Member Avatar for bojadada

I know that this sounds like a fairly strange question, but i'll explain why i'm asking. Ok, I have an Xbox 360 downstairs in my basement, but my wireless router is upstairs connected to my main computer. I do not want to move it because it would be too much of a hassle. The reason I want to use two routers is so I can use one for internet connections, and the other specifically for gaming. How exactly would I go upon doing this? Would I plug an ethernet cable into the back of the main router then connect it into the other router? Or is that not even close? I also looked on some websites and people say something about using a product called an ethernet splitter? Where could I buy one of these and would it have any use in my situation? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Iridium

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As observed, the real constraint here is the DS not supporting WPA. That pushes people toward a second wireless radio with weaker security, but that creates two problems: it exposes your network to easy compromise if you use WEP or an open SSID, and it changes how traffic and address assignment work (which breaks some gaming features unless configured correctly). was right that a direct wired run is the simplest fix, and correctly warned that anything attached to a second wireless AP will have Internet access unless you isolate it.

Recommended approach (least pain, best security)

  • Turn the spare router into a pure access point: give it a fixed LAN IP in the same subnet but outside the primary router’s DHCP range, disable DHCP on the spare, set its wireless channel to avoid overlap (1/6/11 on 2.4 GHz), and connect a LAN port of the primary to a LAN port of the spare. Keep WPA2/AES enabled. This extends the same secure network without double NAT or extra port-forwarding.

If you need an isolated “gaming” network

  • Cascading into the spare router’s WAN port creates a separate subnet (double NAT). That isolates devices but often causes strict NAT for consoles. To open Xbox NAT, enable UPnP on both boxes or place the downstream router in the upstream router’s DMZ. Be aware double NAT complicates port forwarding.

Security alternatives to WEP

  • Don’t use WEP or an open SSID for general access. Instead: bring a wired connection downstairs with Ethernet or powerline and put a modern AP there; buy a small wireless bridge/client adapter that can join a WPA network and present an Ethernet interface; or buy a router/AP that supports guest SSIDs or VLANs so older devices can be isolated from the main LAN.

Hardware note

  • An “Ethernet splitter” is not what you want — use a small unmanaged switch if you need more ports.

Practical checklist: choose AP mode where possible, avoid WEP, use DHCP only on the main router, and plan for UPnP/DMZ if you cascade routers for isolation.

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Member Avatar for hughv

You can do it, but I'm not sure I understand what you hope to achieve.
Are you talking about Internet Gaming?
Why not just run an Ethernet cable directly from the router to the basement computer?
Most routers have policy restrictions that might help.

Member Avatar for bojadada

Well the main reason I want to do this is because my other wireless router is WPA. My Xbox 360 works fine with it, but not my DS. Apparently, DS doesn't work with WPA. I want to change it, but alot of my friends have gotten hacked through their wireless network. So I want to use the main router for internet, and the other, I'll give WEP or no encryption at all. It wouldn't matter as much if other people connected to my other router because I'd only use it for Video games. But, if this isnt possible, then thats fine. Thanks for the reply though.

Member Avatar for Iridium

if you connect a router to your main router, then anything that can connect to your secondary router can get online as well. If I were the neighbor, i'd get into the 2nd router using wep since it's connected to the main router anyway.

You need to set-up WEP on the
2nd router if you're running a cable on either the any one of the regular ports on the main router to any one of regular ports or internet port on the 2nd router to prevent others from getting online using the 2nd one.

1 free tech support call 1-877-787-8749

they'll help you with all things i mentioned.

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