Help using second router to extend wi-fi

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Help using second router to extend wi-fi - what should I Google?

aboylikedave

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#150113 11-Jul-2014 14:59

Hi there

I have two wifi modem routers and wish to use one to extend the signal further in my house if possible.

So I can google it, could someone confirm the terminology here about what I am wanting to do?

Am I trying to use the first as a modem router and the second as an access point? Or are they both access points?

If anyone has any info about the extent to which an Apple Airport Express can be used in this set up that would also be helpful.

Cheers

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

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#1087224 11-Jul-2014 15:04

I've never used an AirPort.

The basic setup ASSUMING YOU ARE HAPPY TO CONNECT THE TWO DEVICES VIA CABLE is to get the primary internet connection running well with your preferred device. The IP Address of that device might be 192.168.9.1

Then take the second device (your old wireless router), give it a Fixed IP Address (Static IP Address) of something like 192.168.9.240 (so it is well away from the DHCP range the main device will give out addresses from). Then disable DHCP on the second device (with some devices you need to do this as a first step). Then attach the two devices via cable. Now if you connect to the wireless SSID of the second device, your laptop/tablet should get a DHCP address from the main internet router via the wireless of the second device and be able to access the internet and all other devices on your network.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

ripdog

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#1087229 11-Jul-2014 15:07

Basically any router can be used in this manner, it's surprisingly simple. Turn off DHCP/NAT, assign the extender an IP on the same subnet as the main router, set its SSID to the exact same as the main SSID, and give it a different channel to the main one.

Viola, you have an extended wireless network which clients will automatically switch between completely seamlessly. I have personally done this on a 1st gen airport extreme and some random d-link dsl router with a god-awful web ui.

wellygary

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#1087239 11-Jul-2014 15:10

Apple have walkthrough guides for this

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4145

ripdog

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#1087242 11-Jul-2014 15:14

It's worth noting that the "Extend a wireless network" option didn't work for me and I had to do it manually with the "Create a wireless network" option instead. Despite the name, "create" will extend a network just as well. Just remember to set the channel to different from the original.

This is with the airport, of course.

aboylikedave

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#1087267 11-Jul-2014 15:44

Do they need to be connected together by cable as per reply 1?

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

Aredwood

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#1087270 11-Jul-2014 15:48

aboylikedave: Do they need to be connected together by cable as per reply 1?

Yes

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aboylikedave

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#1087275 11-Jul-2014 15:53

Is there a way of doing it without a cable? Are you all running 20m cables through your house or are you on wired networks?

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

Dynamic

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#1087293 11-Jul-2014 15:57

For my last home I ran a cable under the house from one end to the other to link two access points together. The main broadband device supplied wireless for the living room and front deck, and a crappy old wireless adsl router was set up to provide wireless in the bedrooms.

For the current house where it was not practical to run a cable, I bought a Universal Repeater: http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=1693170

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Dynamic

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#1087295 11-Jul-2014 16:00

If you don't mind spending some money, these aren't bad: http://powerline.dlink.co.nz/

I find every few months they stop talking to each other, but powering them off for 10 seconds fixes that.

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timmmay

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#1087300 11-Jul-2014 16:14

Ethernet under the house is the best way. Powerline networking is the next best way. Buying a dedicated WiFi extender is third option. Not sure if a regular router can be turned into an extender.

RunningMan

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#1087303 11-Jul-2014 16:20

What actual devices do you have (make and model) and which one is your current internet connection from?

Is there a possibility of running a cable between the two, or is it completely out of the question, as this will give the best result?

What are you wanting to use the connection at the other end of the house for? E.g. web browsing / email / video etc.

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ghettomaster

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#1087309 11-Jul-2014 16:26

timmmay: Not sure if a regular router can be turned into an extender.

They can. All you are doing is disabling the router functions to make it run as an AP.

Wireless repeaters are finicky at best and for the ones I have deployed you need to broadcast a different SSID which means devices won't hop onto the strongest signal as seamlessly.

I second what has been said here - Cable or PoE ideally in that order.

aboylikedave

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#1087326 11-Jul-2014 16:43

RunningMan: What actual devices do you have (make and model) and which one is your current internet connection from?

Is there a possibility of running a cable between the two, or is it completely out of the question, as this will give the best result?

What are you wanting to use the connection at the other end of the house for? E.g. web browsing / email / video etc.

TP Link 8960 as main with Dynalink RTA 1025 as extender. I guess I could use a cable but since I only need to extend the range into the back of my house, about 25m, to be able to use my ipad in bed, I thought even a low performance wifi extension might be enough.

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

aboylikedave

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#1087327 11-Jul-2014 16:47

The Apple page linked to by WellyGary suggests you can extend wirelessly, albeit less efficiently than with cable. Or is that just with the Airport?

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

aboylikedave

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#1087328 11-Jul-2014 16:48

By the way, sorry to appear lazy, but I fancy an inside job with a wine on a Friday night as opposed to climbing under the house!

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

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