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Problem: Extend wired network. Connect 2 routers in one local network. Extend WIFI coverage.
How to connect two / three / four ... routers working together in one local network.
How to extend your existing wired LAN (local area network) and increase WiFi wireless coverage.
Status: Resolved / Fixed
Solution:
If you need to extend your WIRED local area network, simplest way to do so is to get network SWITCH with 5/8/16 or 24 LAN ports and connect it to any LAN port of existing router.
Usually no extra setup is required.
As a result, instead of 4 LAN wired ports, you'll get 7/10/18 or 26 LAN ports available to connect extra computers, network printers, network drive, gaming console, etc.
If you have a spare WIRED router you can set it up as a network SWITCH with only a couple of clicks .
A spare WIRELESS router can still be set up as a SWITCH and WIRELESS ACCESS POINT to boost wireless signal and extend WiFi coverage area.
Let's get started.
1. Decide which router will be MAIN router. Other router - The SECOND / THIRD /FORTH ... (if any) - will be assigned as a SLAVE or SECOND.
2. Make sure that your MAIN router is set up to provide internet connection. Simply connect your computer directly to the MAIN router and attempt to access any website.
Do not proceed with any other steps until MAIN router is set up properly and you have working internet connection.
Contact us 416-410-9176 or email serge@scomputerservicesgta.com if you need help establishing internet connection.
Contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider - Rogers, Bell, Primus, Cogeco, Acanac, AllStream ....)
3. Determine MAIN router's LAN IP address.
Here is the list of commonly used:
Perform the following steps in order to establish MAIN router's IP address:
a. Connect your computer to MAIN router.
b. Start Command Prompt (it can be found under Start ->> All programs ->> Accessories ->> Command Prompt), type IPCONFIG and press ENTER.
c. Result of this command will be your local IP address, Subnet mask and Default Gateway.
d. Default Gateway is your router IP address. Write it down or remember it, you will need it for next steps.
4. Disconnect your computer from MAIN router.
5. Reset SECOND router to manufacture state by pressing Reset button.
a. Power on your SECOND router.
b. Wait a minute.
c. Locate a small hole on the body of SECOND router and using a paper clip press Reset button and hold it for about 25 seconds, release it.
d. Wait a minute and continue to next step.
6. Cover WAN/Internet port of the SECOND router with a masking tape. There is no need to use WAN port on SECOND router.
Do not cover WAN port on the MAIN router - it is a way to have internet working.
7. Connect your computer to any LAN port of the SECOND router and determine LAN IP address of this SECOND router:
a. Start Command Prompt.
b. Type IPCONFIG and press ENTER. You'll get your current IP address, Subnet mask and Default Gateway. Default Gateway's IP address is SECOND router's current IP address.
8. Start any Internet Browser such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc.
9. In address bar (not in search bar) type IP address of the SECOND router, such as http://192.168.XXX.1
10. Type login name and password to access Web Based Interface of the SECOND router.
11. Find SECOND router's LAN or Local Area Network settings. It should be the same as you have just typed , such as 192.168.XXX.1
12. Now you will need to change this address to a different one in order to make it compatible and working together with MAIN router.
This new SECOND router's LAN IP address should be very similar to MAIN router's IP address. Only keep the last number different.
Example 1:
MAIN Router LAN IP is 192.168.1.1 - do not change
SECOND Router Original LAN IP is 192.168.2.1 - needs to be changed to 192.168.1.2 or 192.168.1.3 etc.
Example 2:
MAIN Router LAN IP is 192.168.0.1 - do not change
SECOND Router Original LAN IP is 192.168.0.1 - needs to be changed to 192.168.0.2 or 192.168.0.3 etc.
Example 3:
MAIN Router LAN IP is 192.168.2.1 - do not change
SECOND Router Original LAN IP is 192.168.0.1 - needs to be changed to 192.168.2.2 or 192.168.2.3 etc.
After changing SECOND Router's LAN IP address do not forget to APPLY or SAVE these changes.
13. Next step is to get new IP address on the computer. You can just restart computer or disconnect and reconnect network cable from SECOND router or go to Command Prompt and type:
ipconfig /release press ENTER (use a space just between ipconfig and / )
ipconfig /renew press ENTER (use a space just between ipconfig and / )
Default Gateway IP address should be the new one that was just changed. Write it down or remember.
14. Login to the SECOND router using browser with new IP address.
If SECOND router is not a wireless router - skip this step.
If SECOND router is the wireless router, but you are not planning to use it Wireless ACCESS POINT - disable Wireless.
If SECOND router is the wireless router and you want to use it Wireless ACCESS POINT - setup name of your wireless network (SSID). SSID should be different from SSID on MAIN router.
Do not forget to protect your wireless network - set up type of encryption and password. APPLY or SAVE settings.
15. Go back to LAN settings on SECOND router, find DHCP server setting and disable DHCP.
SAVE or APPLY settings, close browser. We are almost done.
16. Power off MAIN and SECOND routers.
17. Connect any LAN port of the SECOND router (WAN PORT is covered by masking tape) to any LAN port of the MAIN router.
18. Power on both routers. Wait for 1-2 minutes. Now you can connect computer to any available LAN ports of the MAIN and SECOND routers, you can use both WiFi wireless networks. It should work on both routers.
19. If you have THIRD / FOURTH / FIFTH... router repeat all steps again starting from step 5 and replacing word SECOND router with THIRD / FORTH / FIFTH....router.
Should you still experience difficulties configuring your FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH or FIFTH router do not hesitate to contact Us.
Email: serge@scomputerservicesgta.com Phone: 416-410-9176