Do you want to connect your router wirelessly to the modem? If the answer is yes, then this article is just for you. Read it and you will learn why, when and how to connect a router to your modem.
Can I connect any modem to any router wirelessly?
No, you can’t. You need a modem with a built-in Wi-Fi router. In other words, you need a gateway. You can’t connect a regular cable or DSL modem to the router if it doesn’t have built-in Wi-Fi. In that case, you can only connect your router to the modem using an Ethernet cable.
Why would I want to connect a router to my modem?
So if you already have a modem with built-in Wi-Fi (built-in router), why would you want to add another one? wifi router? Well, it’s pretty obvious, because you’re not satisfied with the performance your built-in router offers. If the signal is weak and doesn’t cover your entire home, connecting a router wirelessly to your modem and using it as a Wi-Fi repeater/extender will improve your Wi-Fi coverage.
You can do this even if your router doesn’t support repeater mode, but you’ll need to adjust some router settings manually. In both cases, you’re essentially connecting two wireless routers without cables (more precisely, a Wi-Fi router and a part of your gateway router).
In case you don’t already have a old router that you can use as a Wi-Fi repeater/extender, then it might be cheaper to buy a simple Wi-Fi repeater instead of a router.
Connecting a Router to a Modem Wirelessly: Step-by-Step Instructions
We will show you how to connect your modem wirelessly to a router that supports repeater/extender mode and how to connect your modem to a router that does not have Repeater mode but supports WDS bridging (which is quite similar to Repeater mode but not the same).
Connecting a router with a dedicated repeater/extender mode
Connect your computer to the router (either via Ethernet cable or wirelessly). Open the browser and type the default IP of your router. Sign in with your administrator credentials.
Find the option called Operation Mode or something similar and click on it. From the list of modes, select Repeater or Extender. Your router will reboot. After the reboot, you need to make a few more changes.
If your router has the same IP address as your gateway, you need to change it. So if your gateway’s default IP is 192.168.0.1, please change your router’s default IP to 192.168.0.2. If your router’s default IP is not on the same subnet, change it to be on the same subnet as your gateway’s default IP (if it’s something like 192.168.10.1, change it to 192.168.0.2).
Note: If you don’t know the default IP of your gateway, please read this guide.
After the router reboots, you will need to open the router settings once more, but this time, it will use your new default IP (192.168.0.2).
Now, you need to find the network that needs to be repeated. Go to Wireless Settings and look for a setting called Connect to network, Scan for networks or something like that. Search for available networks and connect to your network. To connect, you must use your gateway’s Wi-Fi password.
Once you connect, your router will begin repeating the signal coming from your gateway. In most cases, your router and gateway will have the same SSID and you will see only one network name when searching for available networks (when using your PC, phone, tablet, etc.).
If you want to see two separate networks (your Wi-Fi gateway and your Wi-Fi router), you need to go into your router’s settings one more time. Open Wireless Settings and find your router’s Wi-Fi network name and password.
You can simply change the name or the name and password. When you save your settings and log out, you’ll see two separate networks: your gateway’s network and your router’s (repeater) network.
Connecting a router via WDS bridging
To show you how to do this, we’ll use the TP-Link TL WR84ON router and the ZTE F609 modem. Follow the instructions carefully.
- Reboot your router before proceeding to the next step. The procedure is very simple. Find the reset button, use a paper clip or some other sharp object to press it down, hold it down for about 10 seconds, then release it.
- Connect your laptop to the router (either wirelessly or via an Ethernet cable)
- Open your Internet browser.
- In the browser, enter the default IP address of the router In our case, it is 192.168.0.1.
- Log in to your router with the default username (admin) and default password (admin). The most important step we need to do is to change the default IP address 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.2.The reason why we have to do this is that the default IP of our modem (or rather the gateway) is 192.168.1.1. The router and modem should have different default IP addresses, but they should be on the same subnet. So if your modem’s IP is 192.168.1.1, then your router’s default IP should be another 192.168.1.x address (but it can’t be 192.168.1.0, 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.255).
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- After login router from left menu, Click Network, and then from the dropdown menu that opens, select LAN. In the IP address section, change 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.2. Click Save and then OK.
- The router will reboot and you will be logged out.
- You should now log in to the router with the new IP address. Enter 192.168.1.2 in your Internet browser, and then log in with the default username (admin) and default password (admin).
- In the left menu, select Wireless, then check Enable WDS jumper option on the right. Next, find and select the option Survey.
- In the new window (below the List of access points) there is a table where you will see the names of the networks. Find your modem’s Wi-Fi network and click Connect.
- In the window that opens, enter your modem’s password. Click Save and then OK.
- Click Save again.
- Before you start using your router, be sure to disable the DHCP server on your router. You now have two DHCP servers running on your network (your modem’s DHCP server and your router), and you don’t need that. In fact, you don’t want that because it can cause problems (IP address conflict). Go to your router settings. In the menu on the left, select DHCP and then DHCP Settings. Finally, disable the DHCP server.
- One more setting is needed and we can start using our router. In WDS bridge mode, you will need to change the Wi-Fi channel of your router to match the Wi-Fi channel of your modem. In other words, you need to change the Wi-Fi channel on both devices (cannot be set to Auto when using WDS bridge). The best 2.4 GHz channels are 1, 6, and 11.
- Log out. Your router is now connected to your modem wirelessly.
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