problems with wired/ wireless network

[P&JTom]

For a few years, our house shared a wired network dsl connection to the internet, via a linksys router . Usually there were about 5 or 6 of us were connected. Most of the time things worked fine, and we enjoyed the fast internet connection.

Then a person who wanted a wireless connection moved in, and he connected his wireless router to our network (to the hub connected to the linksys ethernet router). And we got another wireless user in the house, so there are now 5 wired users and 2 wireless users. It went fine for a few months, until we noticed that our connection got really slooow. We used to have a internet connection speed of 1.3mgbs download speed, now it gets sometimes (this is an intermittent problem) down to one-third that speed, or even down to 30 kbps speed at times (so early 90's!). The moment i disconnect from the linksys router the wire that goes to the wireless router, the speed goes right back to its normal high speed.

At this time i do not know what kind of wireless router is being used.

Is there a way to get all this working together?

I have heard that what should be done is to make sure the wireless router is used as an access point rather than a router. Will this solve the problem?

I should note that we have no need to connect to each other's computers, just to the internet, and at a reasonable speed, which for most of us means over 1mbps.

A more drastic solution would be to get a separate modem for the wireless, so the two networks are completely different. Is this necessary?

Thanks.

[B&T]

The two can co-exist just fine. Having said that, I have encoutered many problems connecting a switch (which is what the router has) directly to another switch. This should work just fine, and often does. But I have also experiened many network slowdown issues just as you describe. I have never experienced this problem when connecting a switch to a hub. So my guess is that some switches just do not like talking directly to other switches. If you have a hub around, try putting that between the two switches. That has worked for me when encountering this situation before. Or you could try swapping the wireless router (switch) for an access point. You will find the solution, but you should not have to pay for a second connection.

Of course the obvious solution is just to use one router (and therefore one switch) - the wireless one - as most of them have both wired (4 ports) and wireless support. Then if you need more wired ports, add a hub. They are very cheap.

[tbonekkt]

Well, I assume you've verified the physical machines (layer one of the OSI) aren't the problem, so go to layer two - data link. Have you verified the cable between the two switches is working properly? Have you bought/made a new one and put in use? If your switches are auto-MDI, try using a crossover cable anways as well.