Could do with a bit of networking advice...

[ravenmorpheus2k]

So I know we have some quite techy peeps here so I thought I'd ask for advice as my searches on google have drawn a blank.

I use TightVNC to remote into my PC from outside of my home (often from my laptop).

Now until recently it was all working fine.

Then I changed my wifi network hardware configuration.

This is what I've got -

Broadband connection comes in via the phone line, plugs into my Netgear router.

Plugged into my Netgear router is a homeplug (powerline) which is plugged into a mains power socket and has it's sister in my room.

Plugged into the other homeplug which is in my room is a Tenda router (via a cat5e cable) which I've setup as an access point.

My PC then plugs into the back of the Tenda router via cat5e cable.


Now, I know what the problem is, it is because my PC is connected to the Tenda router that is acting as an access point, because when I simply plug my PC into the homeplug which is connected to the Netgear router TightVNC works fine.

Problem is I don't know how to resolve this issue if that's even possible.

The reason I have the Tenda router is so that my Xbox 360 can connect via WiFi and it needs to be in my room as it can't pick up the signal elsewhere (for some reason it can't find the Netgear router, despite my laptop being able to when it's right next to the 360 and the Tenda router is a wireless N, the Netgear router is only G).

Besides buying more homeplugs I'd like to know if there is a resolution.

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with port forwarding through the access point...

Also when I look on the Netgear routers control panel I can see that it is registering my PC as a connected device, despite the fact that it's actually plugged into the Tenda router.

I've tried port forwarding from the Netgear router to the Tenda router IP address (192.168.0.2) and then from the Tenda router to my PC IP address (192.168.0.8). But that doesn't appear to work.

Would anyone be able to shed some light on how to solve this problem? It's a pain in the ass having to switch the cat5e cables around each time I leave the house.

Thank in advance. :)

[ravenmorpheus2k]

Ha! Got it!

I only needed to put the IP address of my PC into the DMZ on the Tenda router.

I've been trying to get this solved for weeks without success.

It's always something simple...

[ermax]

Why do you need two routers? I understand your Xbox is to far to pick up WiFi from the main router. But why not just use a switch rather then a router? You really should avoid double NATing. It just gets messy.

[venom51]

Move the link between your netgear router and the Trenda over to one of the 4 switch ports on the Trenda and turn DHCP off in the Trenda. You are making a router hop you don't need that's why you had to add your IP to the DMZ to get to your machine.