Orange Brightbox as repeater?

I have two Orange Brightboxes (error on Orange's part, been told I should keep them both). The wifi signal in my house is often weak downstairs. I have an ethernet cable running from Orange Brightbox 1 upstairs to an ethernet hub downstairs. I am trying to use the Brightbox 2 as a wireless repeater by plugging it into the ethernet hub downstairs.

Is this possible? The brightbox appears to have an "Ethernet mode" under broadband type in advanced settings, but although I can connect to the new wifi network I haven't been able to obtain internet access. I have disabled DHCP on the 2nd brightbox and given it an IP address outside the DHCP range of Orange Brightbox 1 which has resulted in the following settings under the 'Broadband settings' tab:

Broadband type: Ethernet
Protocol: Routing
IP Address: Static
IP address: 192.168.1.251
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1 (which is the address for Brightbox 1 on my network)
DNS IP Address: Manual
Primary DNS: 192.168.1.1 (I have tried changing the DNS to the same for Brightbox 1 but this hasn't helped)
Secondary DNS: Blank

Does anyone have any advice on how I might get this setup working?
Thanks!

In reply to a post by ffmuk:

I have two Orange Brightboxes (error on Orange's part, been told I should keep them both). The wifi signal in my house is often weak downstairs. I have an ethernet cable running from Orange Brightbox 1 upstairs to an ethernet hub downstairs. I am trying to use the Brightbox 2 as a wireless repeater by plugging it into the ethernet hub downstairs.

Is this possible? The brightbox appears to have an "Ethernet mode" under broadband type in advanced settings, but although I can connect to the new wifi network I haven't been able to obtain internet access. I have disabled DHCP on the 2nd brightbox and given it an IP address outside the DHCP range of Orange Brightbox 1 which has resulted in the following settings under the 'Broadband settings' tab:

Broadband type: Ethernet
Protocol: Routing
IP Address: Static
IP address: 192.168.1.251
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1 (which is the address for Brightbox 1 on my network)
DNS IP Address: Manual
Primary DNS: 192.168.1.1 (I have tried changing the DNS to the same for Brightbox 1 but this hasn't helped)
Secondary DNS: Blank

Does anyone have any advice on how I might get this setup working?
Thanks!

A wireless repeater is not connected to the main router with Ethernet cable, it connects by wireless and then repeats that wireless signal onwards.The Orange Bright Box cannot be used as a wireless repeater, but can be used as a wireless access point.

Configure (Main router) Bright Box 1 with DHCP server range.

Example: With Bright Box 1 default IP Address: 192.168.0.1

Configure Bright Box 1 DHCP server range:

DHCP Start: 192.168.0.21
DHCP End: 192.168.0.250

-------------------------------
Bright Box 2 configure as wireless access point.

Make Bright Box 2 IP Address: 192.168.0.251 (Important: The IP Address must NOT be within Bright Box 1 DHCP server range).

Configure at advanced set-up dhcp page:
Gateway Address 192.168.0.251
IP Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
Disable Bright Box 2 DHCP server.

The ADSL settings are automatically disabled, you now only configure the wireless and wireless security settings.

Make wireless channel the same as Bright Box 1.

Make wireless security the same as Bright Box 1.

You can make the router and access point SSID the same or they can be different. I like to make them different so I know which I am connected.

Example: Bright Box 1 SSID: Mickey Mouse upstairs. - Bright Box 2 SSID: Mickey Mouse downstairs.

The wireless access point Bright Box 2 is connected to the Bright Box 1 router with Cat5e Ethernet cable LAN port to LAN port, or as in your case connected via the downstairs Hub Ethernet port.

Configure your PC Ethernet and wireless static IP address connections.

http://portforward.com/networking/staticip.htm

Configure for the PC Ethernet connection�

Use Following IP Address:

IP address: 192.168.0.3 <- Example: PC Ethernet connection static IP address.
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gatway:192.168.0.1

Use the following DNS server address:
Preferred DNS server: 193.36.79.101
Alternate DNS server: 193.36.79.100

Configure for the PC wireless connection�

Use Following IP Address:

IP address: 192.168.0.13 <- Example: PC wireless connection static IP address.
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gatway:192.168.0.1

Use the following DNS server address:
Preferred DNS server: 193.36.79.101
Alternate DNS server: 193.36.79.100
This configuration all works and connects as fast as lightning, I am using it right now!

Edited by deleted (Mon 06-Aug-12 20:12:41)

Hi,
Great post ,though i'm kind of new to this stuff so got slighty lost.
Do I have to configure my pc and wireless static pc connections ? I don't quite understand this bit.
Thanks

Hi,
Is the ip address the same as the gateway address ? I can't seem to find a separate setting for ip but can change the gateway.
Also when I do change the gateway to 192.168.0.251 I can't log back into the router .
Many thanks
Ps. Apologises ,it's all new to me.

In reply to a post by Pritchsas:

Is the ip address the same as the gateway address ? I can't seem to find a separate setting for ip but can change the gateway.
Also when I do change the gateway to 192.168.0.251 I can't log back into the router .
Many thanks
Ps. Apologises ,it's all new to me.

Not knowing which router you have or brightbox for that matter, the terms gateway address, IP address and Wan address are often interchangeable.

BUT. There is a difference between giving the second router an IP address and telling the 2nd router the address of the first router.

Once set up correctly you should be able to put the IP address of either router into the address bar on your browser and log into it.

Ok thank you.
Ps. It's a brightbox 2.

In reply to a post by Pritchsas:

Hi,
Is the ip address the same as the gateway address ? I can't seem to find a separate setting for ip but can change the gateway.
Also when I do change the gateway to 192.168.0.251 I can't log back into the router .
Many thanks
Ps. Apologises ,it's all new to me.

The gateway IP address is configured within the router on the DHCP page under Gateway Address. Make sure it is set not within the DHCP range, it must be outside the DHCP range.

To configure your Static IP address for Ethernet and wireless connections, go into Windows Control panel and under Network and Internet, you should find Change adapter settings. What version Windows operating system are you using?

http://portforward.com/networking/staticip.htm

Post deleted by Pritchsas

Hi,
So do you just need to port forward on lap tops?
I've to one Lappy on xp and one on the most recent windows software.
Thanks

In reply to a post by Pritchsas:

Hi,
So do you just need to port forward on lap tops?
I've to one Lappy on xp and one on the most recent windows software.
Thanks

No portforwarding to do, the portforward.com website is to help you setup the static IP address for your Ethernet and wireless connections. It covers instructions for Windows 8 and 7 and XP.

http://portforward.com/networking/staticip.htm