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Cable modem + wired router + patch panel + wireless access points = Over my head/Spotty Connectivity

Tags:
  • LAN
  • Cable
  • Routers
  • Wireless
  • Wireless Network
  • Modem
Last response: in Wireless Networking
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November 7, 2013 12:09:03 PM

I have read through many posts and appreciate the (gentle) expertise on here; while I am sure my situation is not unique, I have been unable to find any other posts that address my questions and issues.

Bought a new house which is Cat5 wired in most rooms and the cable and patch panel are located in a basement utility closet. While I understand some basics, I believe they fall in the "enough to be dangerous" category. Currently, I have the cable modem out to my TP Link R-860 wired router's WAN input. There are wired computer and AV receiver connections in their respective rooms via the patch panel into the TP Link. Easy enough.

The trouble is that the walls, square footage and layout of the house require a few wireless routers for ipad, smartphone and laptop use and that is where I am running into trouble with dropped signals and weak connectivity (or none). I have plugged a Medialink 300N router in the master bedroom (DHCP off - 192.168.1.2) through its WAN port with the other end into the wired router via the patch panel. I connected another in the kitchen configured the same (but 192.168.1.3).

Service comes and goes, restarting sometimes helps, signal is weak and connection is slow.

Based on what detail I have provided so far, is there something about my connection that is just wrong? Are there any settings or other "things" that I should be aware of or on the lookout for?

Thank you in advance for your help.

More about : cable modem wired router patch panel wireless access points head spotty connectivity

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a b X LAN
a c 212 F Wireless
November 7, 2013 12:48:51 PM

Let's go back to some basic questions that I'm not clear on -- you have cable modem --> WAN port of TP-Link R-860 and LAN ports of TP-Link R-860 --> patch panel --> room jacks? And there are eight or less room CAT5 cables so they all attach to the TP-Link LAN ports? The R-860 has a gateway address of 192.168.1.1?

For both the routers that you have attached as APs (with DHCP off) you should attach to LAN ports not to the WAN ports (you would use the WAN ports if you wanted different subnets, which you don't). In the R-860 make the 192.168.1.2 and .3 addresses for the APs static addresses using their MAC addresses in the static route table. You can have the R-860 DHCP service start above those static addresses, so 192.168.1.4 to .254.

Insure that the wireless radios in the bedroom and kitchen are on different non-overlapping channels (from 1, 6, 11) and use the same SSID and security type (WPA2 personal/AES) on both.

Note that with the APs set up correctly you will also be able to use the other three LAN ports on each for wired connections just like having a switch there (which you do have). All IP assignments will be made by the R-860 except the two static addresses for the APs. If you need static addresses for other stuff, just leave extra space at the low or high end of the DHCP range.
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November 7, 2013 12:59:36 PM

RealBeast said:
Let's go back to some basic questions that I'm not clear on -- you have cable modem --> WAN port of TP-Link R-860 and LAN ports of TP-Link R-860 --> patch panel --> room jacks? And there are eight or less room CAT5 cables so they all attach to the TP-Link LAN ports? The R-860 has a gateway address of 192.168.1.1?

For both the routers that you have attached as APs (with DHCP off) you should attach to LAN ports not to the WAN ports (you would use the WAN ports if you wanted different subnets, which you don't). In the R-860 make the 192.168.1.2 and .3 addresses for the APs static addresses using their MAC addresses in the static route table. You can have the R-860 DHCP service start above those static addresses, so 192.168.1.4 to .254.

Insure that the wireless radios in the bedroom and kitchen are on different non-overlapping channels (from 1, 6, 11) and use the same SSID and security type (WPA2 personal/AES) on both.



Thank you for the prompt response! To all 3 of your questions in the first paragraph: yes.

I will switch the inputs from patch to wireless routers into the LAN port and change the channels and make the necessary adjustments to the R-860.

Question, will the MediaLinks be able to handle wired connections via the other LANs (in addition to the wireless) on an ad-hoc basis?

Thanks again.
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a b X LAN
a c 212 F Wireless
November 7, 2013 1:02:31 PM

Yes, the other three LAN ports on each Medialink will act as wired switches that will get their IP address from the R-860.
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