Connecting a router to another router (expand my network)

ChrisD. · 3 Apr 2010 at 09:14

Wireless in my flat is pretty poor due to the walls, so I intend on having a second router covering the area of the flat where the first one doesn't reach.

Am I right in thinking that I need a cat 5 between LAN ports, turn off DHCP on the second router and assign it static IP in the DHCP range of the first one?

csmager · 3 Apr 2010 at 10:02

Yep - or get a wireless access point. But both are similarly priced now.

ChrisD. · 3 Apr 2010 at 10:10

Do I have to call the second network something else?

I have two spare N routers so will use one of them.

csmager · 3 Apr 2010 at 10:13

You can call it the same, and have the same WPA key. Make sure they're on different channels, and any client should just pick the strongest one.

If it doesn't work very reliably, then try different names.

ChrisD. · 3 Apr 2010 at 10:19

OK thanks. Channel is set to Auto on the first one so I'll have to figure out which works best. Also, need a long Cat 5 making!

Cheers.

tolien · 3 Apr 2010 at 10:33

If the two devices support WDS you could use that in place of the long run of cat5. You'll typically find throughput is reduced on the "extender" APs though.

ChrisD. · 3 Apr 2010 at 10:44

That sounds like a much better option to me as it'll free up a LAN port.

It's a D Link DIR-615, does it have it?

ChrisD. · 3 Apr 2010 at 10:51

Looks like it doesn't have it.