When I set up my Belkin router as an access point, I was connecting it to a Linksys ethernet router. Because I was familiar with the Linksys products, and had configured another Linksys router as an access point, I generally followed the Linksys instructions for setting up an access point, modifying them as I went along to conform with the slightly different settings available on the Belkin. The Linksys instructions can be found at:
Sorry, I guess the correct link failed to get on the clipboard and it just pasted what was already on the clipboard. I edited the message so that it now provides the correct link.
In the belkin setup there is a radio button that toggles the belkin into access point mode... when I click on that, it asks for an IP address and a subnet mask... any IP I give fails....
For example: by the time one gets to that point, the Linksys router has already assigned the Belkin an IP address... enter that as the IP address Belkin "access point" asks for and it doesn't work.
enter any IP address and it doesn't work....
I think the problem I'm having is that I don't understand how an access point fits in to a wireless network. I know it doesn't issue its own IP addresses, but what IP does it have?
I know I'm close, and I'm just missing some piece of information.
any ideas.?
I quote
"1. With the router powered up, hold in the Reset button located on the front or back of the unit for about 1 minute. On some units you may need a paperclip to hold in the reset."
in my case, which one? the linksys or the Belkin?
Let me try a different tack....
can someone explain what an access point looks like from the Linksys Router's point of view?
Does the Linksys give the Access Point an IP address?
Will knowing this IP help to connect my notebook to the AP?
Does the Linksys give the Access Point an IP address?
No, the access point needs to have its own static IP address. That IP address has to somewhere in the range of the IP addresses that the Linksys router expects. That is, it must be in the range 192.168.1.xxx and outside of the range that the router will normally assign. Linksys suggests 192.168.1.254, as it is unlikely that the router will ever try to assign 252 other IP addresses.
The access point is just a router with DHCP turned off.
That means that when the IP request comes through, the AP passes
it on to the Default Gateway (192.168.1.1) and that router (my linksys)
issues the IP.
The problem seems to be in changing the IP of the Belkin Access Point.
By the time I am able to do that, the LINKSYS has already given the
Belkin a dynamic IP.
Changing the IP in the Belkin when you toggle it to AP mode has NO effect.
Clicking the Apply changes button in the belkin doesn't make any changes.
When I go back to the Linksys and examine the IP table, the belkin still has
the origninal Dynamic IP DHCP gave it.
Changing the IP address of the Belkin seems to be key. I'm not sure why
it needs to change at all... can't it just stay with the IP Linksys
DHCP gave it?
what does it have to be changed to 192.168.1.254?
The instructions for setting up an access point say that you conect it to a computer and configure it as an access point before connecting it to the router.
reset the Belkin
manually changed its IP to 192.168.1.120
plugged the belkin back in to the Linksys router.
it seems like this should cause the Linksys to accept the fixed IP,
but it just makes the belkin disappear entirely.
Once I've set the Belkin to a fixed IP, the Linksys doesn't know it's exists.
Even when I connect directly to the belkin with my notebook and a cat 5 cable,
I can't get to the belkin configuration anymore
I can't browse to 192.168.1.120
and I can't browse to 192.168.2.1....
I think I understand the process now, but the hardware won't
cooperate.
I will outline:
1) disconnect the Belkin AP from the Linksys Router (easily done)
2) reset the belkin to a static IP that falls within the
Linksys range (that is, the subnet the Linksys is on) (easy)
3) re-connect the belkin AP (easy)
4) get the Linksys to recognize the Belkin AP and use its fixed IP
(this is where it falls down... simply plugging the belkin
back in to the Linksys doesn't make the Linksys acknowledge
the Belkin and add its fixed IP to the Linksys's routing table.)
How do you get the Linksys Router to acknowledge the Belking after you've
changed the Belkin's IP to a fixed IP in the range of the Linksys's router's
subnet?
The Belkin, by default seems to have two IP addresses.
If I Browse to 192.168.1.103 I get the Belkin configuration screen
If I Browse to 192.168.2.1 I get the Belkin configuration screen.
The .103 address is the IP Linksys DHCP gave to the Belkin.
The .2.1 is ???? ... who knows???
This seems to be a two step process:
1) reset the Belkin to a fixed IP (how is that done!??)
2) turn of Belkin's DHCP.
Will the Belkin then forward a DHCP request to the Linksys?
It should, but it hasn't yet.
Is this an accurate picture of what should happen?
Am I missing a step?
That's unusual and appears that something isn't working right. It may be an incompatibility between the Linksys and Belkin. I'm surprised that the Belkin is still getting an IP address from the Linksys. The 192.168.2.1 address is Belkin's default IP address. This should have changed when you put it into access point mode and gave it a new IP address. The .103 address, is, as you have correctly surmized, the IP address that the Belkin acquired from the the Linksys' DHCP server.
Why the Belkin is acting like a computer, that is having a DHCP client running, I don't understand. Are there any settings in the Belkin configuration where you can turn off its DHCP client service?
You should turn off the Linksys DHCP service before assigning it an IP address.
What happens if you just turn off the Belkins DHCP server mode (thus putting it into access point mode) and then letting it use the IP address it acquires from the Linkys?
If it is really operating in access point mode, then it should forward a DHCP request from any computers attached to the Belkin, and the Linksys should assign IP addresses for the computers that are requesting IP addresses.
Note: This advanced feature should be employed by advanced users only.
The Router can be configured to work as a wireless network access point. Using this mode will defeat the NAT IP sharing feature and DHCP server. In AP mode, the Router will need to be configured with an IP address that is in the same subnet as the rest of the network that you will bridge to. The default IP address is 192.168.2.254 and subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. These can be customized for your need.
1.
Enable the AP mode my selecting "Enable" in the "Use as Access Point only" page. When you select this option, you will be able to change the IP settings.
2.
Set your IP settings to match your network. Click "Apply Changes".
3.
Connect a cable from the WAN port on the Router to your existing network.
The Router is now acting as an Access Point. To access the Router advanced user interface again, type the IP address you specified into your browser’s navigation bar. You can set the encryption settings, MAC address filtering, SSID and channel normally.
Gentlemen, thank you for all your time and effort.
I have given up on this project.
When someone asks me "can you configure a router as an access point"
my answer will be "no".
Don, I'll have to disagree with that generalization. I've helped many people convert their wireless routers to operate as access points, including one yesterday. However, none of them have been Belkins.
Unlike all the others I've encountered, the manuals on two different Belkin routers say to leave the cable connecting the access point to the router in the WAN port of the access point. All the others require you to move the cable to one of the LAN ports. I suggested trying that in the other thread you posted on this subject. Did you try that? What were the results?
volcano11
2 Intern
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28K Posts
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April 15th, 2005 01:00
When I set up my Belkin router as an access point, I was connecting it to a Linksys ethernet router. Because I was familiar with the Linksys products, and had configured another Linksys router as an access point, I generally followed the Linksys instructions for setting up an access point, modifying them as I went along to conform with the slightly different settings available on the Belkin. The Linksys instructions can be found at:
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/linksys.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=358&p_created=1084209764&p_sid=2jtGzZCh&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MTA1JnBfcHJvZHM9MSwwJnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0xLjE7Mi51MCZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfc2NmX2xhbmc9MSZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PWFjY2VzcyBwb2ludCBtb2Rl&p_li=&p_topview=1
See if these are helpful as a general guide to getting it set up on your Belkin product.
Steve
Message Edited by volcano11 on 04-14-2005 09:26 PM
dgbowen
2 Intern
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168 Posts
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April 15th, 2005 01:00
I guess I'm confused about what IP the belkin wants when I set it
as an access point.
Any IP in the world? What range should it fall in?
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
April 15th, 2005 01:00
Sorry, I guess the correct link failed to get on the clipboard and it just pasted what was already on the clipboard. I edited the message so that it now provides the correct link.
Steve
dgbowen
2 Intern
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168 Posts
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April 15th, 2005 01:00
For example: by the time one gets to that point, the Linksys router has already assigned the Belkin an IP address... enter that as the IP address Belkin "access point" asks for and it doesn't work.
enter any IP address and it doesn't work....
I think the problem I'm having is that I don't understand how an access point fits in to a wireless network. I know it doesn't issue its own IP addresses, but what IP does it have?
I know I'm close, and I'm just missing some piece of information.
any ideas.?
dgbowen
2 Intern
•
168 Posts
0
April 15th, 2005 02:00
"1. With the router powered up, hold in the Reset button located on the front or back of the unit for about 1 minute. On some units you may need a paperclip to hold in the reset."
in my case, which one? the linksys or the Belkin?
Let me try a different tack....
can someone explain what an access point looks like from the Linksys Router's point of view?
Does the Linksys give the Access Point an IP address?
Will knowing this IP help to connect my notebook to the AP?
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
April 15th, 2005 02:00
Does the Linksys give the Access Point an IP address?
No, the access point needs to have its own static IP address. That IP address has to somewhere in the range of the IP addresses that the Linksys router expects. That is, it must be in the range 192.168.1.xxx and outside of the range that the router will normally assign. Linksys suggests 192.168.1.254, as it is unlikely that the router will ever try to assign 252 other IP addresses.
Steve
dgbowen
2 Intern
•
168 Posts
0
April 15th, 2005 02:00
The access point is just a router with DHCP turned off.
That means that when the IP request comes through, the AP passes
it on to the Default Gateway (192.168.1.1) and that router (my linksys)
issues the IP.
The problem seems to be in changing the IP of the Belkin Access Point.
By the time I am able to do that, the LINKSYS has already given the
Belkin a dynamic IP.
Changing the IP in the Belkin when you toggle it to AP mode has NO effect.
Clicking the Apply changes button in the belkin doesn't make any changes.
When I go back to the Linksys and examine the IP table, the belkin still has
the origninal Dynamic IP DHCP gave it.
Changing the IP address of the Belkin seems to be key. I'm not sure why
it needs to change at all... can't it just stay with the IP Linksys
DHCP gave it?
what does it have to be changed to 192.168.1.254?
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
April 15th, 2005 02:00
The instructions for setting up an access point say that you conect it to a computer and configure it as an access point before connecting it to the router.
Steve
dgbowen
2 Intern
•
168 Posts
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April 15th, 2005 03:00
I unplugged the Belkin from the Linksys
reset the Belkin
manually changed its IP to 192.168.1.120
plugged the belkin back in to the Linksys router.
it seems like this should cause the Linksys to accept the fixed IP,
but it just makes the belkin disappear entirely.
Once I've set the Belkin to a fixed IP, the Linksys doesn't know it's exists.
Even when I connect directly to the belkin with my notebook and a cat 5 cable,
I can't get to the belkin configuration anymore
I can't browse to 192.168.1.120
and I can't browse to 192.168.2.1....
I think I understand the process now, but the hardware won't
cooperate.
I will outline:
1) disconnect the Belkin AP from the Linksys Router (easily done)
2) reset the belkin to a static IP that falls within the
Linksys range (that is, the subnet the Linksys is on) (easy)
3) re-connect the belkin AP (easy)
4) get the Linksys to recognize the Belkin AP and use its fixed IP
(this is where it falls down... simply plugging the belkin
back in to the Linksys doesn't make the Linksys acknowledge
the Belkin and add its fixed IP to the Linksys's routing table.)
How do you get the Linksys Router to acknowledge the Belking after you've
changed the Belkin's IP to a fixed IP in the range of the Linksys's router's
subnet?
dgbowen
2 Intern
•
168 Posts
0
April 15th, 2005 03:00
If I Browse to 192.168.1.103 I get the Belkin configuration screen
If I Browse to 192.168.2.1 I get the Belkin configuration screen.
The .103 address is the IP Linksys DHCP gave to the Belkin.
The .2.1 is ???? ... who knows???
This seems to be a two step process:
1) reset the Belkin to a fixed IP (how is that done!??)
2) turn of Belkin's DHCP.
Will the Belkin then forward a DHCP request to the Linksys?
It should, but it hasn't yet.
Is this an accurate picture of what should happen?
Am I missing a step?
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
April 15th, 2005 04:00
That's unusual and appears that something isn't working right. It may be an incompatibility between the Linksys and Belkin. I'm surprised that the Belkin is still getting an IP address from the Linksys. The 192.168.2.1 address is Belkin's default IP address. This should have changed when you put it into access point mode and gave it a new IP address. The .103 address, is, as you have correctly surmized, the IP address that the Belkin acquired from the the Linksys' DHCP server.
Why the Belkin is acting like a computer, that is having a DHCP client running, I don't understand. Are there any settings in the Belkin configuration where you can turn off its DHCP client service?
You should turn off the Linksys DHCP service before assigning it an IP address.
What happens if you just turn off the Belkins DHCP server mode (thus putting it into access point mode) and then letting it use the IP address it acquires from the Linkys?
If it is really operating in access point mode, then it should forward a DHCP request from any computers attached to the Belkin, and the Linksys should assign IP addresses for the computers that are requesting IP addresses.
Steve
dgbowen
2 Intern
•
168 Posts
0
April 15th, 2005 11:00
I'm going to work now, but at least the posts serve
as a lesson in configuring an AP.
johnallg
2 Intern
•
7.3K Posts
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April 15th, 2005 21:00
Don, try page 46 of 83 from this Belkin manual - page should read "Using Access Point Mode". http://web.belkin.com/support/download/files/F5D6231-4_manual.pdf
Using the Access Point Mode
Note: This advanced feature should be employed by advanced users only.
The Router can be configured to work as a wireless network access point. Using this mode will defeat the NAT IP sharing feature and DHCP server. In AP mode, the Router will need to be configured with an IP address that is in the same subnet as the rest of the network that you will bridge to. The default IP address is 192.168.2.254 and subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. These can be customized for your need.1.
Enable the AP mode my selecting "Enable" in the "Use as Access Point only" page. When you select this option, you will be able to change the IP settings.2.
Set your IP settings to match your network. Click "Apply Changes".3.
Connect a cable from the WAN port on the Router to your existing network.The Router is now acting as an Access Point. To access the Router advanced user interface again, type the IP address you specified into your browser’s navigation bar. You can set the encryption settings, MAC address filtering, SSID and channel normally.
dgbowen
2 Intern
•
168 Posts
0
April 16th, 2005 05:00
I have given up on this project.
When someone asks me "can you configure a router as an access point"
my answer will be "no".
jwatt
4.4K Posts
0
April 16th, 2005 15:00
Unlike all the others I've encountered, the manuals on two different Belkin routers say to leave the cable connecting the access point to the router in the WAN port of the access point. All the others require you to move the cable to one of the LAN ports. I suggested trying that in the other thread you posted on this subject. Did you try that? What were the results?
Jim