Setting up your home network with two routers

If you live in a house that is two or three stories (like mine) you will probably at some point want to add a second wireless access point to your existing wireless modem/router to extend the WiFi coverage into the third floor or into the garage. I have recently undertaken this project and learned a few things...

1. Check if your second router has a wireless repeater function - THIS WILL BE VERY HELPFUL
Here is the full explanation right form the source: NetGear instructions . If your router has this function, just follow the steps for your brand/make fo router and you are good to go.

2. If your router does not have a 'repeater' or WDS function, you can still use it as an access point, follow these steps:

• Set the main router to act as DHCP server and make note of the IP range it will use for that function
• Set the second router to NOT act as a DHCP server
• Set second router to a static IP outside the range of IP that the main router will be using
• OPTIONAL - set the SSID of both routers to the same name and password so your devices can switch between them without losing connectivity
• Connect the main router to the second router via cat5 cable, but use a LAN port on them both, do not use the "internet" port on the second router.
• Finally set the channel of each router to something other than auto, make sure they are different so they don't interfere with each other.

This should work in almost all cases, if it doesn't add a comment and I'll see if I can help.