Connect two wireless routers to increase WiFi range

We know well that, to surf at the highest possible speed 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 far from each other, the walls are a barrier as are the basements, multi-story houses, and terraces.
After drawing the network map to see where the signal gets better and after analyzing the networks so from improve the wifi signal, instead of starting to open doors and windows, moving furniture and computers from one room to another and buying additional devices and repeaters, we can increase the Wi-Fi signal range by adding a second router to the wireless network of any make and model, to be placed as far as possible from the second, so as to cover all areas.

READ ALSO: Connect a new router to the modem without changing networks

There are two types of networks that can be implemented connecting two routers via Ethernet cable: using 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 is useful if you work with different computers at home or in the office, to keep them separate from each other. Below we see how to go about amplify and expand the WiFi signal range 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 is all a question of connections: the main router must be connected to the modem of the network provider to receive the internet. The secondary wireless router is connected to the main router via an Ethernet network cable.
The primary router is what was already used while the second router is to increase the signal and spread it in areas without signal.

1. First, let’s determine the IP address of Router 1 (our existing router). From the menu Start -> Run 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 we put is 192.168.1.1; take note also of the subnet mask which usually is 255.255.255.0.
2. Open the web browser and type the IP address of the router in the address bar (http://192.168.1.1). Now enter the credentials to access the router settings; if this has never been changed, the factory default password has remained and on some sites, you can find the default login and password for all types of routers. In theory, it should also be marked below the router or in the instruction booklet or on the box. As written in another article on how to configure a wireless router, Yes access router settings 1, and, in the wireless settings section, note the mode parameters Wireless, SSID and channel. If the Wi-Fi network is protected with a password, also note it the security mode used (WPA or WPA2) and the password to log in.
3. The second router, if it is not new, it needs a reset to the factory settings which can be done by pressing the relevant RESET button (usually reachable with a needle or toothpick) for about 10 seconds.
4. Then connect router 2 to the computer using 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 momentarily remove the network cable to use that of router 2.
5. Open the browser again and type in 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 entering the same SSID, channel, security mode, and password on router 1.
6. Then we go into the advanced settings of the router and change the current mode from the gateway to a router. If a button to change modes immediately is not available, we disable the DHCP, NAT and Firewall functions, since the router 1 manages the same tasks also for the new router (having redundant functions can lead the network to not work properly).
7. Finally, we modify the IP address of the router 2 with any free on the LAN created by router 1 (for example, if the IP address of router 1 is 192.168.1.1 you can assign the address to router 2 192.168.1.2). We also check that the subnet mask is the same mark at point one and that the DNS address of router 1 is used as DNS (even if we can set a Free and secure DNS).
8. Now we will only have to use an Ethernet cable to connect the routers, using a LAN or Ethernet port on both (we avoid using WAN ports, not useful in our case). Finally, the network will be 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.

Since the same SSID and the same security settings are assigned for the second router, no additional configuration must be made on the computers.
The wireless network remains one, 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 – 10m network cable – CAT.6 (11 €). Obviously this cable will be hidden well above the skirting boards of the walls or in the conduits of the electrical sockets.

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 you don’t see 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 as IP of the router 2 a different address, such as 192.168.2.1. For the connection we will have to set as Gateway and how DNS server the IP address of the first router (for example 192.168.1.1), so that you can navigate independently as if it were a single device. By assigning also a name of wireless network and a different password on the second router, we will have a new wireless network that has nothing to do with the first one, even if in fact they exploit the same modem and the same connection, everyone will navigate in a separate way ( the PCs present in the two network segments will never be able to see each other, including the resources eventually shared).

Conclusions

In this guide we have seen how to use two routers at home to expand the capacity of the wireless network, without having to necessarily have a Wi-Fi repeater or without having to move the first router.
If we look for other tricks to improve the wireless connection, we refer you to reading our guide with 10 ways to improve your home Wifi network coverage.
If the idea of ​​having home Ethernet cables doesn’t suit you, 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 as a repeater of our network, we can continue reading on the guide to Configure a Wifi access point as a repeater of the primary router.