How to Connect and Optimize Two Routers in Your Home Network

This article explains how to connect two routers on a home network to extend the range of a network and support more wireless devices or serve as an access point or switch.

Position a Second Router

While most home computer networks typically use only one router, adding a second router can be beneficial in certain situations. A second router enhances a wired network's ability to support a larger number of wireless devices. It extends the wireless range of a home network to eliminate dead zones or to connect a wired device located too far from the primary router.

When you set up a new router, position it near a Windows PC or another computer for the initial configuration. Both wired and wireless routers are best configured from a computer connected to the router with an Ethernet cable. You can relocate the router to its permanent location afterward.

Connect a Second Wired Router

If the second router doesn't have wireless capability, you must connect it to the first router with an Ethernet cable. Plug one end of the cable into the new router's uplink port (sometimes labeled WAN or Internet). Plug the other end into any free port on the first router other than its uplink port.

Connect a Second Wireless Router

Home wireless routers can be connected using an Ethernet cable in the same manner as wired routers. Connecting two home routers wirelessly is also possible; however, in most configurations, the second router can only function as a wireless access point instead of a router.

To utilize the second router's full routing functionality, it must be set up in client mode, which many home routers do not support. Consult the specific router model's documentation to determine if it supports client mode and, if so, how to configure it.

Wi-Fi Channel Settings for Wireless Home Routers

If both the existing and second routers are wireless, their Wi-Fi signals can interfere with each other, causing dropped connections and unpredictable network slowdowns. Each wireless router uses specific Wi-Fi frequency ranges called channels, and signal interference occurs when two wireless routers in the same house use the same or overlapping channels.

Wireless routers use different Wi-Fi channels by default depending on the model, but you can change these settings in the router console. To avoid signal interference between two routers in a home, set the first router to channel 1 or 6 and the second to channel 11.

IP Address Configuration of a Second Router

Home network routers also use a default IP address setting depending on the model. The default IP settings of a second router do not require any change unless it is to be configured as a network switch or access point.

Use the Second Router as a Switch or Access Point

The procedures above enable an additional router to support a subnetwork within a home network. This method offers extra control over specific devices, allowing for further restrictions on their internet access.

Alternatively, a second router can be configured as an Ethernet network switch or, if wireless, an access point. This setup allows devices to connect to the second router as usual, but it does not create a subnetwork. A no-subnetwork setup is sufficient for households that wish to extend basic internet access and enable file and printer sharing with additional computers. However, it requires a configuration procedure different from the one outlined above.

Configure a Second Router Without Subnetwork Support

To set up a new router as a network switch, plug an Ethernet cable into any free port on the second router, except the uplink port. Then, connect it to any port on the first router, excluding the uplink port.

To set up a new wireless router as an access point, configure the device for either bridge or repeater mode, linked to the first router. Refer to the documentation of the second router for the specific settings to use.

For both wired and wireless routers, update the IP configuration:

• Verify the second router's local IP address and change it if necessary, ensuring it's within the network's address range as configured on the first router and doesn't conflict with other devices on the local network.
• Adjust the DHCP address range of the second router to fit inside the address range of the first router. Alternatively, disable DHCP and manually assign the IP address of each device connected to the second router to fall within the first router's range.