Dasy chaining Routers?

Question

I'm at my parent's home.... I've got their system running on a Linksy ethernet router, and wish to connect an additional wireless router to introduce wireless capability to our home network.

Is this practical/feasible?

Answer 1

This is rather simple. You want to turn the wireless router into just an access point. You can do this with most any wireless router.

You do all of this in the wireless routers setup page. Depending on what that wireless router was used for in the past, you will probably have to set it up standalone first before you connect it back to the other router.

First, power it down and push in the reset button on the bottom or back of unit for 10 seconds.

Next, Plug an ethernet cable between one of the LAN PORTS on the wireless router and a computer that you will use for setup.

Bring up a command prompt and type:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig/renew

This will cause the wireless router to give you an ip address so you can log into it's setup page. The setup page address is Typically 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, just type that into your browser. Username is typically admin and passwords can be blank, 'password', '1234', etc. Check your manual.

Find the place where you can assign the unit a static ip address for the LAN.

The wireless router must be assigned a static IP in the same subnet as the Linksys. This typically will be 192.168.1.x, where the existing Linksys is the gateway at 192.168.1.1

Make the Address something like 192.168.1.199

While you are in the wireless setup page, also disable DHCP for the LAN. This is crucial, because both routers will step on each other trying to assign IP Leases to clients.

Now pull the ethernet cable from your setup pc. This is the wire that attaches to ONE OF THE LAN PORTS on the wireless router. Connect it to ONE OF THE LAN PORTS of the Linksys router. DO NOT use the wireless routers WAN port in this setup.

Power down/up both routers. You now have a wireless access point.

Now log into the wireless router again from anywhere on your LAN at the new address (.199) and set up wireless specific settings like SSID, WPA, etc.

Answer 2

Based on lots of experience, I'd recommend against doing this. One of the other answers give you step-by-step instructions, but, as you can see, it's pretty involved. Some Belkin wireless routers have the ability to change themselves to wireless access points, and that simplifies many of the steps, but it's still non-trivial.

It's probably much simpler to just unplug the existing, non-wireless router and put the new router in it's place. If you do that, be sure to TURN OFF the cable for DSL modem (leave it off for 10 minutes to play it safe) and then turn it back on. Most cable or DSL modems won't work with a new router until they are power cycled (it has to do with not giving out a second IP address).

Answer 3

Yes, although you don't necessarily need to use the router as a router. In my home I ignore the WAN port on a router, and connect one of the switch ports to my other router with a crossover cable. At that point my router is just a wireless access point. I've done this because I needed more ports and actually wanted to place the wireless access point farther away from where my router is. Completely feasible and a great idea.

Answer 4

Does the Linksys not also have wireless capability? We have that brand and are running wireless mode only. I'm not sure that daisy chaining routers is all that good an idea.

Answer 5

replace the router. this one linked below can handle both wired and wireless devices. OR.... you can add a HUB to the router with wireless access to devices on that hub.