How To Create A Mesh Network With Two Routers Easy 2 Methods

For your information: When you buy through links on Mesh Wifi Hub, we may earn a commission.

How To Create A Mesh Network With Two Routers ? Just want to enable a few more connections at a time, or something more complicated? In order to extend your network, you can “bridge” a second router that supports WDS with your current router. Even though mesh Wi-Fi systems have made it easier to connect two routers together, it may still be a useful method of improving network connectivity in wide areas. In order to boost Wi-Fi coverage in your house or workplace, follow the instructions in this wikiHow article on how to bridge two routers.

How to Connect Two Routers

1-Before You Begin

1-Check to see whether your second router has “bridge mode” or WDS bridging capabilities. Using two wireless routers in a bridge configuration, you may extend the wireless network’s coverage area. You can’t expand your Wi-Fi network using a router that doesn’t enable bridging (the one that isn’t directly linked to the internet).
In the documentation of your router, look for “bridging mode,” “WDS,” or “repeater function.”

2-Determine which router will serve as the primary one. If you want to use the internet, you’ll need to connect it to the main router. A modem/router provided by your internet service provider must be your primary modem.

3-To link your two routers, you’ll need an Ethernet wire that’s long enough. Even if you’re using a bridge to build a new wireless access point, you’ll need to connect your two routers using an ethernet connection. In certain cases, bridging wirelessly is supported by some wireless routers, however this is generally only when both routers are of the same model and/or brand.
When connecting two routers through an Ethernet connection, you should not exceed 320 feet. The performance of a network might be adversely affected by a longer connection.

2-Setting Up the First Router

Connect your primary router to the internet. In most cases, your internet service provider (ISP) or your modem’s built-in router is the primary router. Router internet connectivity:
An all-in-one router/modem would be: Turn the gadget on by connecting it to the wall’s internet port using the included network or coaxial wire.
There are two different gadgets in this case: The network or coaxial jack that comes with the modem should be used to connect it to the internet port on the wall. Connect the other end of the ethernet wire to the modem, and you’re ready to go.

Using an ethernet cable, connect your computer to the network’s primary router. Even if your main router supports Wi-Fi, it’s preferable to utilise an Ethernet wire during setup. In most cases, your internet service provider (ISP) or your modem’s built-in router is the primary router.
LAN ports on your router will normally be labelled as such, or with numbers, while the other end of the ethernet cable connects to your computer’s Ethernet port.

Log in to the administrative webpage of your router. To accomplish this, open a web browser like Edge or Safari and type the router’s IP address into the address bar, just as you would for any other website. Typically, the router’s IP address is 10.0.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, however this might vary from router to router.. Find your IP address by following these steps:
Windows:
To access the Windows Start menu’s Settings gear, click on the Start button.
Then choose Network & Internet.
Click View hardware and connectivity information in the right panel.
Next to “Default Gateway,” locate the IP address.
macOS:
Select System Preferences from the Apple menu bar.The Network symbol may be accessed by clicking on it.
You may access your Ethernet connection by clicking on it in the left sidebar.
At the bottom of the page, click the “Advanced” option.
In TCP/IP, look for the IP address next to “Router” and copy it down.

As an administrator, you may access the system. Admin username and password may be found in your router’s literature or on a sticker on the device itself. Your router’s default administrator password and model number may be found by doing an internet search for these terms:

Turn on the DHCP server service. A device’s IP address is assigned via the DHCP protocol, which is used by most Wi-Fi networks. A router having an IP address of 192.168.1.1 would normally allocate IP addresses at random from a range starting with 192.168.1.2 and going all the way to 192.168.1.254, for example Make sure that DHCP is enabled in your router’s LAN settings (which may be found in a section labelled LAN configuration or equivalent).

Make a note of the Wi-Fi password. To match the settings on this router, you’ll need to make a few changes in your secondary router. So you can log in to either network wirelessly with the same Wi-Fi password, and your secondary router can also connect wirelessly to your primary router (if supported by your secondary router). [3]
Your router’s admin page should include a section called Wireless or Wi-Fi Security.
The SSID (also known as the Network Name) and password should be written down.
Make a note of the “Security mode,” “Network mode,” or “Encryption mode” setting.
Make a note of the frequency, such as 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz, and then go to the next step.
The Internet (IPV4) IP address and subnet mask may be found in the LAN or Network section of the router.
You may skip this step if you have a TP-Link or Linksys router, but you will need to write down the MAC address for most other routers so that you can input it into the secondary router.

Disconnect after saving your modifications. No need to save anything if you haven’t made any changes. However, if you’ve done so, choose Save and then disconnect your computer’s ethernet wire. Everything you need to get your new router up and running is now in your possession.
It’s a good idea to switch off your primary router while you’re attempting to set up your secondary (bridging) network so that your computer doesn’t connect to it through Wi-Fi.

3-Setting Up Bridging on the Second Router

You’ll need a second router, so attach it to your PC. To set up the router that will serve as a bridge, you must first unplug from the primary router and then connect it to your computer. In this manner:
Connect the other end of the same ethernet cable to a LAN or numbered port on the second router and the other end to the ethernet port on your computer.
Turn on the router by plugging it in.

Access the router’s administrator webpage. As with signing in to your main router’s webpage, discover the IP address (which may be the same) and then enter the username and password.

Enable Bridging Mode on this router. The steps and terminology vary by router model, but you’ll usually need to navigate to a section called “Connection type” or “Network Mode” and choose Bridge Mode, Bridged, WDS, or Repeater from a menu. Check your documentation to find the exact location.

• On TP Link models, you’ll need to go to Advanced > System Tools > System Parameters and click Enable WDS Bridging.
• On Netgear routers, go to Advanced > Advanced Setup > Router/AP/Bridge/Repeating Mode and select Enable Wireless Repeating Function. Then, choose Wireless Repeater.

Bridging mode may now be set up. In order for the router to interact with your primary router when bridging mode is enabled, you’ll need a few specifics. All models will have its own unique set of procedures.
Click Survey, choose the primary router’s SSID, then click Choose on TP-Link models. Next, if prompted, input the primary router’s Wi-Fi password and click Save to get the information from that network automatically.
When setting up a new router, you’ll need to enter your router’s IP address as the default gateway.
Additionally, you’ll often be need to input the Subnet Mask, which should be the same as the one on your primary router.
Any IP address in the same range as the primary router may be entered when requested for an IP address. If your primary router’s IP address is 192.168.0.1 and your subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, then you may use any IP address between 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.254 for this router as your secondary router’s IP address.
If your routers enable it, you may be able to wirelessly link the secondary router to the primary network. With an ethernet cable, you’ll get the best results, but if wireless connectivity is an option, you’ll need to input the information of your second router into the Bridge Mode settings. Turn off Wi-Fi and enter the network’s Wi-Fi frequency in the original router’s SSID (network name) (e.g., 5 GHz).
By default, most routers’ bridging modes deactivate the secondary router’s DHCP server. A nice thing has happened. Bridging mode doesn’t automatically switch off the DHCP server, so find your DHCP settings and stop DHCP on the secondary router.

The secondary router’s Wi-Fi settings should be updated. Your main router’s SSID will need to be a bit different from the SSID of your secondary router in order to enable devices to connect through Wi-Fi. You may use the same SSID for the secondary router, but add a descriptor. Set the Wi-Fi password and security mode to match the main router’s.
As an example, if your primary router’s name is Netgear2021, you may refer to this secondary router as Netgear2021-Upstairs if it is located upstairs.

3-Getting Online

Routers should be positioned. Your routers are ready to go now that all of the settings have been entered into the system. When connecting two routers, you’ll need to utilise an Ethernet connection that’s no more than 320 feet long (unless your routers support WDS). Use a Wi-Fi router that enables wireless bridging to eliminate barriers like brick walls and metal frames or siding. [7]
It is important to make sure that the main router is linked to the modem (if separate). The main router’s Internet or WAN port should be linked to one end of the Ethernet cable, and the modem or wall jack should be connected to the other end.
When connecting to another room, Ethernet wire may be routed through the wall.

You’ll need to link up your two routers. Your secondary router’s LAN port should be connected to the Ethernet port on your main router, and vice versa.

Read Also: How To Connect Mesh WiFi To Existing Router – Easy 2 Steps

The routers should be restarted after they’re connected. Simply disconnect the power cables from each router and replug them in a few seconds later. The routers should be up and running again in a few minutes. Both may now be accessed and linked to the internet, making them more accessible.
If you need to access the admin page of the secondary router, just type its new IP address into the address bar of your web browser. For the time being, the old IP address may only be used by one router.

FEATURED Video

FAQ’s