How to Connect Two Wireless Routers Together

If you wish to extend the range of your Wifi  network, you can purchase an additional wireless router and connect it to your existing router with an Ethernet cable.
The setup is pretty easy, inexpensive and the best part is that your two routers need not have to be from the same manufacturer so, for example, you can easily connect your Linksys (Cisco) router to a router from say Netgear or Belkin.   For instance, I am using a 30m long Ethernet cable to connect my two routers – one is a Linksys WRT 160N (N based) and other one is a WRH54G (G based) and the setup works just perfect.

How to Connect One Router to Another

For this example, let’s assume that you have an OLD_ROUTER and a NEW_ROUTER.
Step a: Make sure your old router is working.

1. Connect the Broadband modem to your OLD_ROUTER’s Internet (WAN) port. Then connect the computer to one of the four available ports on your router through an Ethernet cable.
2. Make sure that the Internet connection is working on your computer and on your wireless devices.

Step b: Configure your new router
Most routers have an IP address of 192.168.1.1 so before you connect them, you need to ensure that they have been assigned two different IP addresses.

1. Shut down your OLD_ROUTER and the modem. Also unplug the Ethernet cable from the computer.
2. Plug the Ethernet cable into any of the numbered ports of NEW_ROUTER and connect the other end to your computer. Switch on the NEW_ROUTER.
3. Access the web dashboard of NEW_ROUTER (192.168.1.1) and change the local IP address to something like 192.168.2.1 so that there’s no conflict with the old router. Save the changes.
4. Test the SSID name of the new router and make sure it’s different from the old router. Also make sure that SSID broadcast is turned on. Save the changes.

Step c: Connect the two routers

1. Connect the modem to the Internet Port of the OLD_ROUTER.
2. Connect one of the number ports of OLD_ROUTER to your computer.
3. Connect another free port on the OLD_ROUTER to the Internet Port of your NEW_ROUTER using an Ethernet or LAN cable.

Important Points to remember

• It is suggested that the length of the LAN cable connecting the two routers should not exceed 100m and that you should avoid having any joints in the cable. LAN cables are pretty cheap – I got a Cat5e cable for 25 ¢/m.
• If you have a compatible router, I suggest upgrading the firmware to DD-WRT as that will slightly boost the wireless signal plus you’ll get access to tons of other settings in your router.
• If you have enabled Wi-Fi security in your previous router, use the same settings in your new router as well.
• It is important that you assign different SSIDs to the two routers else the same network name will appear twice in your wireless network connections window.
• If you don’t remember the username of your router, try these combinations – root + admin, admin + admin, admin + password or admin (as username) and no password.Id

        WIFI TECHNOLOGY

Directory of WiFi technology including resources, products and information. Find every information on WiFi such as WiFi Internet, WiFi Phones, WiFi Network, WiFi Finder and WiFi Products.

1. What is WiFi?
   WiFi is a globally used wireless networking technology that uses the 802.11 standard. The term WiFi is an abbreviation of ?wireless fidelity?. The technology used in WiFi was developed in 1997 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
    
2. Why WiFi?
   WiFi, or Wireless Fidelity, is a technology standard developed in 1997 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). WiFi is all about high speed wireless internet access.
     
3. WiFi Internet
   WiFi, the short form of Wireless Fidelity, is a technology that allows you to connect to the internet without a cabled network. WiFi technology uses the 802.11 standard developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and commercialized by the WiFi Alliance.
     
4. What is WiFi Phone?
   A WiFi phone is a wireless device that gives you the dual benefits of wireless connectivity and the cost savings of VoIP. It can be used in any areas- hotspots- where WiFi connectivity is provided.
     
5. How to Become WiFi Hotspot?
   WiFi technology is one of the hottest and fastest spreading worldwide. More and more businesses and individuals are setting up WiFi hotspots. Here are a few useful tips for those who are considering a hotspot as a business tool.
     
6. What is WiFi Finder?
   A WiFi finder is a device used for locating wireless hotspots without actually turning on the laptop or PDA. WiFi finders are small, battery operated and portable. A WiFi finder typically detects a hotspot within a radius of 200 feet and also determines the strength of the signal.
    
7. Security for Home WiFi Network
   Security is a huge concern for anyone setting up a WiFi network, as anyone who is close enough to the hotspot can break into your system and access the information.
    
8. Security for Public WiFi Network
   Wi-Fi hotspots present a unique set of security problems, quite different from the security issues involved in home and office networks. These hotspots have unknown computers accessing them. And in this case, the very nature of a public hotspot demands that it broadcasts its SSID.