Router/Network Help
 

Got a little network issue that I can't get my head round.... so perhaps someone here will be able to save what little hair I have :D

Here goes:

I have 1 router (supplied by sky) that is connected to the phone line and has the IP range 192.168.0.1 - 255 and is also wireless on 2.4Ghz.
All PCs etc., are connected to this as it works as DHCP server.

I also have another router (it's a cable router) that works on 2.4Ghz and 5.0Ghz wireless as I want to have a clear network. It also works as a DHCP server, but on a different IP range (192.168.1.1 - 255)

I've turned off the 2.4Ghz on the 2nd router, but if I connect my laptop to it via the 5Ghz wireless I can see the internet and also talk to both routers, but I cannot connect to any PC or printer that is connected to the first router (on the IP range 192.168.0.1 - 255).

The subnet mask on both routers is 255.255.255.0.

The only way I can see of being able to see all the PCs & Printers, is to move them over to the 2nd router, but I'm sure i should be able to configure the network so I can leave them attached where they are.

Over to you clear lot now :bowdown:

You'll need to explain what you mean by "clear" network and why you want to have two separate networks inside one before anyone can help.

Clear as in no-one else on that wireless network. Around here, I have anything between 6 and 10 other wireless networks on the 2.4Ghz band (as well as cordless phones/microwaves etc), but no-one else is on the 5Ghz band.

As my main router only works on 2.4Ghz, I have a 2nd router (not a modem router) that works on the 5Ghz band.

Hope this makes it a little clearer :D

You need to setup your second router as an access point - rather than a completely separate server, with it's own DHCP server etc.

Other than the obvious reason of cost maybe, is there any reason why you are not just using a dual band router? I have one with about 12 devices, including two range extenders, 2 sky boxes and two iPhones with a host of android devices. This on a normal phone line and a decent download speed.

My ISP is sky, and whilst I know that you can use a non-Sky router they can be a little bit <insert expletive> if you don't. Also currently Sky don't offer a dual band router without moving up to Sky-Q (and I don't want to increase my bill as it's high enough already).

I've got a bucket full of devices attached to my sky router with no issues, other than the 2.4Ghz band is congested and the 5.0Ghz band isnt, and I want faster access on a couple of laptops :D

Would it work if you disabled DHCP on the second router?
Just a stab in the dark here.
Ken.

Done that, but for some reason, if I connect to the 2nd router (as it's got a different wireless name) I can't get access to the internet. But if I turn on DHCP it allows me to use the inter but I can't see the rest of the devices.

On going research needed me thinks :shrug:

The problem is your subnet mask.

Very simplisticly 255.255.255.0 tells the computer to ignore any network contact from computers that don't have all of the three first sets of numbers matching. Don't even try and understand it, just take my word for it. ;)

Set the subnet mask for both networks to 255.255.0.0 and it should work fine, although you'll need to either wait until the computers pick up the new settings when they do a new DHCP request. You can force this on a windows based computer by clicking start -> run, type CMD to get a command prompt and then type "IPCONFIG /RELEASE" and then "IPCONFIG /RENEW".

I'll give it a go later on when I have a bit of time to play :bowdown: