Hi, I am running a 4 port netgear router (a wired one) to 3 computers. Can I connect a wireless router to the spare port? As we have just bought a set-top box that has a wireless usb connector to receive the tv channel guide Icetv via my computer. Any help or suggestions would be most welcome.

Re: piggyback routers?

The short answer is yes, but whether the wireless router will allow you to is another question. You could replace your current router with a new one that does both fixed and wireless routing and either connects direct or via a modem to your ADSL service.

Your Netgear router will have a fixed IP address, also known as the gateway address by your PC. ie 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Your PCs will have addresses like 192.168.0.2, .3 and .4.

To view the addresses on your PC, go Start | Run and enter cmd in the window on XP or greater [or command on Win95-ME]. You will have a command line interface window in which you can type ipconfig which will show your IP connection details on your PC. ipconfig /all will show more details. Take note of the IP addresses (PC's), mask and gateway address (Router)

Before connecting your new Wireless router, you will have to change its IP address to one that is not in use as most routers will have an out of box address of 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. The address first 3 digits is usually the network number when the mask is 255.255.255.0, whilst the last digit is for each individual host or computer. I suggest that you make the second router .254 and has to be in the same network as the other router and computers (192.168.0. is a different network to 192.168.1.).

You may need a second address for the wireless segment. You must disable DHCP as the first router will be carrying out that chore and only one DHCP server should exist in a network. Your new router will require an additional set up of a static route to point all traffic bound for the internet to the first router. ie send traffic bound for address 0.0.0.0 (internet) to 192.168.1.1 (address of router 1).

Re: piggyback routers?

Hi Brian,

No problems, just make sure to disable DHCP on the second router as a network can only have one DHCP.

Re: piggyback routers?

Yes. You may have to connect a computer to the new router to set it up.

hi there. How do i do the following: 'Your new router will require an additional set up of a static route to point all traffic bound for the internet to the first router. ie send traffic bound for address 0.0.0.0 (internet) to 192.168.1.1 (address of router 1).' thanks john