How to run 2 wireless routers off one internet connection?

[MissKat]

Reason I ask is because I was told that you can overload a router if you have too many devices hooked up to it/running off it....or if not that then it will degrade your speeds since the bandwidth is branched out.

Later this month I have 2 people moving into my house and they have 2 laptops which will obviously be running wirelessly off my router and a wired console. I current have 1 wireless laptop and 2 wired consoles running off it.

So that will make it

3 wireless
3 wired.
and perhaps another wireless since they have an ipod touch and 2 sony PSP as well.

I also happen to have a spare Linksys WRT54G router (same model as im running now), just different versions. One is a 8.2, the other a 6.0, the 8.2 about a year newer. So is there any way to run 2 of these at the same time and perhaps boost my signals in the house?

[gottabekd]

I'm not an expert on the subject, so if someone is, please correct me where I'm wrong, as a lot of this is assumptions.

Yes, if you have a lot of devices uses the wireless network, you can get some slowdown due to the signals interfering with each other. This would probably only be noticeable if you do a lot of heavy usage on multiple devices (streaming media, online games, downloads). How much of a slowdown, I'm not sure, but it might be negligible.

What you have to remember is all that traffic is going out a pipe much slower than the router. If you do a lot of traffic internally (e.g. streaming media, transferring files from one PC to another), then you might notice a slowdown with all the devices on the wireless network. On the other hand, if you are all just trying to get out on the Internet, your traffic will have to wait it's turn anyways, and the slowdown will be on the outgoing side, not the wireless network side.

It would be possible to set up two wireless routers on the same network. One would have to know a little bit about TCP/IP networking to do it, as most instructions online probably only show you a basic setup.

For the two routers to be of any use, you will need to make sure they use different wavelengths. Devices have a channel setting. There are about 10-11 overlapping channels available for use in North America. You will want to select 2 channels far away from each other to prevent interference.

Even better would be to have an 802.11g router (that operates in the 2.4 GHz range) paired with a 802.11n router (that operates in the 5.0 GHz range).

[ken0042]

I would think your bottleneck would be the connection to the internet, not on the router.

I would try it out and see if there are issues before buying another router. 3 wired plus 3 wireless isn't much- I have 3 wired and 4 wireless in my house running off one router. Maybe not all used at the same time, but 6 devices is well withing what they were designed to do.

[PsYcNeT]

Yeah, running 3/3 in one router is just fine.

If you are bottlenecking, make sure everyone is setup with a) IP reservation, and b) all their ports properly forwarded.

If it's still slow, get a better ISP.

[Rathji]

I agree your problem is probably not your router but your total bandwidth and the use of that bandwidth ( ie torrents/file sharing) that is causing the problem.

If you do decide to set up multiple routers, I think you just need a switch off the modem to give a separate IP to each router. I don't have any experience with this personally though, so I may be confused~

[I_H8_Crawford]

If you want to do 2 routers, here's some great info - I did it for my Xbox, but you can set it up as just a wireless bridge as well.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...=xbox+wireless

[Ducay]

Skip the second router, one will do fine. You've got to keep in mind its going to be exceedingly rare that you have ALL 3 laptops, and 3 wired devices at the same time.
And even then, as mentioned, any slow down is going to be due to your internet transfer speeds, not router. 802.11g can handle way more than I would expect you guys would be able to throw at it through the internet.

[sclitheroe]

That's not a lot of devices sharing a single wireless access point. One router is fine, its your internet connection that will be the limiting factor for online performance. 802.11g will realistically provide about 30 megabits of throughput, which is probably at least 3 times your available bandwidth at your internet provider.

Even with one or more of the machines making heavy use of the internet (for example, my upstream bandwidth is swamped when running an online backup), the other machines are relatively unaffected for browsing, chatting, etc.

[MissKat]

Thanks for all the insight all.

Anyways, Ive talked to telus and Microsoft and from what theyre telling me, is that since I would be having 2 xboxs and 1 PS3 connected to the same router and modem - to run 2 seperate IPs, each on their own router and modem. Either that or I get a new and preferably gaming router.

Becuse MS told me that there is no ADSL modem out now that supports 2 xboxs. They said if you try to go online under both accounts on both xboxs at the same time, itll most likely boot one out.

I dont want to have 2 networks and 2 IPs going on since itll most likely cost a fortune.

[PsYcNeT]

I think that MS might be a little off base. If you have the latest firmware for that WRS54G or whatever it should run both.

From personal experience at home (2 Xboxs running off the same network) we've never seen a problem with that, or the new wireless-n router we have.

[mykalberta]

Do you want both Xbox's on Live?

That might be what MS is getting at.

With mine, I port forward specific ports to the static IP set on the Xbox. If you only have one Xbox on LIVE, then there shouldnt be an issue at all.

[MissKat]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

I think that MS might be a little off base. If you have the latest firmware for that WRS54G or whatever it should run both.

From personal experience at home (2 Xboxs running off the same network) we've never seen a problem with that, or the new wireless-n router we have.

Yes my router has the latest f/w.

[MissKat]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Do you want both Xbox's on Live?

That might be what MS is getting at.

With mine, I port forward specific ports to the static IP set on the Xbox. If you only have one Xbox on LIVE, then there shouldnt be an issue at all.

Yes, I want both xboxs to be able to connect as we will be playing head to head in games.

I have no idea how to port fwd ports on it. Is it nessecary?

[mykalberta]

The problem is that both Xbox need a separate IP address from your ISP, you cannot nat Live connections.

The easiest might be to do the following, this would be my suggestion.

Assumptions: Both Telus and Shaw give you 2 dhcp addresses.

Set your Xbox with DHCP.

Connect your modem to a dumb hub or switch, connect both xbox to the switch, and connect the router to the switch as well (this allows you to isolate your computers when you want to game head to head via Live). When you want to have both Xbox on Live, you will need to either unplug or turn off your router.

The problem is that that Xbox Live needs a non natted IP address. Meaning that if you have 2 xbox and 1+ computer or other devices plugged into your router, your router doesnt give your xbox an un natted IP unless you port forward (this only works with one xbox, as you cannot do this with 2).

So, when 3+ deivces are plugged into the router only 1 xbox will likely work with live, while the other ip address (home accounts normally are given 2 ip addresses) is taken by your computer.

Your problem on the web from our dark overlords at google. http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=338065

[MissKat]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

The problem is that both Xbox need a separate IP address from your ISP, you cannot nat Live connections.

The easiest might be to do the following, this would be my suggestion.

Assumptions: Both Telus and Shaw give you 2 dhcp addresses.

Set your Xbox with DHCP.

Connect your modem to a dumb hub or switch, connect both xbox to the switch, and connect the router to the switch as well (this allows you to isolate your computers when you want to game head to head via Live). When you want to have both Xbox on Live, you will need to either unplug or turn off your router.

The problem is that that Xbox Live needs a non natted IP address. Meaning that if you have 2 xbox and 1+ computer or other devices plugged into your router, your router doesnt give your xbox an un natted IP unless you port forward (this only works with one xbox, as you cannot do this with 2).

So, when 3+ deivces are plugged into the router only 1 xbox will likely work with live, while the other ip address (home accounts normally are given 2 ip addresses) is taken by your computer.

Your problem on the web from our dark overlords at google. http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=338065

Damn thise sounds like a lot of work and a big headache lol. Let me call up telus, see how much more it would be to get a spare static IP from them.

I would hate to have to unplug the router each time we want to play xbox, that would be a pain in the arse.

Also, where can I get this dumb hub or switch? and how much do they cost? Whats the exact name of it?

thx apreciate the help.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by MissKat

Damn thise sounds like a lot of work and a big headache lol. Let me call up telus, see how much more it would be to get a spare static IP from them.

I would hate to have to unplug the router each time we want to play xbox, that would be a pain in the arse.

Also, where can I get this dumb hub or switch? and how much do they cost? Whats the exact name of it?

thx apreciate the help.

$50 max, when you go to a computer store and ask for one they will know what you mean.

2 examples are
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...MX135(ME).aspx
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...X1964(ME).aspx

[MissKat]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

$50 max, when you go to a computer store and ask for one they will know what you mean.

2 examples are
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX135(ME).aspx
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX1964(ME).aspx

Damn.

I called telus and they said to get a 2nd static IP that it would have to be through a business. But they give 2 dynamic IPs for each connection.

Im almost tempted to just install a shaw cable connection in the house and run telus and shaw.

Even though im on the fence about having 2 family members move in to our house tommorow, im glad its only or 1yr. Good lordy...

[mykalberta]

A switch is useful to have anyways, i wouldnt spend 50$ extra per month on another connection, unless someone else is paying for it

[MissKat]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

A switch is useful to have anyways, i wouldnt spend 50$ extra per month on another connection, unless someone else is paying for it

That suggestion you gave will forsure work? Using the switch and open ports on one of the xboxs? The only bad thing is having to unplug the router each time both xboxs go online. And that pretty much disables computer internet usage during that time.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by MissKat

That suggestion you gave will forsure work? Using the switch and open ports on one of the xboxs? The only bad thing is having to unplug the router each time both xboxs go online. And that pretty much disables computer internet usage during that time.

If your ISP provides you with 2 DHCP Ip addresses that will work. There is no forwarding because a switch is a layer 2 device, just set your XBOX to DHCP the IP address. You may have to reboot the modem and xbox's once after change over.

When the router is unplugged from the switch then the IP address will be free for the Xbox to use.

There is a way to save yourself the cost of a switch, by going into the firmware of your router and turning off the router/firewall functions. A 4 port router is a router with a 4 port switch. But if you arent comfortable with playing with those settings, than ~$35 isnt a crazy cost for ease of use. It baffles me that Microsoft would tell you to setup 2 routers, since its the ISP that is limiting you, adding routers on your end wouldnt assist at all.

You mentioned a PS3earlier, this will not allow all 3 on at the same time, just 2.

I would wait to see if the CP braintrust has any other ideas, I am sure this issue has come up with someone on this site with a PS3 and and Xbox or something similar.