How to Connect Two Routers

Decide which router will be the primary device. This is the router that connects directly to the modem. Generally, it's best to use the latest router with full features as the primary device. If you have two identical routers, either one can be used as the primary.

Decide which router will act as the secondary device. This is the initial network extension router. Typically, this router is older and will manage the secondary network if you set up a LAN-to-WAN network (as explained below).

Position the two routers close to the computer. During the setup process, it’s recommended to place the routers near the computer for easy connection. Once the setup is complete, you can move them to their permanent positions.

Decide between a LAN-to-LAN and LAN-to-WAN connection. A LAN-to-LAN connection (Local Area Network to Local Area Network) extends the range of your connection, allowing more devices to connect. These devices can share files or resources with others on the same network. A LAN-to-WAN connection (Local Area Network to Wide Area Network) creates a secondary network (LAN) within the main network (WAN), restricting access to a limited number of devices. The downside is that devices on the secondary network can’t share files or resources with the main network.

• Setting up a LAN-to-WAN network allows you to configure a custom DNS on the secondary network. It becomes more difficult for hackers to access devices on the secondary network. This setup is ideal for parents who wish to monitor and control their children's internet access.

Connect the primary router to the modem, then link the computer to the router with an Ethernet cable. Configure the same way you would when setting up a single router. Since the router is connected to the internet, it can be set up just like a regular router.

• You can connect to most routers by entering the IP address 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1, or 192.168.0.1
• Make a note of the router’s IP address and subnet mask. The IP address is used to access the router’s configuration page. The subnet mask is typically 255.255.255.0.
• If you are setting up a LAN-to-WAN network, set the router’s DHCP address range from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.50. If you’re setting up a LAN-to-LAN network, you can keep the default DHCP settings.
• Disconnect the computer from the router once the setup is complete.

Connect the computer to the secondary network. Open the configuration page. If you’re setting up a LAN-to-LAN network, adjust the IP address to match the primary router’s address, increasing the last digit (for example, change 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.2). For a LAN-to-WAN setup, modify the IP address to match the primary router but increment the second-to-last digit (e.g., change 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.2.1). Ensure the subnet mask is the same as the primary router.

• If setting up a LAN-to-WAN network, change the WAN network IP on the secondary router to 192.168.1.51.

Configure the DHCP service on the secondary router. If setting up a LAN-to-LAN network, it is recommended to disable the DHCP service on the secondary router. For a LAN-to-WAN setup, configure the DHCP address range on the secondary router from 192.168.2.2 to 192.168.2.50.

Select a wireless channel. If both routers are wireless devices, it is advisable to manually set the channels to prevent signal interference between the two. Set the main router's channel between 1-6, and the secondary router's channel between 7-11.

Choose a location for the router. Once everything is set up, place the router wherever you'd like. Always remember that you need an Ethernet cable to connect the two routers. If placing the routers in separate rooms, you can hide the cables within the walls. It is more convenient to place the primary router near the modem.

Connect the two routers. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the LAN port on the primary router.

• If setting up a LAN-to-LAN network, plug the other end into the LAN port on the secondary router.
• If setting up a LAN-to-WAN network, plug the other end into the WAN port on the secondary router.

Verify if your device is compatible. To connect two wireless routers, the secondary router must have a "connection" or "repeater" mode. This is not a common mode on routers sold in the market. If your device doesn't support this mode, you can install DD-WRT, an open-source firmware that allows you to enable the connection mode.

• The documentation that comes with the router will help you check if your device has the connection mode. You can also search online for your device's name.
• Not all devices support DD-WRT. Visit the DD-WRT website to check the list of compatible devices.

Place both routers near your computer. During the setup process, it's easier to manage if you place the two routers and modem near each other. You can move them to their final positions once the configuration is complete.

Set up the primary router. Connect the primary router to the modem and link it to your computer via Ethernet. You can configure the primary router as a regular wireless network. Remember to note the IP address, DHCP settings, and subnet mask.

• It is advisable to choose the primary router as the device with the strongest antennas. This way, you can place the secondary router further away.
• Disconnect the router once the wireless network is configured.

Access the configuration page of the secondary router. Connect the secondary router to your computer using an Ethernet cable and open its configuration page. No modem connection is required. After logging in, look for the "Internet" or "Wireless" settings page.

Enable connection mode. Choose "Bridge Mode" or "Repeater Mode" in the "Network Mode", "Wireless Mode", or "Connection Type" menu on the Wireless page. If you are using DD-WRT, select "Repeater Bridge". If none of these options appear in the menu, it means your device does not support connection mode.

Identify the IP address of the secondary router. Enter an IP address within the same range as the primary router. For example, if the primary router's IP address is 192.168.1.1, set the secondary router's IP to something like 192.168.1.50 in DHCP.

• Ensure the subnet mask is the same as the primary router's.

Set a unique SSID. This will help you identify which router you are connecting to in the network. For example, name the primary router "Office" and the secondary router "Living Room".

• Ensure both routers use the same security protocol (WEP, WPA, WPA2) and share the same password.

Find a location for the secondary router. Once the secondary router is configured, you can place it anywhere to broadcast the signal. To maintain a strong connection, place it where it can receive at least 50% of the signal from the primary router.