Problems with using my router as an access point

[showtime]

not sure if this should be here or in Mac basics and help

I'm using a router in my dorm at a university and they require that it be used as an access point. The problem I'm having is that I cannot log into my router once I make it into an access point.

Maybe I'm setting it up wrong? I only changed the wireless mode to "access point" and I changed my router IP address from "192.168.1.1" to "192.168.1.254". When I don't plug in the ethernet cable from the wall to the router I can log into my router fine by typing the IP it's set to (192.168.1.254). The Router address under TCP/IP in Network preferences also show the correct address.

When I do plug in the ethernet cable to get internet access everything works fine except I can't log into my printer. In network preferences it shows the Router IP as something completely different.

I'm using an Asus wl-520gu with Tomato firmware version 1.23. I'm pretty sure that once I plug in the ethernet cable it changes my router's IP address because I have a usb printer plugged into it and it prints fine when the ethernet cable isn't plugged in.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[lostless]

When running a router as an access point, your ignoring the router part of the router itself. Look at this way, modern wireless "routers" are actually 3 network items built into 1 unit. Its a router, switch (advanced hub), and access point. Turn off the router portion and all router features are disabled including logging into it. The reason your router IP is different on your computer than the router is that you are using the universities router for the school, which gives out a different set of IP address, subnet mask, and uses it own address as your gateway address (router address). That makes your router (just the router portion) virtually on a completely different network that the rest of the school, hence you can't log into it. Now there is no harm using the WAN port, which is the input to the router portion of your router, which will still give you internet access and any device. They most likely recommend that you use the access point mode only is that using the router as a router, puts you behind a completely different network mooching of the other network. Like everyone mooching off the internet using a home router. Some resources at your school may require you to be on the school network to gain access to them, like file servers and such. So if your behind a router on your own network, you won't be able to see the network resources out there.
Edit: As for your printer, sounds like the USB plug is part of the router part of the router and it puts your printer on the virtually different network the router part is on. Best bet is to plug the printer directly into the computer if you wish to print. Now If you plug the cable from the wall to the WAN port on the router, you should be fine printing to the printer on the router, just as I said, you may loose access to some resources on the school network.
Feel free to ask me ask me anything else if you have questions

 

[showtime]

Thanks lostless. That clears a lot up actually. So what you're saying is, without plugging the ethernet cable into the wan port of the router, there is no way for me to use my printer that's hooked up to my router?

EDIT: Guess I can't. Thanks again for all your help lostless.

 

[lostless]

yes, without being on your own private network piggybacking the school network, i doubt the router will let you use the printer. And if it did allow you in the access point mode, every one on the network would see it too. Meaning the entire school. If You can see other students computers out there, be it itunes music or whatever, they can see your printer.