Connect Two Routers to Extend Your Home WiFi Coverage

Weak WiFi in a back bedroom, garage, patio, or workshop? An old router may be all you need. This guide explains how to use a second router on the same home network, either with a wired Ethernet connection or a wireless repeater connection. Follow the example settings, learn the tradeoffs, and choose the setup that works for your home.

How to Connect Two Routers on One Network | WiFi Guide

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Two Ways to Connect Two Routers on One Network

Both methods can improve coverage without buying a new mesh kit, provided your spare router supports the necessary settings. The video recommends a wired backhaul whenever you can run Ethernet between the routers. A wireless repeater is an alternative when cabling is impractical and your old router supports that feature.

Feature	Wired access point	Wireless repeater
Connection between routers	Ethernet cable	WiFi signal
Performance	Generally faster and more consistent	May lose substantial throughput
Placement	Where Ethernet reaches	Where the primary WiFi signal is strong enough
Router support	LAN-to-LAN setup or access point mode	Compatible repeater or bridge mode required

Method 1: Turn an Old Router into a Wired Access Point

Step 1: Record the main router's IP address

Sign in to the primary router's administration page using its app or a browser on a connected device. Common local addresses include 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1, but your router may differ. In the video, the main router uses 192.168.1.1.

Step 2: Reserve an address outside the DHCP pool

Find the DHCP server's address range. In the example, the range starts at 192.168.1.2 and ends at 192.168.1.253. Change the starting address to 192.168.1.10, leaving 192.168.1.2 available for the second router. Save and reboot the primary router as demonstrated. Check for existing static assignments before changing the range.

Step 3: Reset and configure the spare router

If you do not know the old router's login information, perform a factory reset using its reset button, following the manufacturer's instructions. The video demonstrates holding the reset button for approximately 10 to 15 seconds. A reset erases previous settings. Update the firmware if a supported update is available, then connect a computer to one of the spare router's LAN ports to open its administration interface.

Step 4: Choose your WiFi network name

You can reuse the primary router's SSID and password or create a different SSID. The presenter recommends matching them for convenience, but identical names do not guarantee seamless roaming: some devices may stay connected to a weaker access point or briefly interrupt calls during handoff. Separate names make it easy to identify and manually select the desired router, especially for a garage or workshop.

Step 5: Set a static LAN address and disable DHCP

On the second router, open its local network settings. For the video's example network, assign 192.168.1.2 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0, then disable its DHCP server. The primary router remains responsible for assigning client IP addresses. Some router models provide a dedicated access point mode that automates parts of this configuration. Menu labels differ by brand.

Step 6: Connect LAN to LAN

Run an Ethernet cable from a LAN port on router 1 to a LAN port on router 2. Do not use the second router's WAN port for the manual LAN-to-LAN configuration shown in the video. Place the second router near the weak coverage area, then test WiFi and confirm that connected devices can reach the internet. You can access the second router's settings at 192.168.1.2 in this example.

A properly installed Cat 6 or Cat 6A cable is sufficient for many home network connections. Actual speeds also depend on the router ports, WiFi capabilities, and internet service.

Method 2: Use the Old Router as a Wireless Repeater

If running Ethernet is not practical, check whether the spare router has a wireless repeater option. The Linksys router demonstrated in the video supports this mode. Enable the feature and follow your model's prompts to connect it to the primary router's WiFi network. Place the repeater where it still receives a usable signal from the primary router, not deep inside a dead zone.

Wireless repeating can be convenient, but it often has lower throughput and less consistent performance than wired backhaul. The video notes that speed may drop to around half in some configurations; the actual reduction depends on the hardware and radio setup. Not all older routers support wireless repeating.

Common Setup Problems to Avoid

IP address conflict: Make sure the secondary router's management IP is unique and outside the main router's DHCP assignment pool.
Two DHCP servers: Disable DHCP on the secondary router for the manual wired access point setup.
Wrong Ethernet port: Use LAN-to-LAN cabling for the configuration demonstrated, unless your device's dedicated access point mode specifies otherwise.
Weak repeater signal: Place the wireless repeater where it can reliably receive the main router's WiFi.
Unexpected roaming: Matching SSIDs simplifies network selection but does not force devices to switch to the stronger access point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an old router to extend my WiFi?

Yes. You can configure a compatible old router as a wired access point or, if it supports repeater mode, as a wireless repeater.

Is wired or wireless backhaul better?

The video recommends wired backhaul because it generally provides faster, more stable connectivity than wireless repeating.

Should DHCP be enabled on the second router?

For the wired LAN-to-LAN access point configuration shown, disable DHCP on the second router so the main router assigns addresses.

What IP address should I give the second router?

In the example, the main router is 192.168.1.1, the DHCP pool begins at 192.168.1.10, and the second router uses 192.168.1.2 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0.

Should both routers use the same WiFi name and password?

The presenter recommends the same SSID and password for convenience, although clients may not roam seamlessly. Separate names make it easier to choose a specific access point.

How do I connect the routers with Ethernet?

For the demonstrated access point setup, connect a LAN port on the main router to a LAN port on the second router after configuring the second router and disabling its DHCP server.

Can every old router work as a wireless repeater?

No. The older router must support a wireless repeater or comparable bridge mode to use the wireless method described.

Final Recommendation

Reuse your spare router as a wired access point if you can. It is the video's preferred approach for reliable coverage in distant rooms, garages, and work areas. If Ethernet is not an option, a compatible wireless repeater can still help, with some performance tradeoffs. Watch the demonstration to see where to find the settings on the router used in the video.

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View The Video Transcript

If you've got dead spots in the back bedroom or no signal in the garage, that means you need more WiFi. And more WiFi is better. Instead of buying a new mesh system and spending a bunch of money, you can use an old router you have lying around. This option can cost you nothing and takes about 15 minutes to set up.

In this video, I'm going to show you how to set up two routers on one network, using two different methods: one wired and one wireless. To be clear, the wired option is much better because it is faster, more secure, and more stable. However, if you can't run an Ethernet cable from one router to the other because of walls, a two-story home, or you just don't want to, I'll show you the wireless option.

This video is broken down into chapters, so you can skip ahead or rewatch different parts. Let's start with the wired option, also known as wired backhaul. And, guys and gals, if you're liking this kind of content, make sure to like, share, and subscribe. Thanks.

Setting Up the Main Router

First, we have to log into our main router. This is the router that's already connected to our network. We'll call this router 1. Let's log into the router's administration screen. If you don't know how to do that, it's pretty simple.

Whatever router brand you have, Linksys, Netgear, TP-Link, or ASUS, it works in a similar way. Use a desktop computer, laptop, or phone that's connected to your router. Most brands also have a phone app. You can log in through the app or type the router's IP address into a browser. You can often find that information on the back of the router. Common addresses are 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1. Enter the IP address in the browser's address bar, then enter your password on the administration login screen.

There are two things we need to do right away. First, find router 1's gateway IP address. That's the address we just typed into the browser. For my network, it's 192.168.1.1. Write that down because you'll need it for the second router.

Next, go to the DHCP server settings and look for the IP address pool range. You should see something like 192.168.1.2 through 192.168.1.253. Change the beginning of the IP address pool from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.10. This gives us several IP addresses outside the DHCP pool, and router 2 will use one of them. Make the change, save it, and reboot the router. We're done with router 1.

Resetting and Preparing Router 2

Let's move on to router 2. First, we need to reset it. Since I don't know its information, such as the password, I'm going to reset it. Use a wooden toothpick to press and hold the reset button for about 10 to 15 seconds. You can hear it click. This returns the router to its default settings, which is ideal for this situation.

Now that the router is back to its default settings, we need to set it up again. Connect it to the internet for initial setup and download any available firmware updates. Once that's done, we can access the main settings screen. Plug an Ethernet cable into any LAN port on the back of the router, not the WAN port, and connect the other end to your desktop computer's Ethernet port. Then open the administration screen to make the IP address and DHCP changes.

Choosing an SSID and Password

First, go to the wireless network settings. We have two options. Option one is to match router 2's SSID and password to router 1's SSID and password. This can allow devices to roam between the two routers. It usually works pretty well, but there are downsides.

Some devices cling to the weaker signal.
The handoff between routers can briefly drop calls.
You can't easily tell which router you're connected to.
Troubleshooting is harder because you may not know which router you're using.
If router 2 is older, you could have speed issues.

Option two is to use a different SSID and password. There are several reasons to do this. You know which router you're connected to, you choose when to switch, and you can keep devices off the slower WiFi. It's ideal for garages, patios, and workshops. It also helps with the sticky-client problem because you can manually select the better connection.

There are disadvantages, too. You have to switch connections manually. Every device must be configured for the two SSIDs and passwords, which can take time. Some smart-home or IoT devices may not work well with multiple network names. My recommendation is option one: use the same SSID and password. It's easier.

Configuring the Second Router's IP Address and DHCP

Next, go to Connectivity, then Local Network, and select Edit. We're going to change the IP address to 192.168.1.2. The subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. Now go to DHCP and uncheck Enable. We want to turn off DHCP. This setting helps turn the router into an access point. Click Apply. Router 2 is now set up.

Next, connect router 2 to router 1 using the LAN port on the back of each router. Then place router 2 wherever you need WiFi coverage. Depending on the location, you may need a longer Ethernet cable. Use a Cat 6, Cat 6A, or even Cat 8 cable for high-speed connections. You can connect this router to a LAN connection on your network, and it will act as an access point. You can log into the access point from a computer or other device by entering 192.168.1.2. Very easy.

Setting Up a Wireless Backhaul

Now I'm going to show you how to set up a wireless connection, also known as wireless backhaul. This can be easier to set up if you have the right equipment. If your older router has a wireless repeater option, you can set up a wireless connection. For example, this Linksys router has a wireless repeater option.

Once you enable that option, the secondary router, router 2, connects to the wireless signal from router 1. That gives you more freedom to place the secondary router wherever you want, as long as it can receive a signal.

However, there are downsides. The biggest is speed. With this type of connection, you may get about half the speed of the first router. Wireless connections can be slower, less reliable, and less secure than a wired connection. Another downside is that some older routers don't offer repeater mode. If your router doesn't have that option, you'll have to use the wired method shown here.

Conclusion

Now you know how to set up two routers on one network. Check out my video on how to set up a home network in 2026, and make sure to like, share, and subscribe. I'm Michael Scott. Thanks for watching, and happy networking.