Hmm...
It's strange that you cannot access the access point when it is plugged into the router.  
Also you need to have a default gateway set on your vista laptop.  (Set it to 192.168.1.1)

To simplify things a bit set both the Access point and the Station to Static IP addresses.  Use the ones you supplied for the dhcp fallback address.  
As long as there are lights you should be able to connect to which ever radio you are plugged into.

A side note, with the radios being ~20ft apart it is possible you are blasting too much power at each radio.  Imagine if someone is 2ft away from you and screaming.  Makes understanding what they are saying rather difficult.
So under wireless settings turn down the power 3/4 or so.