If I have two wireless routers, is it possible to connect one to a modem and wirelessly connect the other to the internet?
You can use two wireless routers in your configuration, but you are going to set them up with the second router basically working as a switch, or hub - a lot like an extension cord so that you can use more devices than you could by using the one router on its own. You would plug the first router into the modem and then the second router into the first router and the other devices you are using. This is a good idea if you have two routers sitting around and want to configure them this way rather than buying an additional switch. If you are buying all of the components anyway, you might be better off buying one router and one switch - it will be easier and probably cheaper.
Get IP Address
Most routers come with a default standard IP address. For example Linksys uses 192.168.1.1 and D-Link and Netgear use 192.168.0.1 as their defaults. In order to configure the routers, you will need to know the LAN address of each one. You may be able to find it in the paperwork that came with the router or find it on your computer. Go to Start and then choose All Programs. Choose Accessories and then at the Command Prompt, type in ipconfig. Press Enter and look for the Default Gateway and you should see the correct address.
DHCP
The server automatically assigns an IP address using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). You need to disable the DHCP in the second router (the one that isn’t hooked directly to the modem) for it to work properly. I’m using an example for a Linksys router, but it should work the same for other routers.
To do this, connect an Ethernet cable from one of the Ethernet ports on the router to a computer. Power the router up and then power up the computer. Go to Internet Explorer and type in the IP address in the browser. For our example, this would be 192.168.1.1. Now click Go. You will see a user name and prompt for password. In our example, you leave the name blank and type in admin for the password (check your router’s documentation for the appropriate user name and password). From here, you will see a setup page, and you can disable the DHCP server.
Change the IP Address
Now, you need to go back to setup and change the LAN IP address to one that will work with the other router’s subnet. If the other router’s LAN address is 192.168.15.1, then you can use one like 192.168.15.254. When you are done, power off both routers and use the cable to connect to one of the ports in the first router. Now, power back up again and you should be in business.
Following this process should allow you to use both of the routers in the house. If you need any more help, just let us know.
