've read them all.

But as soon as I change the PC's IP to be on the 2 subnet: Bingo! there she is.  Put it on my network and: Bingo! no problem.  You are a genius.

In fairness, I have to think that most people aren't changing their subnet when they're setting up an old router as an access point, so there may be no need to mention it.  But still, when it can have this sort of impact, at least bring it up as a possibility.

I've been fighting this thing for over a week now, and you solve it one go.  Thank You!

[FurryNutz]

Glad to be of help.

Come back and visit if you need help or information. 

Enjoy.