Can I have 2 wireless routers on one phone line?

aliasojo

Just thinking out loud so please correct me or advise?

We have 1 wireless router connected to our main computer in room A by ethernet cable. Obviously also have cable from phone socket to router.

Computers in rooms B and C upstairs connect using wireless. Rooms A and B are in opposite sides of house and room B sometimes has a problem picking up a stong signal.

We now have an XBox 360 and OH wants on internet with it. Wireless gadget for XBox is around £60. I wondered if we'd be better/cheaper getting another wireless router and siting it in living room so XBox can connect with cable and computer in room B above, can get wireless signal from this router too?

Phone line would have to be run to second router by extension/splitter.

Would this work?

espresso

Only one modem can be connected and in use at any time!

aliasojo

Thanks espresso. Looks like I'll need to shell out for the XBox wireless adapter then and room B will just have to cope. Lol.

Hunnymonster

Before you shell out for the official MS wireless gadget, I have a NetGear thing here that I originally bought for a PS2 to give it wireless capability - it plugs into the wired network port of the target device and turns it wireless.....

<runs off to get it>

WGE111

Should be lots less than £60 too.

It doesn't allow more than 1 device to be connected to it's wired port though - so don't think you can plug it into a hub and have both PC & Xbox hanging off it at the same time lol.

wolfman

You can get another Wireless router to extend the range of your current one. I can't remember what the technical term for it is, but the router has to have the ability to do so. Neither my KCorp KLG575 or Netgear DG834GT do as examples. You'll need to read up on it, but it is possible for one router to connect to the other wirelessly.

With regards to other wireless adapters, I'm not so sure they'll work. I think the X360 is locked to only accept certain devices. Personally, I'm just running a bit of cable for now. I'm gonna wait until the mod scene get to work (hopefully it'll be a software mod) and then I should possibly be able to use any old usb adapter with it (as the ms one is quite pricey).

sra

There are a few diagrams here of joining two routers together here (the show-notes for Security Now episode 3)

But it's mostly focusd on obtaining high security

tigermatt

wolfman and Hunnymonster, are you thinking of a Wireless Access Point (WAP)?

Anyway, a wireless access point is probably much cheaper than the Microsoft gadget, and it picks up the wireless signal and outputs it on a wired connection which you can use just like it is wired. This is probably your best option.

Dude

aliasojo wrote:

Thanks espresso. Looks like I'll need to shell out for the XBox wireless adapter then and room B will just have to cope. Lol.

You can connect two wireless access points via WDS (Wireless Distribution System) obviously provided your wireless router has this facility. See link for a simple explanation;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Distribution_System

wolfman

tigermatt wrote:

wolfman and Hunnymonster, are you thinking of a Wireless Access Point (WAP)?

Well partially, you can connect two routers if one of the routers had bridging/repeater (that was the word I was trying to remember) capabilities. Very few entry level routers can do that though, so a WAP or bridge would be preferable. In fact a second router is overkill as you only need it for access, as opposed to management, issuing ip's etc...

Did it myself, but as an opportunity to buy in a better router.

albertross_2

How about one of these?

http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline-pl-14pe.htm

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/hardware/reviews/2005/q4/solwiseplug.asp

http://www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=243


http://www.justhomeplug.co.uk/productlist/just-homeplug-adaptors.aspx

aliasojo

Oh I guess I've got some reading to do, lol. Thanks everyone for suggestions.

My existing router is a Netgear DG834G so it's similar to wolfman's and may not be suitable for wirelessly joining to another one anyway.

With regard to.......'I think the X360 is locked to only accept certain devices.' At the risk of asking another daft question...how would I know?

Might be a waste of time finding a solution that wont work after all, iyswim.