How to Add a Wireless Router to an existing wireless network

1. connect your comp to the new router using a network cable.s

2. access the router control panel and change the ESSID to omething like my-wifi-2.

2a. Then assign this router a new ip address one number higher than the existing router. If router #1 is 192.168.1.1 the asssign 192.168.1.2 to second router.

2b. set this router's subnet to same as first router, usually 255.255.255.0.

2c. set this router's gateway to ip of first router.

3. unplug cable from comp, wait a few seconds and plug back in.

4. access router control panel again and disable DHCP. This turns the router into just an access point and a switch.

5. disconnect cable from comp.

6. connect 2nd router from one of it's lan ports to a lan port on the first router.

You can expand your network without network cabling, but both routers must support point to point networking. Best way to do it is as above.

The other thing you could do instead of adding a second router is to use better antenna on the first router if they are removable. Stock router antennas are usually 2dB and you can get 10dB antennas that will almost double your existing range.

 

No use different network names (ESSID).

Yes, that's what I said, connect the 2nd router to first using a network cable and lan ports. The second router could connect to a switch that's connected to the 1st router as well, so long as there's a wired connection to both routers.