How do I configure my Linksys WRT160N to be a wireless access point?

I'm trying to set up a Linksys WRT160N wireless router as an access point in order to extend the effective range of a working Belkin wireless router that has internet access.

I don't know the model of the Belkin router, but is what the router access screen looks like @ 192.168.2.1:

The wifi is unsecured and is giving out IP addresses. The DHCP range is 192.168.2.2 through 192.168.2.100. There is no time limit on the lease either.

I've tried a couple of setups on the WRT160N but could'n get any configurations to make the Linksys behanve as a wireless access point.

The most reasonable configuration, in my opinion, was to give the WRT160 a fixed IP of 192.168.2.99, turn the DHCP of the wireless access point off, and use 192.168.2.1 (Belkin WiFi) as the gateway & dns servers.

I have a similar set up in my house where I set up a wireless router with static IP and DHCP disabled to act as an access point. It obtained the "internet" through one of the 4 wired ethernet jacks on both routers and not via WiFi. That's the only difference, I suppose. I need the internet "feed" to be obtained wirelessly rather than through a wired connection.

What am I missing?

I have been reading manuals and Q&A sites about the issue but could not find the right help.

Solution 1:

First of all, if you can just take it back to the store and get an access point.

That being said, all you should have to do here is disable DHCP on the WRT160 and give the device a static IP address in the same subnet. If it want's a default route it should be the IP of your other router. You should have a cable from one of the LAN ports of your existing wireless router to one of the LAN ports on the WRT160. The WRT160 should then simply act as an access point, layer 3 connectivity will be serviced by the other router.

Alternatively, you could change the IP scheme of this new access point to something like 192.168.3.x/24 and connect the WAN port to the existing router and you'd also be done. Lots of options.

I just noticed your comment regarding the need for this to be a wireless extender/bridge. Read the manual or run a cable.

Solution 2:

I have a Linksys wrt160 V2 router and I set it up as an access point by running an ethernet cable from my main Belkin router which is directly connected to my Motorola modem into one of the four blue ethernet out ports. I disabled the DHCP Server and changed Internet Connection Type to Static IP under Setup/Basic in the router menu. That is all I did to make it work. See the attached image for settings...

Sorry I wasn't allowed to add an image which would have have been very helpful.