Subnet Mask

My dsl modem/router is 192.168.254.x.
I recently acquired a wireless-access-point/hub/router; it's default ip is 192.168.1.x

I was unable to log into the access point to configure it until I disconnected my laptop
from the lan and reconfigured it to 192.168.1.x - then I could log into the wap and change its default to 192.168.254.x (after which I could no longer access the wap until the laptop was reconfigured back to 192.168.254.x)

I did some research and got totally confused. But I did comprehend enough to discover that the problem was in the third octet of the wap's default ip.
The subnet mask from my ISP is 255.255.255.0.

Is there anything I can do to access a device with a different third octet -- other than what I described above??

My dsl modem/router is 192.168.254.x.[/b]

What is the 'x' component?

What is the 'x' component?
[/b]

My dsl modem/router is 192.168.254.254
I recently acquired a wireless-access-point/hub/router; it's default ip is 192.168.1.1

My dsl modem/router is 192.168.254.254
I recently acquired a wireless-access-point/hub/router; it's default ip is 192.168.1.1
[/b]

OKay then, set it up like this (there are many permutations, but this wil work as well as any).

DSL/MODEM

IP Adress = 192.168.254.254
DHCP = 192.168.254.10 -> 29
DEFAULT GATEWAY = 192.168.254.254
SUBNET MASK = 255.255.255.0


WIRELESS ROUTER

IP Adress = 192.168.254.253
DHCP = 192.168.254.30 -> 40
DEFAULT GATEWAY = 192.168.254.254
SUBNET MASK = 255.255.255.0


so you should have something like .....

MODEM (192.168.254.254) <-----------------------------> WIRELESS (192.168.254.253)
********************** ^******************************^
********************** |******************************|
********************** |******************************|
********************** |******************************|
********************** |******************************|
********************** V******************************V
CLIENTS (192.168.254.x (10->29)******************** CLIENTS (192.168.254.x (30->40)

By letting both devices issue dhcp, you will get a valid connection regardless of which device you connect directly to - and in the event that the modem/router isn't available, you can still connect to and program the wireless router.

EDIT -To fix formatting - sorry about the diagram in the code box <_<

Eds;
Thank you for the information. I appreciate the assistance.

Gary