Can I plug in a second wireless router into the first to create a 2nd wlan?

Question

I have a cable modem and a wireless router with 4 LAN ports. I want to create a 2nd wireless network by plugging in a 2nd wireless router into 1 of the CAT-5 ports on the first router. Is this possible?

Answer 1

Ok, so there might be two different ways to interpret your question, and the answer is YES to both. You said "create a 2nd wireless network" as opposed to just extending your 1st wireless network. I will describe each...

If you would like to create a 2nd, separate wireless network with a different SSID, then just plug the 2nd wireless router into one of the RJ45 ports on the first router, they can be fairly close together in the same room, make sure it has a different IP address from the first router. So on the wired side, if your first router is 192.168.1.1 make the second 192.168.1.2. On the wireless side, configure your 2nd SSID and make it a different IP subnet range, like 192.168.2.0 for example. This way, you have 2 separate wireless networks, different SSIDs and different IP subnets 192.168.1 and 192.168.2. Make sure to run both wireless routers on different channels, choose from the 3 non-overlapping channels 1, 6 and 11. You can adjust the order of your "preferred wireless networks" in your wireless config utility.

Now, if you want to just add a 2nd wireless router to extend your first wireless network (not really a 2nd wireless network, still just one, larger wireless network), then the routers should be placed some distance apart like opposite ends or corners of your home to maximize coverage. The hard part now is usually running cat5 between them, do what you have to. Then configure it with a different IP address as described above, set it up with the same SSID, disable the DHCP server (since your first wireless router will be the DHCP server) or leave it enabled with a different address range, and make sure you set up identical security parameters like WEP or WPA keys. Still choose different wireless channels (1,6 or 11) on each as described above too. Your wireless clients should automatically roam from one router to the other wirelessly and maintain connectivity and IP address.

Answer 2

this is actual basic. The gadgets are chained jointly, this is as follows: out of modem (ISP gadget) into router(accessible everywhere) out of router into community card yet there is not any longer something to stress approximately. in case you get enable's say a Belkin router the installation application performs a nifty video for you and the installation is bullit evidence. Do set up the protection on the WiFi while you're no longer utilising a router for a close-by WiFi and are basically going with a WiFi card than the full deal is far less complicated. Even a on the spot USB gadget. You link promptly consisting of your on the spot provider. I frequently basically grab the many times used public on the spot circuits

Answer 3

Yes, that's known as "daisy-chaining". Google it.

As far as I know, the only thing you really have to do is disable the DHCP server on the 2nd router.

Answer 4

yes, but if you have dhcp enabled on the first router, disable it on the second.

Answer 5

Possible.