the two routers one ssid problem

lukelumia950XL · 30 Apr 2016

Today i was trying to configure my TV Smartbox (Horizon mediabox from Ziggo), which is also a router, to match the same SSID as my modem.

To explain the situation:
- I run a cable from the modem to the TV Smartbox router
- Turned off DHCP on the TV Smartbox router
- changed the IP adres on the TV Smartbox(192.168.178.1 to match the IP from the Modem(192.168.178.1)
- Matched the SSID from the TV Smartbox to the modem

The settings:
These settings are the settings in the TV Smartbox:

the two routers one ssid problem-zxwpnxw.png

And the wireless settings in the TV Smartbox:

the two routers one ssid problem-npc3k2m.png

The settings on the Modem(Dutch, i am sorry):

the two routers one ssid problem-p0yreuo.png

The wireless settings on the modem(Dutch, i am sorry):

the two routers one ssid problem-mm9afdi.png

To explain the Problem:
As far as i know, thats how you do it. But yet it does not "switch".
If i turn on WIFI and connect next to the Smartbox and speedtest i get 90 Down and 14 Up, but if i walk to the modem and test again, it slows down to 30 Down and 12 Up
And same if i turn on wifi and connect next to the modem, i get 70 Down and 14 Up, but if i walk to the TV Smartbox and speedtest, i get 20 and 11.

The question:
Do you guys meaby have any suggestions on how to fix it?

Thnx in advance!

bro67 · 30 Apr 2016

You cannot use the same SSID. If all that you are doing is using smartbox as a Access Point. It may not allow if it was intended for DSL or Catv Internet.

Also the IP cannot be the same on two devices. It causes IP conflict.

lukelumia950XL · 30 Apr 2016

Thank you for your reply,

The Smart box has two modes, one to act like an modem (made for another type of internet subscription). And the one that is currently active, called gateway-mode.

In gateway-mode your plug in a ethernet cable and it will act like an repeater and switch. But the possibilities with the settings are minimum, should i just buy a new router? If so should i look for specific specs or will any do?

What do you btw mean with the same IP? Do you suggest to change the IP of smartbox to 192.168.xxx.2 instead of 192.168.178.2, or make sure the last digit is different?

Thnx in advace again

AndreTen · 30 Apr 2016

just the last digit.

Check the channel again. You are actually running smart box as repeater. Look around for third party firmware, like dd-wrt or open-wrt. They allow this operation. On the other side your configuration works somehow...

Edit: if you have cable connection, you should get better results, if you setup second wifi, and let user automatically select where they connect.

Kyhi · 30 Apr 2016

If you are connecting the router to a cable modem - leave DHCP enabled

The router should find the modem and the DHCP will automatically set the IP for any devices connected to it...

If the Cable Modem is also a Router - then you will have to daisy chain the second router..
By assigning a static IP address to the second Router and still leave DHCP enabled

bro67 · 30 Apr 2016

lukelumia950XL said:

Thank you for your reply,

The Smart box has two modes, one to act like an modem (made for another type of internet subscription). And the one that is currently active, called gateway-mode.

In gateway-mode your plug in a ethernet cable and it will act like an repeater and switch. But the possibilities with the settings are minimum, should i just buy a new router? If so should i look for specific specs or will any do?

What do you btw mean with the same IP? Do you suggest to change the IP of smartbox to 192.168.xxx.2 instead of 192.168.178.2, or make sure the last digit is different?

I know how it works when hooking two units up. In order to use the other unit as an A/P, you have to set it to pick up the IP off of the other Gateway and if you are going to access it from the LAN, it needs a proper IP Class C address.

I run my U-Verse Gateway as my main one and the Cisco RV-320 as a "Edge" Gateway. The U-Verse is set for 192.168.1.254/255.255.255.0. The Cisco is set for 192.168.2.1/255.255.255.0 The AP's I use do not handle any DNS, they are set for a Static IP from the Cisco, with all DNS handling done by the Cisco.

bro67 · 30 Apr 2016

Kyhi said:

If you are connecting the router to a cable modem - leave DHCP enabled

The router should find the modem and the DHCP will automatically set the IP for any devices connected to it...

If the Cable Modem is also a Router - then you will have to daisy chain the second router..
By assigning a static IP address to the second Router and still leave DHCP enabled

The only issue that I can think of that could cause problems, is if there is a DMZ+ mode for allowing the Edge router to get a non-firewalled, dup NAT connection to the outside world. The two sets of Dynamic DHCP can confuse some of the devices.

Digital Life · 01 May 2016

It looks like you set everything up properly, Having the same SSID is a good idea and it looks like it is working.

Is the only problem you are having is the speed of the Wifi on the second router, could it be that it is old and can only connect at a maximum speed of 54 MB/s. If that's the case then you probably should buy a more modern router.

I also noticed that you have the Bandwidth set at 20 MHz try setting it to 40, The 40 MHz only works on some channels I think 1,6 and 11