Linking routers to increase WiFi range

[SixPapaCharlie]

Ugh, I had this setup but we got new ISP and I was jackin with it and reset my router.

I have 2 D-Link 524 wireless routers
Primary in the office connected to Modem
Secondary Upstairs connected to the primary via ethernet cable.

I did this a couple years ago but I forget.
I am supposed to log into the routers and give them the same network name and password I think.

But then there is some configuration I have to turn off or something I need to set in the primary so they know they are sharing the network / acting as signal extenders rather than 2 separate networks.


I am googling but not making a lot of headway
For reference here is the GUI:

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

FWIW Secondary router upstairs has not been changed. It still has settings from before I messed up the primary one.

 

[overdrive148]

Ha! You let your guard down and let your IP address of 192.168.0.1 slip onto the internet and into my clutches. Prepare for the worst DDOSing you've ever experi

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Ha! You let your guard down and let your IP address of 192.168.0.1 slip onto the internet and into my clutches. Prepare for the worst DDOSing you've ever experi

That's the d-Link default router configurator IP
They all have that same IP when you get them from the store.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

So I am seeing 2 separate networks named "Propwash" and I wish them to join forces as one network so I can play words with friends in any bathroom in the house w/o losing a signal.

I THINK I have to disable DHCP in one of them (not sure which)
and put them on separate channels

 

[overdrive148]

That's the d-Link default router configurator IP
They all have that same IP when you get them from the store.

That's the joke

If I wasn't working hard at work I'd join in on the google fu. Never tried linking routers together but there are only so many options in so many windows. Eventually!

 

[schmookeeg]

Ha! You let your guard down and let your IP address of 192.168.0.1 slip onto the internet and into my clutches. Prepare for the worst DDOSing you've ever experi

lulz... he is behind seven firewalls though!

==

I did the repeater thing once. The trick was to set the routers to the same MAC address, and setting one to "AP Repeater" mode... been awhile though. If you strike out, Ubiquiti makes a nice little wifi repeater for under $100.

 

[overdrive148]

lulz... he is behind seven firewalls though!

==

I did the repeater thing once. The trick was to set the routers to the same MAC address, and setting one to "AP Repeater" mode... been awhile though. If you strike out, Ubiquiti makes a nice little wifi repeater for under $100.

You would not believe how many kids have told me they're going to "hack me" on games... and can't tell that they are being trolled after I give them "my" IP.

 

[Neal Howard]

An AP configured as a WiFi repeater only has 1/2 the bandwidth of one that's wired to its upstream source.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

An AP configured as a WiFi repeater only has 1/2 the bandwidth of one that's wired to its upstream source.

Erg!!! Did not know that.

What is the simplest (Read cheapest) way to get max bandwidth to reach my secret rooms, hidden passageways, and underground lairs?

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

We are one of those ultra modern, granola, new age (read cheap) families that got rid of cable.
I have a media room that is far from the router but that is where I want my netflix / Hulu.

Netflix detects crappy signal and compresses the stream so my theater image tends to suck.
I relocated the 2nd router up there.
I want the full bandwidth up there.

 

[ahkahn]

Former network engineer here.

You can do this one of two ways.

First, and best way: Run an ethernet cable from one router to the other router. Set the first router up as a true router, with Internet plugged into it. Set the second router up as a "wifi only", "hotspot", "bridge", or whatever D-Link's terminology is. You may not even have to change a setting. You will not have a WAN IP address on that unit, nor will anything be plugged into the "Internet/WAN" port on that router. It will basically be a wifi bridge. Name the Wifi network "PropWash2" or something slightly different. That way depending on which is closer and stronger your device will jump on it. This should do the trick. I have this setup at home.

Second way, not as good, but will work: Do not run an ethernet cable. Set the second one up as a wifi repeater/signal extender. Not all routers have this capability. It basically extends the signal... and it sucks. But, hey, if you can't run a wire, it's better than nothing. I used to have this setup at my house until I wanted to throw something through the window.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

I ran a cable from the office to the media room and put the router up there.
I think i just got it figured out.

I no longer see 2 networks when scanning and I can scan from the garage and see the signal is low and see that it peaks in the office or media room so I think both are working.

I am a little concerned about the 1/2 bandwidth issue though.

 

[Neal Howard]

Erg!!! Did not know that.

What is the simplest (Read cheapest) way to get max bandwidth to reach my secret rooms, hidden passageways, and underground lairs?

If you really want max bandwidth, use CAT5 wiring, not WiFi!

You can have up to 3 independent WiFi 2.4ghz routers in one house if you set them to the 3 non-overlapping channels of 1, 6 and 11. Feed 2 of them with wires to the main one and give the WAN interfaces of the 2 secondary routers static IP addrs or reserved leases from the LAN side of the primary router. Give the secondary routers different IP network dhcp ranges from the primary and each other. (e.g. main router that's connected to you ISP feed should dole out 192.168.1.xxx, secondary router should dole out 192.168.2.xxx, a third router should dole out 192.168.3.xxx dhcp addrs to its clients).

You can set their SSIDs to the same string but I'd prefer to have 3 different SSIDs so it's easier to identify which AP/router is giving your client device the best signal from any point in the building. Roaming from one AP to another with a portable device never works like you'd wish with consumer grade WiFi routers anyway so just having multiple WiFi networks configured in your tablet or laptop lets you know which AP gives you the better signal.

True roaming with a single SSID across multiple APs only really works well with controller-based commercial equipment like Cisco or Ruckus which costs a bit over 3 AMUs for an entry level 3 AP deployment.

 

[Neal Howard]

You only lose half the bandwidth when the 2nd AP is getting its network feed wirelessly from the main unit, when connected by wire you keep full bandwidth.

Edit: Andrew's recommendation of using the secondary WiFi routers in AP-only mode is a good one if their firmware supports that. Many of the newer low cost consumer routers I've dealt with lately no longer have that feature in them anymore, they're only supporting router mode or over-the-air repeater mode (which sux but is dirt simple for joe average to understand).

 

[denverpilot]

True roaming with a single SSID across multiple APs only really works well with controller-based commercial equipment like Cisco or Ruckus which costs a bit over 3 AMUs for an entry level 3 AP deployment.

Nah. Ubiquity is kicking both their asses in that game. Three APs that play together is just over half an AMU now.

 

[denverpilot]

You only lose half the bandwidth when the 2nd AP is getting its network feed wirelessly from the main unit, when connected by wire you keep full bandwidth.

Use true simultaneous dual band stuff and make sure the uplink is on 5 GHz and users are on 2.4 GHz. No bandwidth loss whatsoever. Can even let users into the 5 GHz side without much of a problem, really. Especially in household scenarios where the majority of traffic is throttled by the upstream Internet connection more than the WiFi.

Certainly there's scenarios where you want max bandwidth within the home LAN, but at home, those uses are best served with dedicated GigE or dedicated wireless links solely for that "backhaul" purpose. Backing up the porn collection quickly from the detached barn to the house NAS comes to mind. Hahaha. Or playing it back. Hahaha.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Ok, they are hard wired (Daisey Chained).
And now I am going to hard wire the Blu- Ray player to the router upstairs instead of using the wireless up there.

I put one on channel 6 and one on channel 11 and I may give them different names. Right now they have the same name and everything seems to be working from all over the house.

Now I just need to leave it alone. 2 years will go by and I will change something and I will have to re do it all again.

 

[JOhnH]

You can't have two routers with the same IP address. Change the IP of one of them to 192.168.0.2