Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

This article shows you how to add a second router to your home or small business network. If you want to add more computers or other devices to your home or small business network but don't have enough ports, try adding a second router. In addition to expanding the network, a second router is also installed in locations where Wi-Fi is "blocked" by weak or non-existent wireless signals.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Setting up the first router

1. 

   Connect a modem (modem) to the first router. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the WAN port of the router to the WAN / Internet port of the high-speed modem. For the purposes of this article, a router that is connected to a modem will be referred to as "router 1".
   • Some routers incorporate high-speed modulator functionality. If router 1 has this function, you just need to connect the device with a network cable.
   • The WAN port is also called "Internet."

   

   
   

   Spike Baron

   Network & Support Engineer Spike Baron is the owner of Spike's Computer Repair. With more than 25 years of experience in the technology sector, his business specializes in repairing computers and Macs, trading used computers, removing viruses, restoring data, upgrading software and Hardware. He holds CompTIA A + certification and is a Microsoft solutions expert.

   

   Spike Baron
   Network Engineer & Desktop Support

   Your network operator usually limits your internet speed. So connecting to the second router won't help. First, you should talk to your carrier to see if adding a second router improves your internet speed Or whether they can raise the limit for you.

2. 

   
   
   Connect router 1 to the computer. Use an Ethernet cable to connect one of router 1's LAN ports to your computer's Ethernet port.
   • You can also connect to the router without wires by entering the wi-fi name and password.

3. 

   
   
   Turn on the modem and router 1. You need to wait while both devices start up.

4. 

   Open a web browser. You will need a web browser to connect to the admin interface of router 1.

5. 

   Enter the IP address of router 1 in the address bar. Type router 1's IP address into the address bar at the top of your web browser. The screen will show the router's administrator account login page.You need to check the manual or manufacturer's website to find the default IP address of router 1.
   • Here are a few of the default IP addresses used by many routers:
     • 2Wire: 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.254, 10.0.0.138
     • Apple: 10.0.0.1
     • Belkin: 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1, 10.0.0.2, 10.1.1.1
     • Dlink: 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.101, 192.168.0.30, 192.168.0.50, 192.168.15.1, 192.168.254.254, 192.168.1.254, 192.168.0.10, 192.168.15.1, 10.0.0.1, 10.0.0.2, 10.1.1.1, 10.90.90.90,
     • Netgear: 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.227

6. 

   Sign in with your router's username and password 1. This will open the router administrator interface 1. See the manufacturer's manual or website to find the default username and password for router 1.
   • Most routers choose "admin" as the username and password. You can also try entering "Password" or "12345678" in the password field. With some routers, the username or password is left blank.
   • If you entered the correct password but still cannot connect, check the manufacturer's manual or website for how to reset the router's factory settings.

7. 

   Enable DHCP on router 1. This will allow router 1 to assign all IP addresses on your network.
   • These settings are usually found under “Network settings” or “LAN settings”. The administrator interface of the router will vary by manufacturer and model.
   • In most cases, the DHCP server is enabled by default.

8. 

   Check the network and internet connection. Visit any website (such as https://www.wikihow.com) to see if you have an Internet connection. Make sure your network configuration still has room for an open LAN port on router 1.

9. 

   Disconnect router 1 from the computer. Simply unplug the Ethernet cable that connects router 1 to your computer and keep the rest of the connections. advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Setting up the second router

1. 

   Connect and start up the second router. Make sure you have enough electrical outlets and computers in the vicinity of where you want the second router to be installed. Now you just need to connect and start up the device. This is the device named "router 2" in the scope of this article.

2. 

   Connecting the computer to the router 2. First, use an Ethernet cable to connect to the LAN port on your router 2. The next step is to connect to the Ethernet port on your computer.

3. 

   Enter the IP address of Router 2 in the address bar of the web browser. The screen will show the administrator account login page of router 2.
   • For most routers, the IP address will be 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, or 10.0.0.1.

4. 

   Sign in with the username and password of the router 2. Use the default username and password to log in to the admin interface of router 2, the same way you did with your router 1. You need to check the user manual or the website. to find the default username and password.
   • With most routers, the username and password is usually "admin".

5. 

   Disconnect DHCP on Router 2. Since DHCP is enabled on router 1, you need to disable this connection on router 2 to avoid IP conflicts. Simply find the DHCP settings in the admin console and push the DHCP server slider to “Off”.

6. 

   Assign a new IP address to router 2. From now on, the IP addresses of routers 1 and 2 will likely be the same. To avoid IP conflicts, router 2 needs to have an IP address other than router 1.
   • Find the "LAN" or "Local Network" option on the administration interface. You will see a box containing your current IP address.
   • Replace the current IP address with the new IP address. The new IP address on router 2 must be in the same subnet as router 1. That means the first three groups of numbers in the IP addresses of both routers must be the same. You only change the number after the fourth dot of the new IP address so that it is different from router 1. This IP address must be different from the IP address assigned to another device.

7. 

   Create a Wi-Fi name and password for the router 2. This will be the same as that of Router 1.
   • You'll find these settings under a menu titled “Wireless”, “Wi-Fi setup” or something similar.
   • If you are unsure about the SSID and password of router 1, try searching on the device.
   • If router 2 is not a wireless router, skip this step.
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Part 3 of 3: Internet connection for your system

1. 

   Power off the router 2. Once router 2 is set up, it's a good idea to restart your device - however, just keep turning off the power instead of starting up the device right away.

2. 

   Connect the first router to the second one. First, use an Ethernet cable to connect to the LAN port on router 1. Next, connect to the first LAN port on router 2.
   • Make sure you don't connect to the WAN port because the two ports look the same.

3. 

   Connect router 2 to the power supply and start up the device. Router 2 will now have the IP address you set up. When router 1 has an Internet connection, router 2 also has a network.

4. 

   Restart the computer connected to the router 2. Every time you connect your computer to a new network device, it's a good idea to restart your computer.

5. 

   Connect with other computers and devices. This can be either a wireless connection or an Ethernet cable connection with an empty LAN port on the router. Router 1's DHCP server will automatically assign an IP address to each device in the same subnet. Now is the time to experience an expanded network! advertisement

Advice

• Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are a lot of forums that offer useful information, and you can always call your carrier for technical support.
• Write down the IP addresses of the modem, router, and all connected computers. This will help you fix connection problems.
• For added security, you should install a 3rd router (NAT). If you add a 3rd router, connect the Ethernet cable from the WAN port of that device to the LAN port on router 1 or 2. Next, turn on DHCP on router 2 and assign it to a network. children are different from other devices on the network.

Warning

• If you allow strangers to access your Wi-Fi network, they will easily access the connected computer's files.