Setup prob with Access Point to extend wireless range

[ExPat]

Hi all, I'm stuck and in dire need of some expert advice???
I have a Dlink DI-624 router hooked up to a Dlink DSL-300G modem connected to the ADSL line and have problems trying to get the wireless signal to reach the living room (where the Xbox360 is hooked up to access Xbox live). The living room is only 50 metres away but through 3 thick concrete walls & the wife said NO to running ethernet cable.
I managed to get a 7dbi antenna (I live in the Middle East, so good gear is a tad difficult to find), the antenna provided a signal on the xbox - but it isn't a strong signal & drops out all the time.
I had been hoping to find a range extender, but all I could buy locally was a Dlink Access Point DWL-2100AP. I had hoped that this would do the trick, but am having no luck getting it to work.
I'm running XP SP2, the modem uses IP 192.168.0.XXX, the router uses IP 10.0.0.XXX with DHCP active, but I can't work out how to setup the Acccess Point.
Should I define an IP to the access point or let the router auto assign through DHCP?
Has anybody tried this, & if so can you give me an idea of the right sort of settings to use for the Access Point.
I'ld be grateful for any ideas - thanks in advance.

[glc]

You have to manually assign an IP to the access point in the subnet range of the router but outside of the router's DHCP scope. Use the router's IP for the default gateway.

[ExPat]

Okay, thanks for that. This is where I am having problems, the AP Manager keeps reporting no response to inputting a new IP address & won't take the default address of 192.168.0.50.
All I get is a No response status & I get nothing from IE using the URL address.
Subnet mask on all devices is set to 255.255.255.0

Do you know anyway around this impasse?

[glc]

Are you connecting the AP directly to a computer to configure it? You *may* need a crossover cable and may need to use a static IP address on the computer temporarily.

[ExPat]

All my previous attempts have been using cat5 cable onto the router, & I have tried setting the PC to a static address - no luck with that option.
Do you mean that I should I hook it up directly to the PC rather than go via the router?

[ExPat]

Good news I have managed to get a connection to the Access Point by directly connecting to the PC (bypassing the router).
I have set the IP to 192.068.0.5, with DCHP disconnected.
Sadly, the Xbox still fails to identify the AP (failing at the IP stage).

Any other ideas to get it going?

[glc]

You may be having issues because you have 2 levels of NAT. The DSL-300G is a NAT device, it's actually a combo modem/router. Connecting a DI-624 to it does NAT once again.

Dig out the manual for the DSL-300G and configure it as a BRIDGE. Then you will set up the DI-624 for PPPoE, storing your login in the 624, not the 300. Let the 624 control everything.

This assumes your ADSL is PPPoE - if it's PPPoA, you will have to let the 300 control everything, and replace your 624 with a simple switch - and use standalone wireless access points.

The 300 does NAT to the 10.x.x.x subnet, the 624 uses 192.168.0.x.

[ExPat]

First of all that's news to me that the 300G is a modem/router I thought it was just a bog standard modem???
Worse my ADSL is PPPoA and the DI-624 is setup to use a Dynamic IP address.

I'm now very confused about the solution. The DL-624 is the only wireless sender I have and was hoping to use it to send a wireless signal to the AP to get me the additional range I need to reach the Xbox in the living room. Finally - what do you mean by a simple switch.

Can you elaborate further please???

[glc]

Instead of a router, it's just a switch. Routers have switch ports. This is a switch:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817111009

You will need non-routing wireless access points - or start running CAT5 through the house. You will need to retire your router.

If you don't have the manual for the 300G, you can download it from D-link's Australian site.

[ExPat]

Okay thanks for the clarification.

I have a manual for the DSL-300G+ and I can't find any info on the NAT capabilities of the modem - where do I look for that?

Would a range extender - like the DWL-G710 play nicely with the DSL-300G+ and DI-624 combo? and give me a greater wireless range?

[glc]

I just saw what you need in the 300G+ manual. In the configuration manager, LAN, DHCP Service - change it to DHCP Relay. This will turn over control of local DHCP to your router and only result in one level of NAT.

You will still need to enable the router's internal DHCP server, but observe the scope, no need to DHCP the whole subnet. Pick a reasonable range - like 20 addresses or so. Then as previously discussed, set your access point to 192.168.0. something - out of the DHCP scope - and use the router's IP for default gateway. Set the AP up as a bridge, then disconnect it from the computer and connect it to the Xbox.

[ExPat]

I really appreciate the trouble that you have taken on my behalf - but sadly I must be really thick or something.
I don't have any of these features like DCHP settings in my 300G+. Is there a difference between the USA & European models (my DSL-300G+ is European)

My account configuration only has connection type, encapsulation, username, password, authentication, connect on demand, then PPP information.

Now I'm seriously confused.

[glc]

That was the Australian manual I was reading - that model was never sold in the US that I know of.

We must be on different pages here.

[ExPat]

Yeah - I think we are going around in circles here.
I have found this manual online - & am positive this is the same as mine. I talks about DCHP setup - but only from Win XP

http://www.mclink.it/risorse/hardwar...guserguide.pdf

Does this confirm that I have bugger all settings on the DSL-300G+? & am I SOL with the Access point? If so what do you think about a dlink extender (I maybe able to find one on ebay)?

[glc]

Nope - that model doesn't have a DHCP Relay function - it's either NAT or bridge.

Before you bust your butt any more trying to get an access point working - borrow a long CAT 5 and see if you can get the XBox working with that. If so, we CAN get it working wireless using an access point as a bridge.

[ExPat]

Yep - that's working great. I shifted the xbox and a small TV into the computer room and I got the xbox online directly from the router. I hooked it up to a cat5 cable and it worked (picked up the settings automatically - didn't have to change any network settings in the Xbox).
Since ithe xbox was nice and close, I tried it with the wireless (also direct from the DI-624 wireless router) and once again it worked perfectly - no need to alter the xbox network settings.

If you can help to turn the Access Point into a bridge that would be excellent.

So go ahead and make my week.

[glc]

Make it a repeater and put it somewhere between the router and the Xbox.

http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.as...ion=DWL-2100AP

This will only work if your router is on this list:

http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.as...ion=DWL-2100AP

If this doesn't work, and running CAT5 is not feasible (I assume your floors are actually a concrete slab and fishing through walls is not possible) you may want to look at using a powerline or phone line bridge.

[ExPat]

Thanks GLC, I can confirm that my router is on the approved list for the access point.

I think I had better start looking at the dlink USA website for help as none of this stuff is on the UK website.

This all sounds extremely doable. I'm going to try this on the weekend (the world cup is seriously destroying my computer free time) - I'll get back to you with the results.

[ExPat]

Guess what - I have a European version of the DWL-2100 AP and I don't have the features that you have from the US version - why do manufacturers insist on different regional versions - don't they understand how infuriating this is ????

I flashed to the latest firmware 2.10 and still have the same feature set - I've attached a screen shot of the advanced tab.

Any ideas ????

[glc]

I'm out of ideas - with your existing hardware. It doesn't look like you can use it as a bridge or a repeater.

[ExPat]

Okay - your help & advice is much appreciated - looks like this AP is gonna end up on ebay.

Looks like I'll see if I can find a range extender (also on ebay).

Once again, many thanks for your help on my behalf.

[glc]

A range extender and a repeater are essentially the same thing.