We know that to navigate at the fastest speed possible wirelessly, the Wi-Fi network signal must reach computers and mobile devices with as much power as possible. But if we live in an apartment with several rooms, perhaps distant from each other, the walls are a barrier as are the basements, the multi-storey houses and the terraces. After drawing the network map to see where it takes the signal better and after analyzing the networks so as to improve the wifi signal, instead of opening doors and windows, move furniture and computers from one room to another and buy devices and additional repeaters, we can increase the range of the Wi-Fi signal by adding a second router of any make and model to the wireless network, to be placed as far as possible from the second, so as to be able to cover all areas.
READ ALSO: Connect a new router to the modem without changing the network
There are two types of networks that can be created by connecting two routers via an Ethernet cable : using the routers behind the same modem (therefore on a single network) or creating two separate and independent networks. The first solution is more convenient to manage while the second solution becomes useful if you work with different computers in the home or office, to keep them separate from each other. Below we see how to amplify and expand the range of the WiFi signal is available with 4 notches in every corner of the house .
Single network with two routers
The installation of a single network is very simple and it's all about connections: the main router must be connected to the modem of the network provider to receive the internet. The secondary wireless router, on the other hand, must be connected to the main router via an Ethernet network cable.
The primary router is the one that was already used while the second router is the one to increase the signal and spread it in the areas without signal.
- First, let's determine the IP address of Router 1 (our existing router). From the Start menu -> Run on the computer, copy and paste the following command cmd / k ipconfig and note the value " Default gateway " which is the IP address of router 1. For example, the IP address of router 1 let's say it is 192.168.1.1 ; also note the subnet mask which is usually 255.255.255.0 .
- We open the web browser and type the router's IP address into the address bar ( //192.168.1.1 ). Now enter the credentials to access the router settings; if this has never been changed, the factory default password remains and on some sites you can find the default login and password for all types of routers . In theory it should also be marked under the router or in the instruction booklet or on the box. As written in another article on how to configure a wireless router, you access the settings of router 1, and, in the wireless settings section, mark the parameters of Wireless mode , SSID and channel . If the Wi-Fi network is protected with a password, also note the security mode used (WPA or WPA2) and the password to log in.
- The second router, if not new, needs a reset to the factory settings which can be done by pressing the relative RESET button (usually reachable with a needle or toothpick) for about 10 seconds.
- Then connect router 2 to the computer via an Ethernet cable, with one end of the cable in one of the LAN ports available on the router and the other end to the Ethernet port on the PC. Obviously if we are already connected by cable to router 1, we temporarily remove the network cable to use that of router 2.
- We open the browser again and type the default address, which should be 192.168.1.1 (but it could also be 192.168.2.1, 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.254 ). Once inside, we modify the values of the wireless network by entering the same SSID, channel, protection mode and password present on router 1.
- We then go to the advanced settings of the router and change the current mode from gateway to router. If a button to change mode immediately is not available, we disable the DHCP, NAT and Firewall functions, since router 1 manages the same tasks also for the new router (having redundant functions can lead to the network not working properly).
- Finally we change the IP address of router 2 with any free one on the LAN created by router 1 (for example, if the IP address of router 1 is 192.168.1.1 you can assign router 2 the address 192.168.1.2) . We also check that the subnet mask is the same as that indicated in point one and that the IP address of router 1 is used as DNS (even if we can set a free and secure DNS ).
- Now all we have to do is use an Ethernet cable to connect the routers, using a LAN or Ethernet port on both (let's avoid using the WAN ports, not useful in our case). Finally, the network will be created as follows: Internet -> modem -> router 1 -> router 2 . The two routers both distribute the same Wi-Fi signal to connect computers, smartphones, tablets, Smart TVs and consoles to the Internet. Nothing prevents you from connecting a PC to the two routers via the remaining LAN ports.
The wireless network remains one, it is the same as before, only that the signal will be more widespread.
All shared folders, music libraries, photos and other files will be accessible from all computers and mobile devices connected to the same home network.
If we are looking for an Ethernet cable long enough to connect the routers, we recommend taking a look here -> CSL - Network cable 10m - CAT.6 (€ 11). Obviously this cable will be hidden well above the baseboards of the walls or in the channels of the electrical outlets.
Separate network with two routers
If we prefer, as mentioned at the beginning of this guide, we can also divide the wireless network into two independent networks that are not seen with each other, without sharing.
To have this configuration, the cable connection is the same but we will have to make some changes to the settings of the second router: first we keep the DHCP, Firewall and NAT functions, then we assign a different address as IP of router 2, such as 192.168.2.1 . For the connection, we will have to set the IP address of the first router (for example 192.168.1.1 ) as Gateway and DNS Server, so that we can browse independently as if it were a single device. By also assigning a different wireless network name and password on the second router, we will have a new wireless network that has nothing to do with the first, even if in fact they use the same modem and the same connection, each one will navigate separately ( the PCs present in the two network segments will never see each other, including any shared resources).
Conclusions
In this guide we have seen how to use two routers at home to expand the capabilities of the wireless network, without having to necessarily have a Wi-Fi repeater or without having to move the first router.
If we are looking for other tricks to improve the wireless connection, we refer you to reading our guide with 10 ways to improve the coverage of your home Wifi network .
If you don't like the idea of having Ethernet cables at home, we can always use the Powerline connection to connect the two routers; to take advantage of this technology, we refer you to reading the guide on How the Powerline works, secrets and limits .
To configure a Wi-Fi access point and using our network as a repeater, we can continue reading the guide to Configure a Wifi access point as a repeater of the primary router .
