How to set up router to router

How to Connect Two Routers on a Home Network

Expand your home network with a second router

What to Know

This article explains how to connect two routers on a home network to extend the range of a network and support more wireless devices or serve as an access point or switch.

Position a Second Router

While most home computer networks use only one router, adding a second router makes sense in a few situations. A second router upgrades a wired network to support a larger number of wireless devices. It extends the wireless range of a home network to reach dead spots or network a wired device that’s too far away from the original router.

A second router creates a separate subnetwork within a home to stream video among some devices without slowing down connections to others. Making it all work requires just a few steps.

When you set up a new router, place it near a Windows PC or another computer that you can use for the initial configuration. Both wired and wireless routers are best configured from a computer connected with an Ethernet network cable to the router. You can move the router to its permanent location later.

Connect a Second Wired Router

If the second router doesn’t have wireless capability, you must connect it to the first router with an Ethernet cable. Plug one end of the cable into the new router’s uplink port (sometimes labeled WAN or Internet). Plug the other end into any free port on the first router other than its uplink port.

Connect a Second Wireless Router

Home wireless routers can be connected using Ethernet cable in the same way as wired routers are connected. Connecting two home routers over wireless is also possible, but the second router can only function as a wireless access point instead of a router in most configurations.

You must set up the second router in client mode to utilize its full routing functionality, a mode that many home routers don’t support. Consult the specific router model documentation to determine whether it supports client mode and, if so, how to configure it.

Wi-Fi Channel Settings for Wireless Home Routers

If both the existing and second routers are wireless, their Wi-Fi signals can interfere with each other, causing dropped connections and unpredictable network slowdowns. Each wireless router uses specific Wi-Fi frequency ranges called channels, and signal interference occurs when two wireless routers in the same house use the same or overlapping channels.

Wireless routers use different Wi-Fi channels by default depending on the model, but you can change these settings in the router console. To avoid signal interference between two routers in a home, set the first router to channel 1 or 6 and the second to channel 11.

IP Address Configuration of a Second Router

Home network routers also use a default IP address setting depending on the model. The default IP settings of a second router do not require any change unless it is to be configured as a network switch or access point.

Use the Second Router as a Switch or Access Point

The above procedures enable an additional router to support a subnetwork within a home network. This approach maintains extra control over specific devices, such as placing further restrictions on their internet access.

Alternatively, a second router can be configured as an Ethernet network switch or—if wireless—an access point. This arrangement lets devices connect to the second router as usual but does not create a subnetwork. A no-subnetwork setup is sufficient for households that want to extend basic internet access plus enable file-and-printer sharing to additional computers. However, it requires a different configuration procedure than given above.

Configure a Second Router Without Subnetwork Support

To set up a new router as a network switch, plug an Ethernet cable into any free port of the second router other than the uplink port. Then connect it to any port in the first router other than the uplink port.

To set up a new wireless router as an access point, configure the device for either bridge or repeater mode linked to the first router. Consult the documentation for the second router for the specific settings to use.

For both wired and wireless routers, update the IP configuration:

To connect a router to a modem, plug one end of an Ethernet cable into your modem and the other end into the router’s WAN port. On your computer, find your router’s network name and connect to it via the Wi-Fi network key. Next, enter your router’s IP address into a browser to configure router settings.

To connect a router to the internet, connect your modem to the wall outlet via a coaxial or fiber-optic cable. Plug the Ethernet cable into the WAN/uplink port on your router, and insert the other end into the modem’s Ethernet port. Plug in the power supply for both devices and wait for the lights to turn on.

Confirm your router’s wireless network is functioning, and note the router’s password. Turn on the printer and access its networking settings. In Wi-Fi settings, select the router’s SSID and enter the Wi-Fi password. The printer will connect to the Wi-Fi network.

Connecting A Router to Another Router (Now with Follow-Up Questions)

I would like to set up a home network with two routers in order to expand my coverage and also have an additional number of ethernet ports. For simplicity, I will refer to two routers as Router A and Router B.

I would like to connect Router A to the cable modem, and then connect Router B to Router A using an ethernet cable. Router A is a Linksys E2000. Router B is a D-Link DIR-615 C1. Both Routers run DD-WRT.

I’m wondering how to go about this? Will it be tricky? My naive thought would be to simply hook a cable up between one of the ethernet ports on Router A, and the Internet port on Router B.

Update: Followed the answers and disabled DHCP on Router B. I can now connect to the internet through a wired connection that runs through Router B. If anyone has time, I have some quick follow-up questions:

1) Does Router A assign an IP address to Router B? Is there a benefit of making this static?

2) Is there a way to use Router B as a Range Extender for my Wireless Network?

3) When I connect to Router B through a wired connection, how can I access it’s settings page (when I type in 192.168.1.1 it automatically goes to the settings page of Router A)

4 Answers 4

If you connect two routers, don’t connect either of them using the Internet port, because those are meant for WAN/modem connections only. Just connect them through the regular LAN ports.

I just quickly made this diagram, your setup should look something like this.

Note that by default each router will try to assign its own IP address (mostly static) and assign IP addresses to its clients using DHCP (dynamic). In order to get around conflicts here, configure only Router A to use DHCP. Disable DHCP on Router B.

That way, Router B will almost act as a simple switch and access point. It doesn’t really need to know about the fact that it has internet access, as it just forwards everything to Router A.

In order to prevent interferences, make the routers transmit their signal on a different channel.

To answer your questions from above:

Does Router A assign an IP address to Router B? Is there a benefit of making this static?

Yes, it will probably do that unless told otherwise. Making both Router’s IP addresses static surely helps you in case there are DHCP errors or your DHCP static leases are not working. It’s just keeping things static that should be static.

When I connect to Router B through a wired connection, how can I access it’s settings page (when I type in 192.168.1.1 it automatically goes to the settings page of Router A)

That’s probably because 192.168.1.1 is Router A? You might want the following settings:

That way you’ll make sure they don’t interfere and you can access them always through the same IP.

Is there a way to use Router B as a Range Extender for my Wireless Network?

Please open a separate question for this issue, as this one’s already answered and probably nobody will care to write another answer. In general, you should always try to make separate questions for different issues on Super User and don’t add follow-up questions to ones that are already answered.

How to Setup Two Routers on the Same Network

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If you have a large home or even just a large home network with lots of devices, adding a second router can not only better coverage both wired and wirelessly, but also improve overall performance. In this article, we’ll look at how to set up two routers on the same network, as well as some of the benefits and some alternatives you may want to consider.

Can Two Routers Be Set up on the Same Network?

Two, or even more if you wish, routers can absolutely be set up on the same home network.

A second router can be set up to act as a range extender, or it can be configured to share the same SSID as the primary router, meaning the devices on your network will connect to whichever router provides the stronger signal.

What Are the Benefits of Having Two Routers on the Same Network?

Setting up a dual-router home network comes with a number of benefits, including:

How to Set up Two Routers on the Same Network

Now you know the benefits of adding a second router to your home network, let’s take a look at how to actually set it up.

When it comes to connectivity between the two, you have a choice of a wired or wireless connection. We will cover both methods below, but in both cases, there are a few things that you need to consider and set up first.

Firstly, you need to decide which of the routers will be the primary and which will be the secondary. Ideally, you will pick the newer, fully-featured router to be the primary, but if you have two of the same router it doesn’t really matter which is which.

Next, place both of the routers close to the computer you will be using to configure them both. This is just for ease of access; both routers can be moved to their permanent location later.

Finally, you need to decide what you want to achieve from the second router as there are two different connection types you can setup: LAN-to-LAN or LAN-to-WAN.

Got all that sorted? Let’s move on to performing the setup.

Setting up a Second Router Using Ethernet

1. Connecting to the Primary Router

First things first, we need to perform the initial setup on the primary router. Make sure the router is first connected to your modem via an Ethernet cable, then connect the computer you are using to the router using another Ethernet cable.

Some Windows PCs and Macs will no longer come with a built-in Ethernet port, so you may need to purchase either an Ethernet to USB adapter to make that wired connection.

2. Logging in to the Primary Router

This primary router will be taking control of the connection to the Internet through the modem and should be set up as if it were the only router in the home.

You’ll need to access the router’s web interface which is typically done by entering the router’s IP address into the URL bar of your web browser and then logging in.

Unless you have previously changed the username and password to access the router, which is recommended for security purposes, the router will often ship with a card containing these credentials.

Remember that the settings of each router can vary drastically depending on the manufacturer and model. If you ever get stuck finding a particular setting, it is recommended that you consult the router’s manual or the support section on the manufacturer’s website.

3. Change the DHCP Settings

If you have decided on setting up a LAN-to-LAN network, you can skip over this step as the DHCP settings can be left as they are.

If setting up a LAN-to-WAN network, you will need to set the DHCP to provide addresses between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.50.

Once these changes have been saved, log out of the router and disconnect your computer from it. That is all of the work completed on the primary router.

4. Configuring the Second Router

Connect and login to the second router as you did with the first and navigate to the screen that allows you to set the IP address of the router itself.

What you set the IP address to is important depending on whether you are going LAN-to-LAN or LAN-to-WAN

Once the IP address is set, just make sure that the subnet mask matches that of the primary router and that you disable UPnP if the option is there.

5. Configuring DHCP on the Second Router

Again, this step is different depending on whether you are setting up LAN-to-LAN or LAN-to-WAN.

6. Change the Wireless Channels

If both of your routers are wireless, as most are these days, you will need to manually change the channels so the two signals don’t interfere with one another. This is easily done by setting the primary router to use any channel between 1 and 6 and then setting the second router to use channel 11.

7. Position the Routers

So that’s all of the configuration work on both routers done. Make sure to save changes, log out and disconnect the router from your computer as it is now time to place both routers where you need them.

Just remember, you will need to use an Ethernet cable to connect the two together.

For convenience and so you don’t have more wires than needed trailing around your home, you may want to place the primary router next to the modem if you are using one that is a separate device.

8. Connect the Routers

Regardless of which network setup you are using, the routers need to connect to each other, but the port you must use will differ.

Once connected, you have successfully connected to a second router to your home network using a wired connection.

Setting up a Second Router Using Wireless

1. Is Your Equipment Even Compatible?

Before going down the route of setting up the second router wirelessly, you will first make sure that it is even possible using the equipment you have.

Most wireless routers can be used as a wireless access point or range extender, however, not all can be used to create their own network within the primary router’s network.

You must ensure that your secondary router has a “bridge” or “repeater” mode.

If you are unsure, check the manual that came with the router or check on the manufacturer’s website.

2. Connecting to the Primary Router

If you haven’t already, you will need to perform the initial setup on the primary router. Make sure the router is first connected to your modem via an Ethernet cable if you have one, then connect the computer you are using to the router using a separate Ethernet cable.

Some Windows PCs and Macs will no longer come with a built-in Ethernet port, so you may need to purchase either an Ethernet to USB adapter to make that wired connection.

3. Logging Into the Primary Router

This primary router will be taking control of the connection to the Internet through the modem and should be set up as if it were the only router in the home.

You’ll need to access the router’s web interface which is typically done by entering the router’s IP address into the URL bar of your web browser and then logging in.

Unless you have previously changed the username and password to access the router, which is recommended for security purposes, the router will often ship with a card containing these credentials.

Remember that the settings of each router can vary drastically depending on the manufacturer and model. If you ever get stuck finding a particular setting, it is recommended that you consult the router’s manual or the support section on the manufacturer’s website.

Once you have completed the initial setup, you can log out and disconnect from the router as we won’t need to connect to the primary again.

4. Logging Into the Second Router

Now it is time to connect the second router to your computer using an Ethernet cable, logging in and opening the configuration page.

You will need to browse to a setup page that is likely to be called either “Internet” or “Wireless”.

The router does not need to connect to the modem (if you have one as a separate device) at this stage.

5. Enable Bridge Mode

Within the setup page, you are looking for “Network Mode” under “Connection Type” or “Wireless Mode”.

Select “Bridge Mode” or “Repeater Mode” depending on the model of your router (both mean the same thing).

If you do not see this option, it is likely that the router doesn’t support bridging and you will therefore either purchase a router that does or connect the two routers over Ethernet as described above.

6. Set the Second Router’s IP Address

The IP address of the second router must be set to fall within the DHCP range of the primary router.

For example, if the primary router has a DHCP range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.50, you will need to set the second router’s IP address to be anything in between.

Whilst configuring the IP address, make sure the subnet mask matches that of the primary router.

7. Give the Second Router a Unique Name

It is recommended that you give the second router a unique name so it is clear which router you are connecting to when joining your devices to the network.

You may want to name both routers depending on the position of them in your home, but it really doesn’t matter what name you choose.

Make sure both routers are set to use WPA2 which is likely to be the case out of the box.

You may also want to make sure both are set to use the same password for ease of use; just make sure it is something secure that cannot be easily guessed to help avoid any unauthorized access.

8. Position the Second Router

The configuration of the second router is now complete, so you can place it in an area of your home where you want it to repeat the signal provided by the primary router.

For a good connection between the routers to be maintained, it is recommended that the second router is placed where it receives at least 50% of the signal strength from the primary router, but the higher the better.

If there is a direct line-of-sight between both routers, you should find the second router receives the strongest signal compared to any walls being in the way.

Alternatives to Setting up a Second Router

Setting up a second router on your home network is relatively easy, but there are a few alternatives that will achieve the same result of extending your network, but without any router, IP address or DHCP configuration being needed.

You may want to instead look at adding a network switch instead of a second router. Switches come vary in terms of the number of available Ethernet ports they can add to your network and the type: managed or unmanaged.

For a Wi-Fi network, you may want to consider simply adding a wireless access point rather than an additional router. These can help extend wireless coverage throughout your home and only use a single LAN port on your primary router.

Glossary

We mentioned several technical terms in this article, many of which are abbreviated, so here is a brief description of each to better your understanding of these commonly found terms you’ll undoubtedly come across when designing and building your home network.

How To Set Up A Repeater Bridge in DD-WRT

Can’t seem to get a solid wireless connection in your house? Does your signal sometimes drop? If yes, you may have explored wireless repeaters as a potential option. But alas, wireless repeaters don’t come cheap.

However, there may be another option, that won’t break the bank, DD-WRT firmware. This trusty open-source firmware has a feature called a repeater bridge, which can simplify your life.

How Does A Repeater Bridge Work With DD-WRT?

With DD-WRT, a wireless bridge connecting two LAN segments is possible using a wireless link. The two segments are on the same subnet, allowing broadcasts to reach all machines. DHCP clients in one segment are able to get their addresses from the DHCP server in the other segment.

Essentially, this means that you can boost and extend your wireless signal with just any old router and DD-WRT! For a full explanation, check out DD-WRT’s dedicated page.

Step 1: Get a DD-WRT Router

The first thing you need to do to set up a wireless repeater bridge is to get a router with DD-WRT flashed on it! These are your best options:

What Is The Difference Between Client Bridge And Repeater Bridge?

A standard wireless bridge, or Client Bridge, is designed to connect wired clients to a secondary router as if they were connected to the main router via cable. The secondary clients would share the bandwidth of a wireless connection with the main router. This still allows the connection of clients via cable or wireless to the main router.

The Client Bridge allows only wired clients to connect to the secondary router. In order to allow wireless clients to connect to the secondary router, a Repeater Bridge is necessary.

A Repeater Bridge allows wireless and wired clients to connect to the secondary router. It also allows the secondary device to connect to the main device wirelessly.

How To Set Up A Repeater Bridge On Your DD-WRT Router

Before starting, make sure that the main router has a 192.168.1.X subnet and leases a DHCP address in the same pool. The secondary router must be running DD-WRT.

To ensure easy setup, always click Save and not Apply between steps.

Preparing Your Router

Wireless Settings Setup

Open the Wireless tab and then the Basic Settings tab

How to Use a Router as a Wi-Fi Extender

Give your old router a purpose

What to Know

This guide will walk you through the steps for how to set up an old router as a Wi-Fi extender, also often referred to as a wireless internet or Wi-Fi repeater, to help boost your home or office network in areas with a weak signal.

For optimal speeds, your extra router should support at least the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard. Older models may not provide the internet speeds you require in an extender.

How Do I Use a Second Router as an Extender?

The easiest way to use a spare router as an extender is to connect it to your main router via an Ethernet cable. The design and phrasing used for router settings and features can vary greatly from router model to model but the general setup steps are typically as follows.

Detailed instructions for your router’s specific model should be available via the manufacturer or internet provider’s website.

Update the firmware on your old router. If you haven’t used your old internet router in a while, it may need to be updated to improve its internet connectivity and security.

Connect an Ethernet cable to an Ethernet port on your main internet router.

Plug the other end of this Ethernet cable into the WAN port on the secondary router you want to use as a Wi-Fi repeater.

Log into your secondary router’s admin settings by using its IP address and login information.

This information is often written on a sticker on the router itself or can be found in its manual or packaging. These are the same admin settings used when changing a modem or router’s password.

Once logged in, locate the router’s wireless settings and select AP Mode. This will turn your router into an access point for your internet connection, essentially extending the Wi-Fi beyond the main router’s range.

You may need to click an option like Apply, Confirm, or Save for the change to go live.

How Do I Set Up My Router as a Repeater?

An alternative to the AP Mode solution is to set your extra router up in its Repeater mode. This is a good option if you don’t have an extra Ethernet cable lying around. Here’s how to do it.

Make sure your main router is turned on and is broadcasting its Wi-Fi signal.

Update your old router’s firmware so it has the latest security and feature improvements.

Log into your old router’s admin settings via a web browser or its official app.

Check the bottom of the router for its login information.

Locate the old router’s wireless settings and select Repeating Mode.

The exact phrasing and steps for this can differ quite a bit depending on your router’s model. Repeating Mode may also be called Wireless Bridge Mode, Extender Mode, Repeater Mode, or something similar.

Select the Wi-Fi network being created by your primary router and connect to it with its password and, if needed, username.

This step can vary dramatically depending on the router you’re using. You may be asked to enter your main router’s IP address or Mac address and admin information instead of, or in addition to, the Wi-Fi network login information.

Confirm the changes.

How Can I Use an Old Router as a Wi-Fi Extender Without Cables?

The easiest way to use an old internet router as a Wi-Fi extender without an Ethernet cable is to place it in Repeating Mode as shown above. When put in Repeating Mode, a router wirelessly connects to the Wi-Fi connection being produced by the primary router and then broadcasts an extension of the wireless network around itself.

When using an old router as a Wi-Fi repeater, keep in mind it needs to wirelessly connect to the primary router and can have its connection interrupted or weakened by physical objects and walls. Try to place it away from walls, furniture, and other large objects.

Can I Use a Router as a Wi-Fi Extender?

Most modern routers and modem-router hybrids support Wi-Fi extension capabilities. Many older routers can also be used this way though it’s recommended they support at least the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard. A router with older Wi-Fi tech may work but it likely won’t provide the speeds or stability you require.

Some routers, such as the Asus AiMesh line of products, feature extra support for Wi-Fi extending with their own mesh networking system. A wide range of Wi-Fi extenders are also available from a number of manufacturers and retailers. These dedicated devices can often be cheaper and a lot easier to set up than other Wi-Fi boosting or extending strategies.

You’ll need a Linksys Smart Wi-Fi router that supports Wireless Repeater mode. Make sure you have your main router’s wireless settings, then enter the default Linksys router web address http://192.168.1.1 (or a new address if you modified this) into your browser and log in to your Linksys Smart Wi-Fi router. Select Connectivity > Internet Settings > Edit > Wireless Repeater and enter the main router’s details.

A Wi-Fi extender can be an effective and useful way to shore up a spotty internet connection by expanding your wireless network’s range, but there are some caveats. Your internet speed, Wi-Fi needs, router location, and more all have an impact on a Wi-Fi extender’s effectiveness. Since the extender uses the same frequency band as the main router, be aware that you may experience an internet speed reduction.

A Wi-Fi extender connected via a wired connection will provide a strong, dedicated connection, particularly if you have a high-speed internet plan. It’s important to use a dual-band Wi-Fi extender to maximize your speed. Using an older, single-band extender may actually drag down your overall internet speed as the device works to provide a signal to a wide swath of area.