TrueMobile 2300 as Wireless Bridge

I’m trying to create a wireless bridge between 2 TrueMobile 2300s.  I think I’ve read all the threads and I’ve spoken with tech support and I’ve spend 12 hours on it. Still no luck!

I’ll describe the setup that is working and then what I’m trying to add.

Here is the problem:

I want to use my Inspiron Wifi downstairs where the signal is weak.  I bought a second turemobile2300 and tried to configure it as a bridge.

Here is what I have that works: (without the second router and without going downstairs).

Direcway Satellite internet modem ---usb---> Dell Dimension running xp pro  -- Ethernet --> truemobile2300 as an access point <--- Dell Inspiron Wifi.

The Satellite connection is set up for Internet Connection Sharing in Windows XP.  This automatically assigns an address of 192.168.0.1 to the Ethernet connection.  The Inspiron Wifi connection is set to obtain an IP address automatically.  It gets a different address each time I turn it on, but all as 192.168.0.xxx, for example  192.168.0.117.

Ipconfig looks like this:

C:\Documents and Settings\David>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : rovio

        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :

        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes

        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter DIRECWAY Satellite Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : direcway.com

        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Satellite USB Device

        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-80-AE-00-00-01

        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.1.173.151

        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 198.77.116.8

                                            198.77.116.12

                                            198.77.116.12

                                            198.77.116.8

                                            198.77.116.12

                                            198.77.116.12

                                            66.82.4.8

Ethernet adapter WiFi:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : CNet PRO200WL PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter

        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-08-A1-1E-E6-1D

        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No

        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

       Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

In order to get to the router’s user interface I need to temporarily assign an address of 192.168.1.2 to the WiFi connection and then enter 192.168.1.1 in IE.

The Truemobile is set for Access Point Mode, SSID: MontagnaGroup, Channel 11, Enable Wireless Security, Network Authentication: WPA, Key: xxx,…

IP address is not automatically obtained and is the default 192.168.2.1, DHCP Server Function is not enabled, Advanced Settings are unset (Enable Wireless is on).

When I return my WiFi connection back to "Automatically obtain IP address", everything works fine.  I get filesharing, printsharing and internet.

Recall the problem:

I want to use my Inspiron Wifi downstairs where the signal is weak.  I bought another turemobile2300 and tried to configure it as a bridge.

Here is what I did: (I did a Submit and Restart at each appropriate point).

1.      I logged in to the first router and under advanced settings I checked the Wireless Bridge box and entered the MAC address from the label of the second router. Saved it

2.      I turned off the First router and turn on the second router. The wireless light came on.

3.      I logged into the send router.

4.      I set it to Access Point mode and set the SSID and Channel as above. I set the WPA security and the key as above.

5.      In Advanced  settings  - Advanced  wireless, enabled Wireless Bridge.

6.      Entered the Wireless MAC address of the first Dell TrueMobile 2300 Wireless Broadband Router in the first box.

7.      Again clicked on advanced settings - DHCP server settings - and uncheck "Enable DHCP server functions"

8.      Reset the Network Connection Property for IP Address to obtain an IP address automatically.

9.      Turned off 2nd router and the Inspiron.

10.  Turned on the first router then second router and turn on the Inspiron.

Result:

When I’m near the First router everything works great. My Inspiron IP Address is 192.168.0.xxx as expected.  I can get to the internet and my files on the Dimension.

When I’m near the second router its wireless light comes on, I have excellent Signal Strength  but no internet and no filesharing.  The IP Address of my Inspiron is 169.254.102.141 [a Dell tech support guy once said that this means it is not connected to a DHCP server].  Apparently, the 2 routers are not speaking.

What can I do?