Actiontec M1424WR and Linksys Router Bridge

[BossBoz]

Hi, I am currently trying to set up a Linksys WRT150N to act as a client bridge (so I can plug my xbox in) with my Actiontec M1424WR.  I installed DD-WRT mini on the Linksys and followed the setup instructions but cannot seem to get a connection.  The Actiontec recognizes the Linksys router and I can ping it, but I can't access the internet from the Linksys.  Does anyone have any thoughts on what I might be doing wrong?  If more information is necessary please let me know.  Thank you in advance for any assistance.

[DzWR]

Hrmm -- what ip address is your linksys given?  What tests does your 360 fail on?  And is the xbox the only thing you have tried getting to the net with?

[BossBoz]

One more thing that might be worth mentioning - I just tried using the linksys as a client bridge with another linksys router and had no problems.  So, it is definitely something with the Actiontec.  Any help on what I can change to make it work would be helpful.  Thanks. 

[BossBoz]

DzWR - I gave the linksys an ip address of 192.168.1.8 Also worth mentioning - I setup port forwarding on the Actiontec for xbox settings for the ip address 192.168.1.8  That being said, I can't get on the internet with my computer so I know the xbox isn't going to work. 

[DzWR]

Sorry was away for the weekend, I got some instructions for you if you are still struggling with getting this setup:

got this from http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.security.firewalls.pfsense.user/2342 and i'll skip over the log in info

4) Once you are logged in, go ahead and reset the router to the default
settings if you have done numerous customizations in the past, otherwise
don't worry about it. To reset the config to defaults, click on
"Advanced" at the top, then click yes in the confirmation box. You will
then see "Restore Defaults" at the lower left side of the screen (under
the red toolbox icon). The router will now reboot itself. Remember that
the username and password resets itself to the actiontec default of
"admin" and "password". It's a good idea to change the password after
this is all done of course.
5) Go ahead and log back into the router if you have "Restore Defaults",
otherwise just click on "My Network" at the top of the screen. Once you
are there, click on "Network Connections" at the menu on the left.
6) You should now see a list of interfaces that exist in the router. To
see them all, click on the "Advanced" button below that list.
7) Now you will need to do this very important step. you will need to
release your MI424-WR's IP from the ONT or you will NOT be able to have
your new router DHCP an IP for itself!. To do this, click on the
"Broadband Connection (Coax)" from the connection list. Then click on
the "Settings" button at the bottom. You will now see a bunch of
settings for this interface. Make sure the "Privacy" option is enabled
(if you have reset your MI424-WR to defaults earlier, it maybe disabled.
Not having this setting enabled will cause the connection to the ONT to
fail!). You can click on the "Release" button if an IP address is
currently assigned to the MI424-WR. Click the "Release" button and
immediately change the "Internet Protocol" option to "No IP Address"
(default setting is "Obtain an IP Address Automatically"). Click on
"Apply" afterwards, then "Yes" (if there's a confirmation message), then
"Apply" again.
😎 Now you will need to turn the MI424-WR into a bridge. In the
connection list, click on "Network (Home/Office)", then click on the
"Settings" button. You will see a list of interfaces under "bridge".
Check the box next to the "Broadband Connection (Coax)", then check the
box under the STP column. Click on "Apply" afterwards, then "Yew" (if
there's a confirmation message), then "Apply" again.
9) Since the MI424-WR will no longer be used for routing, go ahead and
disable its wireless interface also. Click on "Wireless Access Point" in
the interface list and then click on "Disable". You can also disable
this in the "Wireless Settings" section.
10) Just in case the MI424-WR will do something wacky, I disabled the
built-in firewall also. Click on "Firewall Settings" and then select
"Minimum", then click on "Apply".
11) Verify that the MI424-WR no longer has a connection to the internet
by looking at the status information in "Main". It should have a red
light and say it's on PPPOE right now. The MI424-WR should still have a
connection to the ONT. You can check this by going back into "My
Network", then "Network Connections", then clicking on the "Full Status"
button at the bottom of the list. "Broadband Connection (Coax)". Should
say it's connected still.
12) Next, disconnect all computers from the MI424-WR. Setup the router
of your choice (for me, I'm using a Linksys WRT54G v4 running dd-wrt).
Make sure your new router's IP address is something different from
192.168.1.1 or it will conflict! Your new router should now DHCP an IP
from verizon without any problems.

The only way to access the MI424-WR after this setup is to directly
connect a computer to it (via ethernet) and using a static 192.168.1.*
IP address. It will no longer DHCP an IP to you. You will also notice
that the "Internet" light (may look like a map globe) on the router will
now be lit orange and blink red. This is normal. The MI424-WR control
panel will also perpetually say you're not connected to the internet.
That too is normal.

[Mnvic19]

I have been hearing about this set up all over. What are the benefits of having this set up? Thanks in advance.

[DzWR]

It is really situational.  The Verizon router is free with no monthly charge and you are stuck with it using some of the services.  That being said, it doesn't work well with everyone (ie wireless issues).  So one way to fix it is to use a personal router, usually one that people had bought before and worked fine, and have that setup to the Actiontec router.  So all their devices connect through their purchased router which routes through the Actiontec.