u-verse networking question/ plz help

[buradd]

hi, i have u-verse for my home TV and internet;

the TV set top boxes have an ethernet jack that if you plug a ethernet cat-5 cable into it and then into another internet capable device like a ps3 or PC, it will give it a local network address thru DHCP and that device will have internet access

so i decided i wanted more hardwired LAN devices in my room so i got a cheap ethernet switch, put the set top box ethernet cable going from the box, into the cheap ethernet switch input port, and then now i have multiple hardwired devices, sitting far from the actual router downstairs, all powered by the one ethernet jack on the TV set top box upstairs...

[Q] so now i decided i want to boost the wifi signal in that same room. so i got a cheap wifi router of the same brand (they were on sale @ newegg) and figured it should be just as easy, put a ethernet cat-5 cable going from the ethernet switch's output, into the wifi routers input jack, and im thinking it should have worked just like the switch, but of course its not that easy..

is there anyone that can help me get this wifi router to act just like this ethernet switch does?

thank you!

[Wylbur7]

Which WiFI router do you have? And what makes you think it is not working? There is too little info here for me to even give you a hint.

[hpmsrm]

I see what you are trying  to do.  There is an alternative but probably not exactly what you want.  I purchased a Netgear range extender and installed it in the part of the house where I wanted to boost signal strength.  No cabling required except for power connection.  The extender picks up the signal from the wireless router at the other end of the house and functions as a repeater to fill in the area where we use our laptops and my wife's iPad.  It also has 4 ethernet ports on it if needed.  If you do not desire dual band capability....Netgear sells a simple plug-in unit which can be plugged into any convenient wall outlet.  It has two short vertical antennas on it & one ethernet port.  I installed one of these in a friend's home and he is now enjoying strong Wi-Fi everywhere....including outside on his deck.

[buradd]

hi, i have the ZyXEL NBG334W

we are able to do this easily with a more expensive asus router, but i am determined to troubleshoot this cheapo

anyone have any ideas on why this thing isnt cooperating?

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

This isn't going to work because the multicast traffic on the U-Verse box is being forwarded to the wireless access point, and it's overloading the wireless. The wired devices generally have little to no problem with that, but the wireless router is going to be choked.

If you want a wireless access point in that room, you will have to run an Ethernet cable all the way back to the 2Wire router, which has the capability to keep the multicast traffic away from the wireless access point.

[buradd]

I have a cat6 cable going thru the house from the router to the CPU in that room.. I will plug the cheap router in to that cable and run a new cable from the cheap router into the CPU that's there.. gotta do this when I get home, will I need to reset the u verse router at any time during these steps

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

No, no reset of the U-Verse RG should be required.

[buradd]

I think this cheap zyxel router just can't take the way the 2wire router gives it.. I have it plugged directly to port 2 in the 2wire router and there's no internet on the zyxel router

[buradd]

i actually ended up getting this to work, thru the set top box, by finally getting a way to log into the router and configured it as an AP only, dhcp off, and now it works just like a switch, and it gives wireless devices IP from the uverse gateway and internet access (smartphones and laptops working good now) thanks tho!