How do I get my Linksys router (WRTG54 model) and my 2wire broadband wireless modem to work together?

Question

I can get connected to the Internet if I connect my laptop and 2wire together with an ethernet cable or if I use the wireless option with the 2wire. I cannot get connected if I hook the router and modem together and try to access the Linksys wirelessly. I have AT&T DSL. It seems that the Linksys is ignoring the 2wire. Right now I have the wireless option on the 2wire disabled because the signal is so poor coming from it (even from across the room), but the Linksys' signal is excellent.

How do I force the 2wire to be a plain modem so that I can access the Internet off of the Linksys? And yes, I've called both Linksys and AT&T and I've powered down and reset both the 2wire and the Linksys. I've even worked with moving the 2wire closer (not too close; like across the room) to improve the signal as an option. Serious help, short of returning the 2wire to AT&T, is needed.

I tried going to the 2wire support page as has been suggested and that didn't really tell me anything. It doesn't say where I am supposed to enter that information on the router's administration page.

Also the router is 802.11g/b, if this makes a difference.

Answer 1

I had this same exact issue getting my Linksys to work but surprisingly it all has to do with the 2wire settings!

If you have a newer 2wire modem/router it will detect the "second" router and you will have to tell the 2wire to allow it!!!!!

If you really want to go nuts, you can set the 2Wire to "Bridge" and it will then just be a modem and work as you expect.
That is a setting on the 2wire and on the support site. (Not a recommended answer but it will work - use ONLY if all else fails.) Try a different channel before even thinking about using bridge mode. 2Wire actually has more signal by 2 than the linksys (I checked) it does need the channel to be open to work correctly and if your neighbors also have 2wire I can promise you you will have interference unless you change yours to a different channel!!!

Log in and see if you find a "cached" web page showing "router behind router" detected!!!! If so follow the directions to allow your second router.

Be sure the second router is on a different set of IP's if your 2wire is on 192.168.1.x be totally sure the second one is on something else == like 192.168.2.x or 192.168.10. x

Here is some of the 2wire information
http://support.2wire.com/cgi-bin/twowire.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1227&p_created=1175017059&p_sid=DJDKDXOi&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NDkmcF9wcm9kcz0wJnBfY2F0cz0wJnBfcHY9JnBfY3Y9JnBfc2VhcmNoX3R5cGU9YW5zd2Vycy5zZWFyY2hfbmwmcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1zZXR1cCBhIHNlY29uZCByb3V0ZXI*&p_li=&p_topview=1

If you dont have the cached webpage with the directions to allow that second router, try setting it (the second router) as the DMZ!!!! it should work ok if all traffic can pass which with the 2wire routing and firewall it simply can't!

Good Luck - feel free to email me, took me about an hour to find the settings in the 2wire to allow a second router.

Answer 2

Lyndsey, just get rid of the Linksys. The 2wire product you have is a DSL Modem, Router firewall and wireless access point all in one. If you cascade the Linksys router off that 2wire router you will have two NAT devices in Parallel. Not something that works real well.

Good Luck

Answer 3

From 2wire's website:
Will other wireless adapters work with the HomePortal residential gateway?

Question
Will other wireless adapters work with the HomePortal residential gateway?

Answer
2Wire recommends the use of 2Wire-brand wireless adapters. Only 2Wire branded adapters ensure maximum data throughput and ease of installation. However, any Wi-Fi (802.11b standard) wireless adapter can be connected to the HomePortal wireless residential gateway. Drivers and information for these adapters may be found on the manufacturer's Websites.

Note: The HomePortal default settings include wireless security (WEP). To connect to the HomePortal, you will need to configure the third-party wireless adapter with the HomePortal security key. This is a 64-bit, hexidecimal WEP key and is located on the bottom of the HomePortal unit near the serial number. It appears in brackets (e.g. [0123456789]).

See website below. Hope this helps...

Answer 4

First, turn off your modem first, then your router, and then your pc. After all devices are off, first you turn on your modem and wait for the dsl light on your modem to be steady green. When the dsl sync has been established on your modem (light is steady green) turn on your router. Soon as your router is steady and has sync with your modem, turn on your pc(s). That should get you connected.

If you still can't get connected, try accessing your modem's gui, set that to bridge mode.

You can also try calling att tech support.