Can I Have 2 Routers in My House?
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Plagued by poor Wi-Fi performance in sure parts of your abode or office? Or just desire to permit more devices to connect to the internet at in one case? If yous accept a second router that supports WDS, you can "bridge" it with your current router to aggrandize your network reach. Bridging ii routers on 1 network isn't as mutual every bit information technology used to exist (thanks to much simpler mesh Wi-Fi systems), just information technology can all the same be an effective way to improve network admission in larger spaces. This wikiHow article volition teach you how to bridge 2 routers together on a network to improve Wi-Fi access in your abode or function.
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Make certain your second router supports WDS bridging or has "bridge style." Bridging is a feature that lets two wireless routers work together to aggrandize the range of a wireless network. If the router you want to add to your network (the one that'south non continued directly to the net) doesn't support bridging, y'all won't be able to use it to extend your Wi-Fi network.[1]
- Look for "bridging style," "WDS," or "repeater office" in your router'southward documentation to come across if information technology's supported.
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Determine which router will exist the main router. The primary router is the one that you'll be connecting directly to the net. If you have a combination modem and router from your internet provider, that has to be your main router.
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Go a long enough ethernet cable to connect your two routers. Yous'll usually demand to run an ethernet cablevision betwixt your ii routers, fifty-fifty if you're bridging to create a new wireless access indicate. Some wireless routers support bridging wirelessly, only this is usually only when both routers are the aforementioned model and/or manufacturer.
- The ethernet cablevision y'all use to connect your two routers should not exceed 320 ft. A longer cable could seriously touch network quality.
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Connect your main router to the internet. The main router is the i that comes from your internet provider (if applicable), or the one that plugs directly into your modem. To connect your router to the cyberspace:
- If the router and modem are combined in 1 device: Connect the device to the net port on the wall using the network or coaxial cable that came with information technology, and turn information technology on.
- If the modem and the router are separate devices: Connect the modem to the internet port on the wall using the network or coaxial jack that came with it. And so, insert an ethernet cablevision into your router's WAN (or INTERNET) port, and connect the other end to the modem.
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Connect your computer to the master router with an ethernet cable. Information technology'due south all-time to utilize an ethernet cablevision during setup, even if your principal router has Wi-Fi. The main router is the i that comes from your internet provider (if applicative), or the one that plugs direct into your modem.
- One end of the ethernet cable should connect to one of the LAN ports on your router (they'll typically be labeled equally such, or with numbers), and the other connects to the Ethernet port on your computer.
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Get to your router'southward admin website. Y'all can do this by opening a spider web browser, such as Edge or Safari, and entering the router's IP address into the accost bar as if it were a regular website. The IP address is commonly 10.0.0.one or 192.168.1.ane, but it varies by router. Hither'southward how to find the correct IP address:
- Windows:
- Open up the Windows Start bill of fare and click the Settings gear.
- Click Network & Net.
- In the right panel, click View hardware and connection backdrop.
- Detect the IP address next to "Default Gateway."
- macOS:
- Click the Apple card and select System Preferences.[2]
- Click the Network icon.
- Click your Ethernet connection in the left panel.
- Click the Advanced button at the bottom.
- Click the TCP/IP tab and detect the IP address side by side to "Router."
- Windows:
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Log in as an ambassador. If you're not sure of the admin username and/or password for your router, bank check your documentation, or look for a sticker on the router itself. You tin also search the cyberspace for your router model and "default administrator password."
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Turn on DHCP. DHCP is the protocol that assigns IP addresses to devices that bring together your Wi-Fi network. For example, if your router's IP address is 192.168.one.ane, information technology will typically assign IP addresses at random from a range of addresses beginning with 192.168.1.2 and ending with 192.168.1.254. Find the DHCP settings in your router (which may be in a section called LAN setup or similar) then turn on DHCP if it's off.
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Write downward the Wi-Fi details. Yous'll demand to set up some details in your secondary router to meet what you see in this router. This will allow you to log into the either router wirelessly using the aforementioned Wi-Fi password, besides every bit allows the secondary router to connect wirelessly to the start router (if supported past your secondary router).[3]
- Locate the Wireless or Wi-Fi Security area of your router'south admin website.
- Write downwards the SSID (may also exist chosen Network Name) and password.
- Write down the value of "Security fashion," "Network style," or "Encryption manner."
- Write down the frequency, such as five GHz or two.4 GHz.
- Become to the LAN or Network department of the router and write down the Internet (IPV4) IP address and subnet mask.
- If you have a TP-Link or Linksys router, you tin skip this, just for many other routers, y'all'll need to write down the MAC address so you lot can enter information technology into the secondary router.
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Save your changes and disconnect. If you haven't made any changes, no need to salve anything. Only if you have, click the Salvage choice and and then unplug the ethernet cablevision from your figurer. You now have everything you demand to set up your new router.
- Information technology's a practiced idea to also plow off your primary router for a while then that your computer doesn't accidentally connect to it via Wi-Fi when y'all're trying to gear up your secondary (bridging) router.[iv]
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Connect the 2nd router to your computer. One time you've disconnected from the main router, you'll want to connect the router that volition be acting as a span to your computer so you can configure it. Here'south how:
- Using the same ethernet cable, plug i end of the cablevision into your reckoner'southward ethernet port and the other end into one of the LAN or numbered ports on the 2d router.
- Plug in the router and plow it on.
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Log in to this router'southward admin website. This is the same process as with logging in to your main router'due south website—find the IP address (which might be the same) and and so sign in with the username and default password.
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Enable Bridging Mode on this router. The steps and terminology vary by router model, but you'll usually need to navigate to a section called "Connection type" or "Network Fashion" and cull Bridge Mode, Bridged, WDS, or Repeater from a carte. Cheque your documentation to observe the exact location.[v]
- On TP Link models, you'll need to go to Advanced > Arrangement Tools > System Parameters and click Enable WDS Bridging.[6]
- On Netgear routers, go to Advanced > Avant-garde Setup > Router/AP/Bridge/Repeating Mode and select Enable Wireless Repeating Function. Then, choose Wireless Repeater.
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Configure bridging style. Once you've turned on bridging mode, there are some details yous'll demand to provide the router so information technology knows how to communicate with your main router. The steps are going to be a little unlike on all models.
- On TP-Link models, you can click Survey, select the chief router's SSID, and click Choose. Then, enter the main router's Wi-Fi password (if requested) and click Salve to automatically get together the details from that router.
- On nigh other routers, you'll demand to specify the default gateway, which is that IP address you lot used to log in to your main router.
- You'll usually too accept to enter the Subnet Mask, which should lucifer the main router.
- If prompted to enter an IP accost, enter any address on the same range every bit the master router. For example, if the principal router's IP address is 192.168.0.1 and the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, y'all can make this router's IP address anything between 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.254.
- If supported by your routers, yous may be able to connect the secondary router to the beginning router wirelessly. You'll accept improve results with an ethernet cablevision, only if a wireless connection is possible, you lot'll need to enter your other router's details into the Bridge Mode settings. Enter the original router'due south SSID (network name), password, security mode, channel, and Wi-Fi network frequency (e.g., five GHz).
- On about routers, turning on bridging style volition automatically disable the DHCP server on the secondary router. This is a practiced thing. If the DHCP server does not turn off when you enable bridging mode, locate your DHCP settings on the secondary router and disable DHCP.
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Update the Wi-Fi settings on the secondary router. If you lot program to permit devices to connect to the secondary router via Wi-Fi, y'all will want the SSID to exist a little dissimilar than the SSID of your main router. Y'all can make the SSID of the secondary router like to the original router, but with a descriptor. Set the Wi-Fi password and security mode to match the chief router.
- For example, if your router is called Netgear2021, you tin call this secondary router something like Netgear2021-Upstairs if it'due south upstairs.
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Place your routers. Now that everything is configured, you can place your routers wherever you need. Recall, you'll want to utilize an Ethernet cablevision that'south no longer than 320 anxiety to connect the routers together (unless your routers support WDS). If you're using a compatible Wi-Fi router that supports wireless bridging, minimize concrete obstructions, such every bit brick walls and metallic frames or siding for all-time results.[seven]
- Make sure the primary router is connected to the modem (if separate). One terminate of the Ethernet cable should be connected to the primary router'due south Cyberspace or WAN port, and the other finish into the modem or wall jack.
- Y'all can run Ethernet cable through the wall if y'all need to reach another room.
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Connect the two routers together. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable to i of your primary router's LAN (Ethernet) ports, and the other into to any available LAN port on secondary router.
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Restart both routers once connected. Yous tin can do this by unplugging each router's power cable and plugging it back in a few seconds after. After a infinitesimal or then, the routers will come dorsum up. Both volition now exist accessible and connected to the internet.
- If y'all need to connect to the secondary router's admin website, you lot tin can practice and then by entering its new IP address into your web browser's accost bar. The previous IP address will at present simply work for the primary router.
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Add together New Question
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Question
Can I make a network consisting of two or more routers using WiFi?
Yep, come across Method 2, Step 1.
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Question
Can computers meet each other while they are on different routers? For example, a PC on one router sees the computers or printers on the other router?
If it is a LAN to WAN connectedness, then they cannot run across each other unless you have a VPN setup.
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Question
What if the modem houses the principal router and at that place are two dissimilar bands (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz)?
That the modem houses the master router makes no difference to the instructions given in the article, and the 5GHz ring(s) do not overlap with the two.4GHz band.
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Question
If I setup a LAN to LAN network, volition the secondary router be able to ship out a WiFi signal?
Yes. You can disable WiFi on your principal router and enable it merely on your 2nd router.
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Question
How do I set up a VPN network?
It'south non clear from your question if you want to gear up a VPN customer or a VPN server. OpenVPN is probably the answer to either question, though. If y'all're looking to connect to a commercial VPN service to gain anonymity, then the service provider volition have to answer your question. If you intend to ready up a server then you can remotely access your main estimator, OpenVPN will practice anything y'all need -- information technology's complimentary and a fully-featured, enterprise-grade solution. To set information technology up, yous'll demand to open up port 1194 UDP on your router and indicate it at your server.
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Question
My secondary router for wireless repeating asks for a base station MAC address, can anyone aid?
The MAC address information technology wants is the MAC address of the base station, the router connected directly to the modem. Y'all need to make sure your computer is straight connected to the base station, non one of the satellites and access the base stations config folio (at 192.168.one.1 or 192.168.1.0 usually). The MAC will be found under either the Data Tab (usually) or sometimes under Router Settings. It will be in hexadecimal numbers 0-f and volition await something like this: xx:xx:20:20:20:xx.
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Question
Why would my secondary router drop its connection every minute?
Use a mobile device to check for congestion on whichever channel you take it set to (article recommends channel 11). Another distinct possibility is bug-ridden firmware on your router. To remedy that, check for updated firmware from the manufacturer's website. Upload the latest firmware bachelor onto your router, fifty-fifty if it's the aforementioned version already on in that location.
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Question
How do I connect two different broadband connections to my routers?
You need two modems, as well as two routers. And y'all volition most likely have to pay for all of them.
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Question
If I go to a hotel with wi-fi, can I install my own router off their wi-fi to get added security? How would I do that?
Information technology'southward a complicated task but yes it can be done. Assuming your router supports running a VPN Client and yous have a paid or self-hosted VPN Server. All you accept to do is login to your router's configuration pages and connect your Router to their WiFi network. Bold y'all take your VPN connection pre-configured your router will automatically tunnel all your network traffic via your VPN Server. Your devices may be required to connect via wired medium to your router.
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Question
My secondary router is asking for Primary DNS accost when I am trying to enter a static IP address for WAN in WAN-LAN in Step 6. I am likewise supposed to enter a Gateway address at that place. What can I do?
Utilize the LAN side IP accost of the upstream router. This will be 192.168.1.1 in the article's case. However, y'all could go out the default DHCP setting, and personally, I'd advise that. If it's important to have a specific IP accost on router ii, use DHCP Leases/Reservations on the first router.
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Article Summary X
1. Connect the primary router to your computer.
ii. Configure the principal router.
3. Change the DHCP settings.
four. Disconnect the router from the computer.
5. Connect the secondary router to the computer.
vi. Configure the secondary router.
7. Modify the DHCP settings.
eight. Modify the wireless channels to eliminate interference.
9. Connect the primary router to the modem.
10. Connect the ii routers with an Ethernet cable.
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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Connect-Two-Routers
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