Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
For your information: When you buy through links on Mesh Wifi Hub, we may earn a commission.
How To Connect WiFi Router To Another WiFi Router Without Wire?For those searching for an alternative to purchasing a mesh Wi-Fi system or extenders, a second wireless router may be able to provide the necessary coverage without breaking the bank. In order to extend your Wi-Fi range and connect to your original router wirelessly, the second router network will need to enable WDS (also known as “bridging” or “repeater mode” on certain platforms). This wikiHow article will show you how to connect a second wireless router to your current Wi-Fi network using the steps outlined above.
Consider the advantages of a mesh Wi-Fi setup. Because mesh Wi-Fi (also known as “whole house Wi-Fi”) is becoming increasingly popular, adding a second wireless router to your home network is becoming less of a need. A mesh Wi-Fi system is comprised of a central wireless router and a number of wireless access points strategically deployed across the house or workplace. [1] When you purchase a mesh Wi-Fi system, you can be certain that all of your equipment is intended to function together. If you just purchase a second wireless router to add to your network, there is no assurance that your new router will be compatible with your old router in terms of wireless connectivity.
Read Also: How to Connect ADT Pulse to WiFi
Check to see whether the second router is capable of bridging. For a wireless connection between two routers to operate without the use of a mesh network, the second router on your network must be able to “bridge” with the first router on the network. Unless your router’s documentation specifically states that it does not support WDS, that it has “bridge mode,” or that it is a “repeater,” you should be able to use it as a second Wi-Fi access point on your network.
Purchase an ethernet cable for your computer. However, even though you will be setting up a wireless network, an ethernet connection will be required in order to setup your two routers from the computer you are using.
Connect your main router to the internet by plugging it into the wall. Make sure your primary router is operational before proceeding with the installation of a second router on your network. Your internet service provider will most likely supply you with the primary router. Some internet service providers will offer you with a single modem/router combo, but others may provide you with two different pieces of equipment.
With an ethernet wire, connect your computer to the network router. If you’ve been using this router as your wireless access point, you may connect to it wirelessly instead of over a wired network connection. As an alternative to doing so, just connect one end of the ethernet cable to one of the LAN ports on your router, and another end to one of the ethernet ports on your computer.
Find the router’s IP address. To configure your router, you’ll need to know the IP address. Here’s how to find it:
Log in to the administration page for your router. Using the IP address you discovered in the previous step, you may go to the website. To log in, just browse to the specified IP address (for example, http://192.168.1.1) and sign in using the admin username and password (if applicable).
Check to verify that the DHCP server is operational. This service, which allocates IP addresses to devices on your network, should already be operating on your router, which should be configured to do so. However, to be certain, go to the Network configuration or LAN setup part of your router and check for a section with the word “DHCP” in the title. If the server is currently disabled, pick the option to make it operational.
Write down the necessary information from your router. When it’s time to add your new router to the network, you’ll need some information from the main router to make them work together:
Remove yourself from the router. If you make any changes to the router while logged in (for example, turning on the DHCP server), save those changes first—doing so will also cause the router to restart itself. Then, unplug your computer from the network by removing the ethernet wire that was attached to it (or by disconnecting from the Wi-Fi network).
Connect your PC to the second router via a network cable. Following the collection of information from the main router, you will have everything necessary to set up the second router in its place. To connect to this router, use the same kind of ethernet cable that you used to connect to the previous router.
Go to the second router’s admin website. The steps to do this are the same as when you logged in to the first router—locate its IP address, type that into a web browser, and then log in with the default admin password.
Switch on the bridging mode. Because this second router will act as a “bridge” between the first router and the rest of the network, you must activate bridging mode on it. The Network mode or Connection type option is normally found under a section titled “Advanced,” and then under the headings “Network mode” or “Connection type.”
Enter the details you gathered from the first router. In the same area in which you turned on bridging or WDS, you should see the option to add the information you gathered from the first router:
Configure the Wi-Fi on this router. After you’ve completed the bridging configuration, you’ll need to ensure that this router is ready to receive wireless connections.
Turn off the DHCP server if it is running. When you enable bridging mode on this router, the DHCP server on this router should be immediately disabled. As only the primary router should be assigning IP addresses, you’ll want to double-check your configuration. Enter the router’s Network configuration or LAN setup area and search for a section with the word “DHCP” in the title. If DHCP is enabled, turn it off by pressing the “DHCP” button.
Connect the bridge router to the main router. If both routers have WPS buttons (most do these days), you can press that button on both routers to connect them wirelessly.If not, there should be an option to connect in the bridging section of your settings.
Save your changes and disconnect from the router. When the new configuration is applied, the router will reboot. At that point, it will have a new IP address (the one you assigned it) so if you need to connect to its admin website again, use that IP address instead.
Position the bridge router. The second router on your network will need to be within range of the original router, but also far enough away that it can extend your network beyond the original router’s reach.
Connect any computer, phone, or tablet to the new router using the included Ethernet cable. After installing two routers on your network, you can disconnect any device from the original router and connect it to the new router instead.