Routers

First the two wireless routers should not be using the same channel as that might cause a problem being so close together.

Second you might wish to run the x-box by itself as it is my understanding that the x-box will only allow WEP not WPA encrypting

I think that a T connection with a non-wireless router hook to one wireless router for the X-BOX with WEP or no encrypting and the other wireless router for the computers might work out best.

Security Now website had information on hooking such a connection up.

its just one wireless router total

This set up should work; in fact, I've done similar things myself.

I suppose my first question, though, is whether the wireless router has any wired ports. Typically, wireless routers will have four or eight ports for wired connections in addition to the wireless connection. He might be able to dispense with the first wired router.

Typically, if you switch routers connected to the modem, the modem has to be rebooted/power cycled.

If he has to stick with his current setup, then I several avenues of investigation.

The first thing I would look at is the IP addresses assigned to each interface. I'm guessing that the wireless router is confused because it has the same subnet (ip address range) on both the outside and inside interfaces. Most of these home routers come with 192.168.1.x preconfigured, and if the linksys offers 192.168.1.x to the netgear's outside interface, and the netgear is already using 192.168.1.x for the inside interface, it won't work. Change the inside (private) range on the netgear to something like 192.168.2.x.

Other possibilities include DNS not working, but I really think the most likely problem is an IP address conflict.

Do not a port need to be open for the x-box to work?

I was over at his house the other day when he was trying this. The wireless has ports. He has tried porting directly into the wireless router with the xbox but he still gets the problems of not being able to play/hear people on xbox live.

how do you change the private range?

reading along is this is sorta something I'd like to try to do - wired router to wireless router

OK. Sounds like the Linksys is smart enough to pass through gaming stuff for the Xbox, and the Netgear isn't. About what I'd expect; I've a lot more respect for Linksys than I do Netgear.

The router should have a web interface that is described in the manual. If you give me the exact model numbers, I'll be better able to assist.

a big problem he (brother in law) has been having he says is that when he puts in the http:// 192.xx.x.x number in and the standard admin password it will not pull up the settings page or what ever it is to change anything.

i will get him to text me the type of routers they are

the netgear is WGR614 v6
the linksys is NR041

OK, here's a link to the manual: http://kbserver.netgear.com/pdf/wgr614v6_ref_man_20Apr05.pdf

Connect a PC to one of the wired ports on the Netgear router.



To change the LAN IP:
1. Look on the left-hand side for the heading, "Advanced Settings" and under that, click on "LAN IP Setup".
2. Change the IP Address section of the LAN IP Setup to use 192.168.2.1.
3. Change the starting and ending IP addresses of the DHCP range to 192.168.2.2 and 192.168.2.51.
4. Click "Apply".
5. Wait 60 seconds or so.
6. Disconnect your network cable and reconnect. You should obtain a new IP address.

He may have to go through the process to restore factory settings, then.

He should only have to make changes to the Netgear, though.

He may have to go through the process to restore factory settings, then.
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Hitting the reset button should restore factory settings.

is there a certain way to hook the routers up? does there need to be some sort of Ethernet cable connecting the two routers?

The Netgear's "Internet Port" should be connected to one of the LAN ports on the Linksys. (The same way you connect a PC or the XBox to the Linksys.)

I did this once and I remember having to change a setting on the wireless router so that it would act as an access point instead of a router. Look for that option in the manual. Also, the you must connect the routers LAN to LAN. The Internet Jack on the wireless router should be empty.

Configuring an access point would be preferable to setting up two routers in line, but I could not find that option in the manual for the Netgear device.

Two routers in line will work, however, provided that they are configured properly.

Ya'll ever get this working?

Don't know. Kind of lost track of it while in the hospital. I think he decided to buy a wireless router the same make as his wired router. I'll give an update once i find out.

Di d he port forward the correct ports? These are not physical ports that you can see on the router. If he did, the NAT settings on the xbox should say open.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908874
I'm 99% positive this is why he got dropped from games or voice didn't work properly.

As far as running a router off another router it is possible. The router uses a NAT to take the public IP and provide 100's of private IP's for those on the LAN. The 2nd router can take one of those private IP's and through its own NAT create another private LAN. Now the subnets can not be identical. For example if the 1st router is using 192.168.1.xxx then the 2nd router should be 10.10.10.xxx

Hope that helps. Try using just the wireless router and do the port forwarding correctly. I'm positive that will fix it.