Connecting two routers is a great way to expand your WiFi coverage and get an Internet connection from any corner of your home. Now, the conventional method of connecting two routers is through an ethernet cable connected to the wan port of each router.
Not everyone likes cables. If you are someone who owns a WiFi router and thinking how to connect both without wires, then you have come to the right place. Wireless connections require careful setup, and without wires, you might find it a bit tricky. However, with the proper setup, you should be able to do this quickly.
There can be many reasons why you can’t use a wired Ethernet cable connection. One of those problems is the length of the cable or the inability to go from one wireless router to another. Convenience can also be another reason for you not to go for a wired connection.
Connect Two WiFi Routers Wirelessly Using IP Address (No Ethernet Cable)
Before To proceed with the method, you should carefully check the compatibility of your routers. Both routers must support AP client mode or WDS bridge mode. You’re also out of luck if you only have a router that supports WDS bridge mode or AP client mode. So make sure both routers support the same feature.
There are many benefits to connecting two WiFi routers wirelessly. For example, you can expand the range of wireless capacity using the method. It can also help your other devices with the extended network, including network printers, Wi-Fi cameras, DVRs and NVRs… where a wired connection is not possible. Interestingly, you can also connect a non-wireless device to the network by simply running an ethernet cable from the device to the second router. For example, you can convert your wireless connection to a wired one.
For the tutorial, we are going to use a TP-Link WiFi router. However, you are free to choose a WiFi router of your choice. Your primary router and secondary router may also be from different brands. The only thing you might have trouble with is finding the option if your router is a different brand than the one we will be working with.
Another thing to make sure is to make sure you have proper access to the router’s settings to configure them.
Accessing the router (via Wi-Fi)
The first step is to access the router. To access the router, you need to type the IP address of the Wi-Fi router. The IP address is written on the back of your router. If it is not present there, you can refer to the router manual. In most cases, the default IP address of the WiFI router is 192.168.0.1
Setting up the first router for wireless bridge
It is essential to proceed to configure the router one by one. So, let’s start with the first one. In our approach, we are going to set the first operating mode of the Wi-Fi router to AP mode. AP mode means access point mode. We will also need to make changes to the channel, wireless name, and password. To do so, follow the steps below.
- Go to the router’s operating mode. Operation mode is also known as work mode.
- Once you are in your router’s work mode/operation mode, you must select the Access Points option. It will transform the connected wired network into a wireless one.
- Now go to Wireless Settings. Here, you need to configure the following.
- Wireless Network Name: Type a name of your choice. This name will be used later, so make a note of it somewhere else.
- Region: Here, you must select the region supported by your network’s telecom regulations.
- Channel: Channel determines the channel your WiFi will use. It has a range of 1 to 13. It would help if you chose the channel with the least interference. To find out which channel is better, you need to use Wireless Analyzer.
- Now click SAVE and move to next step.
- Next, we need to move to Wireless security part Here, you need to set a password.
- To proceed to the option, you need to go to Wireless > Wireless Security.
- From there, choose WPA/WPA2-Personal (recommended) option
- Now enter the wireless password of your choice. Be sure to write down the password as we will need it later.
- Click the Save option.
The first time router setup is now complete. We are now half a step away from connecting two routers. Before moving on to the second router, make sure it stays on for the rest of the steps.
Setting Up the Second Router
If you’ve gotten this far, you’re now ready to set up the second router. second router. First, the secondary router must be in client mode. If you configured your secondary router earlier, now is the time to reset your IP address to the default value. This is important as you don’t want any conflicts when trying to connect two routers.
The steps to set up the second router are as follows:
- First, log in to the secondary router. You will find the login details on the back of the router, including the IP address.
- Next select Network >> LAN
- From there you need to put the IP address . Address of your router. This is the default address. For example, the default address of TP-Link is 192.168.0.254
- After that, you need to click the Save button.
- Reboot your device so that the new IP address take effect. .
Next, we need to make sure the secondary router is set to client mode. To do this, you need to go to operational mode / operational mode on your router and then select the Client option.
Once this is done, click Save, and the second router is now configured as a client mode.
Scanning and connecting to devices
Now it’s time to do a wireless scan. To do so, go to Wireless Settings and then tap Survey.
If you don’t have a TP-Link router, then the option may be slightly different. First, it’s scanning all the wireless devices you have on your network. Once the survey/scan is done, it will find all the listed devices on your network.
Here, it would be helpful to find the name of your first router. If you remember, you have noted the name of the first router. Next, click on Connect and then you will be asked to enter the password.
Once this is done, you need to click on the Save button.
For the settings to be applied , you need to reboot your device.
Conclusion
That’s it. You have successfully connected your Wifi router without the use of an ethernet cable. If we recap carefully, your Wi-Fi router must support WDS or AP client mode. In this article, we explore how to connect two WiFi routers using the access point. Now you can connect any of your devices to your extended network. They can also be controlled through the first router. Your secondary router acts as a gateway for your distant devices to connect.
There is another method you can use that we don’t cover. In that mode, you can set your secondary router as bridge mode or repeater mode. In all methods, you will not get full speed from your secondary router. However, if the interference is low, you can get up to 50% speed from your secondary router. So which WiFi router are you going to use to expand your network? Comment below and let us know.
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