How to connect a dsl modem with two routers to create two wireless networks

If you have a large trang chủ or even just a large trang chủ network with lots of devices, adding a second router can not only better coverage both wired & 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 khổng lồ consider.

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Can Two Routers Be set up on the Same Network?

Two, or even more if you wish, routers can absolutely be mix up on the same trang chủ network.

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

You may also like: 7 Best Wireless Routers for Lots of Devices: Buyer’s Guide

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

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


More connectivity for wired devices: It is likely that your primary router only has a limited number of LAN ports available khổng lồ connect wired devices lớn it (five if you are lucky). Adding a second router immediately provides additional Ethernet ports that provide more devices with wired connectivity without the need for a network switch.Better support for mixed wired/wireless setups: Having a second router is useful if you have a wired trang chủ network but also want lớn connect some Wi-Fi enabled devices. The routers can be separated in the sense that the wired devices will continue to connect lớn the primary router, whereas all of the wireless devices would connect lớn the secondary. This is particularly helpful if the wired devices are positioned at the other kết thúc of the trang chủ to the wireless devices.Isolation for certain devices: If certain devices in your trang chủ utilize the network connection particularly heavily, dual routers can be set up to isolate certain devices và prevent a large amount of network traffic affecting the other devices. As an example, you may want khổng lồ look at isolating a particular PC that frequently transfers large files or plays a lot of online games from a smart TV that is streaming video.Backup device: It doesn’t hurt having a working backup router available in case one suddenly fails.

How to Set up Two Routers on the Same Network

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

When it comes lớn 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 lớn consider and set up first.

Firstly, you need lớn decide which of the routers will be the primary và which will be the secondary. Ideally, you will pick the newer, fully-featured router khổng lồ 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 lớn the computer you will be using khổng lồ configure them both. This is just for ease of access; both routers can be moved to their permanent location later.

Finally, you need khổng lồ 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.

LAN-to-LAN: This extends your existing network connection and SSID lớn include the second router. LAN-to-LAN connectivity allows you to giới thiệu files between devices regardless of which router they connect to.LAN-to-WAN: Creates a second network within the main network which allows you khổng lồ place restrictions on any devices that connect lớn it và therefore is a good idea if you wish to isolate certain devices. A LAN-to-WAN thiết lập doesn’t tư vấn the sharing of files across the two separate networks.

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

Related article: What Is the WAN Port on My Router For?

Setting up a Second Router Using Ethernet

1. Connecting lớn the Primary Router

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

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

2. Logging in to lớn the Primary Router

This primary router will be taking control of the connection khổng lồ the mạng internet through the modem and should be phối up as if it were the only router in the home.

You’ll need khổng lồ access the router’s web interface which is typically done by entering the router’s IP address into the URL bar of your website 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 thẻ 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 khổng lồ provide addresses between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.50.

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


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4. Configuring the Second Router

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

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

LAN-to-LAN: Change the IP address to match that of the primary router, but increase the second-to-last digit by one. So if the primary router has an IP address of 192.168.1.1, the second router needs khổng lồ use 192.168.2.1.LAN-to-WAN: Change the IP address to 192.168.1.51. Notice this is just outside of the DHCP range we set up on the primary router.

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.


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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.

LAN-to-LAN: Turn off the DHCP service completelyLAN-to-WAN: Change the DHCP to provide addresses between 192.168.2.2 và 192.168.2.50

6. Change the Wireless Channels

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


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7. Position the Routers

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

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

For convenience & 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 thiết đặt you are using, the routers need lớn connect to lớn each other, but the port you must use will differ.

LAN-to-LAN: Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into one of the available LAN ports on the back of the primary router, and then plug the other over into an available LAN port on the back of the second router.LAN-to-WAN: Plug one kết thúc of the Ethernet cable into one of the available LAN ports on the back of the primary router, và then plug the other end into the WAN port (may be labeled as “Internet”) on the back of the second router.

Once connected, you have successfully connected to lớn a second router khổng lồ your trang chủ 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, kiểm tra the manual that came with the router or check on the manufacturer’s website.

2. Connecting lớn the Primary Router

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

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

3. Logging Into the Primary Router

This primary router will be taking control of the connection lớn the internet through the modem và should be mix up as if it were the only router in the home.

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

Unless you have previously changed the username và password lớn 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 & 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 khổng lồ connect the second router to your computer using an Ethernet cable, logging in và opening the configuration page.

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

The router does not need to connect lớn 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 bởi vì not see this option, it is likely that the router doesn’t tư vấn bridging và you will therefore either purchase a router that does or connect the two routers over Ethernet as described above.

6. Mix the Second Router’s IP Address

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

For example, if the primary router has a DHCP range of 192.168.1.2 khổng lồ 192.168.1.50, you will need khổng lồ 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 quality Name

It is recommended that you give the second router a quality name so it is clear which router you are connecting lớn when joining your devices khổng lồ the network.

You may want khổng lồ 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 lớn use WPA2 which is likely lớn 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 lớn help avoid any unauthorized access.