Connecting D-Link wireless router to Cisco modem/router

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
G

garfieldbd

Honorable
Mar 21, 2013
4
0
10,510
Hello all;
I’m fairly new to networking. I’ve been fairly lucky so far. Every time I set up a network, or make changes, everything goes together easily and I’m able to set it up no problem.
Unfortunately I seem to have exceeded the capabilities of my pea brain. I am using Shaw internet. I recently upgraded my internet to 50 Mbps service. They sent me a new modem. I plugged my modem in and connected my main office computer to the modem. Everything ran no problem. The modem has an integrated wireless router. I was able to connect to it. However, the range of the wireless is poor compared to my old wireless router. It also drops out frequently making it difficult for me to work from home.
So I plugged my old D-Link wireless DIR-857 router into the modem. It didn’t work. I played with it for hours, and wasn’t able to make it go. I called my ISP. They said they could push a firmware update through to turn the modem into just a modem (disable the router capabilities). So I did this, and still wasn't able to get the D-Link to connect to my modem. Now I may have screwed this up. I had two cables connected to the modem. One was going to my office computer, the other was going to my modem. Unfortunately, before I figured this out, I had my ISP push through the original firmware.
I also have an older Cisco wireless router (an E3100 I think). I tried it and couldn't get it to work with the Cisco modem.
I am also having issues sharing printers and files since putting this modem into service. My ISP says I am stuck with this modem if I want to keep my current package. If I go back to my old modem, I will have to go back to slower download / upload speeds.
My modem is a Cisco DP3825. I’ve read a few different forum posts on how I might be able to get my D-Link. I’ve tired some of the suggestions and haven’t had much luck.
I’m hoping that someone here can help me work through this issue. I’m not sure what information you require.
Internet IP Address:174.xxx.xxx.xxx
Subnet Mask:255.255.252.0
Default Gateway:174.xxx.xxx.xxx
DNS 1:64.59.144.17
DNS 2:64.59.150.133
DNS 3:0.0.0.0
DHCP enabled.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
M

mbreslin1954

Distinguished
Nov 27, 2010
1,515
1
20,460
What you should have done in the first place is connect to your D-Link all by itself, just your computer wired directly to the D-Link, connect to it's webpage (it would have been the Default Gateway using DHCP), then set the D-Link to turn off DHCP and turn it into essentially a wireless access point. That means it no longer acts as a router (because your ISP's modem/router was already routing).

However, now that you've messed with your ISP's modem/router, I'm not sure how you would set things right.

It seems to me that the normal way to do this, if your ISP's device is only a modem, is to connect one cable from the ISP modem to the WAN/Internet port on the D-Link wireless router. Then patch your computer into one of the D-Link's LAN ports with a cable. See what address your PC is given (assuming Windows 7, Control Panel --> Network and Sharing Center --> Change Adapter Settings --> Right Mouse Click on your Wired Network Port --> Status --> Details). The Default Gateway IP address should be the address of your D-Link router. Type that address into a web browser and log into the D-Link and set it up there.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
G

garfieldbd

Honorable
Mar 21, 2013
4
0
10,510
Currently the Cisco modem has been reset to the same configuration as I rec'd it. So it's back to operating as a modem and a wireless router.

mrbreslin1954: I thought I had tried this originally (but I was a bit rushed and may have screwed it up). I will try again and will get back to you with my results.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
G

garfieldbd

Honorable
Mar 21, 2013
4
0
10,510
Hey guys;
I agree with mbreslin that what I really want is to turn the DIR-857 into a WAP. I am trying to follow the instructions suggested by Emerald. Here is what I am doing and what I am getting from the DIR-857:

I run the ipconfig thingy. The default gateway is 192.168.0.1.
I've started with the DIR-857 hard wired to my computer only. It is not connected to the modem.
The DIR-857 has been unplugged for 48 hours. After plugging it in, I reset the DIR-857 by holding down the reset button.
I log into the DIR-857 and set up the wireless security. After saving, it wants to reboot so I just let it do its thing.
After logging back in, I go to Network Settings. There are two sections. The first is "Router Settings". This lists the Router IP address as 192.168.0.1. Subnet is 255.255.255.0. The device name is ""dlinkrouter" . The "local domain name"is blank. The check box next to "enable DNS relay" is checked. Below this is the "DHCP Server Settings. I think this is where I want to disable DHCP. I clear the checkbox next to "enable DHCP server". I save the settings. Again, it wants to reboot and I reboot the dir-857.
I now want to set the LAN IP. I'm assuming I do this in Network Settings? So I go back to Network Settings, and in the "Router Setting"area I change the Router IP address to 192.168.0.253. I leave the subnet as 255.255.255.0. Device name is the same "dlinkrouter"and I leave the Local domain name blank and keep enable DNS relay checked.

So I went through this the first time, and thought maybe I'd screwed up. I couldn't log back into the DIR-857. But when I connected the DIR-857 to the modem, I got internet access. Wireless works as well. And I'm able to access shared folders again.

Many thanks Emerald and mbreslin.



 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

mbreslin1954

Distinguished
Nov 27, 2010
1,515
1
20,460
Glad it worked out for you! I didn't give more detailed directions because, to be honest, I always have to play around with things a little. Each router is a little different, and for some settings they use different terms, but it looks like you got it working. The only thing I did differently with my old Linksys WRT54GL when I set it up as a WAP, is that I assigned it a very low IP address so I could easily get to it later. Like my main router was 192.168.1.1, and my Linksys WAP I assigned to 192.168.1.2. I really don't need to get to it, but if I want to I can.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom