Two routers on one modem

If you have a large home or even just a large trang chủ network with lots of devices, adding a second router can not only better coverage both wired và wirelessly, but also improve overall performance. In this article, we’ll look at how to lớn set up two routers on the same network, as well as some of the benefits & some alternatives you may want lớn 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 set up on the same trang chủ network.

A second router can be mix up lớn act as a range extender, or it can be configured to cốt truyện the same SSID as the primary router, meaning the devices on your network will connect to 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 home 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 to connect wired devices to 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 tư vấn 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 khổng lồ 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 over of the home 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 mix up lớn isolate certain devices & 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 khổng lồ 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 to lớn actually set it up.

When it comes to 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 và set up first.

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

Finally, you need khổng lồ decide what you want khổng lồ 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 khổng lồ 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 lớn place restrictions on any devices that connect lớn it và therefore is a good idea if you wish to lớn isolate certain devices. A LAN-to-WAN thiết đặt doesn’t tư vấn the sharing of files across the two separate networks.

Got all that sorted? Let’s move on to lớn performing the setup.

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

Setting up a Second Router Using Ethernet

1. Connecting to the Primary Router

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

2. Logging in lớn the Primary Router

This primary router will be taking control of the connection khổng lồ the 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 website interface which is typically done by entering the router’s IP address into the URL bar of your website browser và then logging in.

Unless you have previously changed the username & password to lớn 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 tư vấn 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 lớn set the DHCP to provide addresses between 192.168.1.2 & 192.168.1.50.

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

4. Configuring the Second Router

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

What you set the IP address lớn 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 lớn use 192.168.2.1.LAN-to-WAN: Change the IP address lớn 192.168.1.51. Notice this is just outside of the DHCP range we mix 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.

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 khổng lồ provide addresses between 192.168.2.2 and 192.168.2.50

6. Change the Wireless Channels

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

7. Position the Routers

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

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

For convenience & so you don’t have more wires than needed trailing around your home, you may want lớn place the primary router next to lớn the modem if you are using one that is a separate device.

8. Connect the Routers

Regardless of which network thiết lập you are using, the routers need khổng lồ connect khổng lồ each other, but the port you must use will differ.

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

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

2. Connecting khổng lồ 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 lớn your modem via an Ethernet cable if you have one, then connect the computer you are using lớn the router using a separate Ethernet cable.

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

3. Logging Into the Primary Router

This primary router will be taking control of the connection to the internet through the modem & 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 và then logging in.

Unless you have previously changed the username và password khổng lồ 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 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.

Once you have completed the initial setup, you can log out and disconnect from the router as we won’t need to connect lớn the primary again.

4. Logging Into the Second Router

Now it is time khổng lồ connect the second router khổng lồ your computer using an Ethernet cable, logging in and opening the configuration page.

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

The router does not need to lớn connect khổng lồ 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 & you will therefore either purchase a router that does or connect the two routers over Ethernet as described above.

6. Phối the Second Router’s IP Address

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

For example, if the primary router has a DHCP range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.50, you will need lớn set the second router’s IP address to lớn 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 unique Name

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

You may want to lớn 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 khổng lồ use WPA2 which is likely to lớn be the case out of the box.

You may also want to make sure both are set khổng lồ use the same password for ease of use; just make sure it is something secure that cannot be easily guessed to help avoid any unauthorized access.