Using 2 wireless routers on one modem

[tommy2tone]

I have a computer in the kitchen (hooked to modem and wireless router)and one upstairs in the bedroom (built in wireless). The kids use the bedroom one for games because it has a faster processor. Planning on hooking up another wireless router to act as a bridge or repeater. I don't want to use any ethernet cables from the kitchen to bedroom.
The kitchen wireless router also runs the Xbox in the den (not sure how but the kids say it works).

 

[toddlajoie]

Not sure that is going to work. I believe any router is going to need to be physically connected to the modem, and most modems are only designed to connect to one device. Your modem and router do not need to be connected to a computer in most situations, so we moved ours to a central room in our house (instead of the stud that was on one side of it) that had a cable connection in it, and it covers the house and a good bit of our yard. Newer modems have much larger ranges, so rather than buying another one, you may just need to get a newer better one.

They do sell wireless repeaters, but unless your house is huge, or made of a material that blocks the signal, you will go farther with a new router with better range. You also are not going to get any speed increase in the network traffic, as the routers and their bandwidth is generally several times greater than the modem (assuming we are talking about general home wireless and consumer internet service...)

 

[kenbu]

If your router has a removable antenna, an inexpensive solution for increasing wireless performance on the bedroom computer would be to replace the stock antenna with a high gain one. If the router has two antennas, replacing just one should make an improvement. If that doesn't work, you can invest in a wireless repeater, but make sure it's compatible with your existing router. If your router is old anyway, Todd's advice to buy a new one with better range may be your best bet.

That's a whole lotta ifs!

Ken

 

[edstreet]

Often times there are a good number of areas where wifi signals are damped. This commonly occurs in kitchens, high voltage areas, glass, metal, cordless phones, ovens, microwave ovens, very dense materials. Selective placement of the routers is very critical for best coverage, with the proper placement you may not need the 3rd device.

Also wireless antennas have a Christmas tree effect. Starts where the antenna is (the star on the tree) and cascades out and downwards. Raising the antenna higher up generally yields a wider coverage area because the fall off rate takes longer to reach the ground.


With many wifi routers today they will act as signal boosters providing you use the same channels and settings for all of them. Some have a 'repeater' mode and some you do not need to.

 

[bradh]

I run two routers to cover the whole house. You can set up the second as a seperate configuration or duplicate the configuration on both routers. I run the duplicate configuration method. We are running 4 wireless computers, an ipad, 2 game systems, various ipod's, a wireless TV, and several smartphones (3 teenage sons!).
With the duplicate configuration, there is only one wireless network. The devices just connect to whatever signal is the strongest. I have the routers set up on opposite sides of the house connected by an ethernet cable running through the basement joists. Run the cable from the output of the first into the input of the second router. Works great.

 

[bobleibo]

For what it's worth....
I am very much a non-techy type so I asked for help and was advised to buy a better router with a few features mine did not have. Mine was only 2 years old so I was skeptical to say the least. Anyway, bought one that was suggested to me - and not that expensive, stuck it in the middle of the house - and holy cow! It was like going from a VW to a Porsche.