It often happens that the range of Wi-Fi is sorely lacking. Users find strange solutions - buying a more powerful router or placing a weak one somewhere under the ceiling, but this does not always help, unless it comes to Cisco or Zyxel equipment. To solve this problem, this article has been created, which will tell you how to connect the router to the router via a cable in order to significantly increase the Wi-Fi coverage area for ease of use.
Preparation for work
To create a network where a wired router is used, it is recommended to use the same devices, and it's not only the compatibility of available technologies. Setting up and connecting identical routers is very convenient. Those wishing to save on the purchase, experts recommend the purchase of a router and the cheapest access point without the possibility of routing, because the task of the latter is to relay the signal.
The “router-router” network is possible in two versions - through a wired and wireless channel. Naturally, the cable connection is not only more reliable, but also allows you to significantly expand the coverage range, up to 100 meters. The wireless channel is limited by signal power and wall overlaps - not more than 10 meters for a high-quality signal. Therefore, to organize the connection, you need a twisted-pair cable, crimped on both sides with connectors of the required length.
Knowledge is not superfluous
Very often, even advanced users have a number of problems associated with setting up a network device. The whole problem is due to inconsistencies between router manufacturers. Therefore, many IT professionals recommend that you carefully study the operating instructions before any equipment settings. It is not worth hoping for a configuration wizard that will help make changes to the router, sometimes there is not enough information to correctly start the equipment in work.
Before connecting a TP-LINK or D-Link router to a computer or laptop for configuration, it is recommended that you first turn on the power and wait until it is fully loaded (20-45 seconds), otherwise, as often happens, the equipment may not notice that some device is connected to it in the LAN port.
Organization of access to settings
Pursuing the question: “How to connect the router to the router via a cable?” - many users may encounter a problem when connecting to the router to make changes from a computer or laptop. Regardless of the operating system or equipment manufacturer, there is only one requirement - to configure the connected devices must be on the same network. There are only two possible solutions:
- In the factory setting, the router has an enabled DHCP server. Ideal for all users, requiring only to command the computer to obtain an IP address automatically.
- But a disabled DHCP server in some models of routers will force the user to work with his hands and head. This is not complicated, but detailed instructions on how to log in to the router will not hurt.
Setting a dynamic address for a computer
In the case of a enabled DHCP server on the router and the inability to enter the access point settings, you need to give the computer a command to obtain a dynamic network address. To do this, on the PC, you must perform the following algorithm of actions:
- “Control Panel” - “Center for Main Network Management”. In some systems, this sequence of actions includes the “Network and Internet” item.
- "Change adapter settings".
- Click the alternative mouse button on the active connection and select "Properties".
- Find the line containing TCP / IPv4 characters and click "Properties".
- Set the checkboxes in the two fields opposite the lines "Get automatically." Save and exit.
Before changing the settings in the fifth paragraph, it is recommended to save the set values in a notepad or take a screen shot - perhaps there are settings for the Internet that are set there, which must be restored after two routers are configured.
Setting statics for the computer to connect to the router
A home router may have a disabled DHCP server. Therefore, you have to study the instructions that come with the device and find the IP address of the router. For example, the address found is 100.333.24.15, and the mask is 255.255.248.0. The user must specify the appropriate network settings on the computer. The difference should only be in the last digit of the IP address, instead of 15, specify 16, for example. Having executed the algorithm of actions described in the previous chapter, the settings are entered manually on the fifth point.
- Check the boxes next to the “Use” lines.
- IP address 100.333.24.16.
- Mask 255.255.248.0.
- Gateway 100.333.24.15.
- Preferred DNS is 100.333.24.15.
- Alternative DNS can be left blank.
- Save and exit.
Physical connection
Before connecting the router to the Internet, you need to decide which device will be the router and which one will be the relay. The network cable is connected by one connector to the LAN port of the router, and the second connector to the WAN (Internet) relay. For ease of setup, both devices should stand next to each other, be included in the electrical network and reset to factory settings, unless the router is configured for the provider.
Very often, administrators from the provider, when setting up the router, protect their own settings with a password. There is nothing wrong with this, the main thing is that through the LAN port on the router, the Internet flows smoothly, otherwise you can not do without a complete reset.
Related Settings
Having figured out how to connect the router to the router via a cable at the physical level, you need to fine-tune the software part. A DHCP server must be enabled on the router - this is a setting that automatically assigns a network address to a new device when connected. If a laptop or smartphone connects seamlessly to the router, then the IP address distribution server is working. Otherwise, you need to go into the router settings menu , find and open a bookmark with the inscription DHCP and check the box next to the inscription “Enable”. At the end of the configuration, restart the router.
But the repeater in any case requires user intervention. You need to go into its settings and find the “Network” tab. Once in the WAN menu, you need to select the connection type "Dynamic IP address". Then you can start setting up a Wi-Fi network.
Another option with a wired interface
This option is relevant only in cases where the WAN (Internet) entrance to the router on one of the devices is inoperative. Then the cable connection is made between the LAN ports of the two routers. The problem with this connection is that two devices with the same network address will appear on the network, which will conflict with each other. Therefore, you need to disable the DHCP server on the repeater by going to the router menu of the same name. Then, without leaving the settings, you need to find the LAN tab and set a static address for the relay in the same range in which the router works, but with a difference in the final numbers. Many experts recommend changing the subnet altogether to increase connections from 250 devices to 500, but a router for a home is unlikely to gain more than ten connections.
Example for configuring routers
In addition to connecting the router to the router through a cable, so that it is easier for the user to understand how to configure, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the example.
Settings for a router that is connected directly to the Internet:
- IP address 192.168.1.1.
- Netmask 255.255.255.0.
- Enable DHCP server.
- SSID - Glavnaya.
- Wireless Channel = 12.
- Wireless Security Mode - WPA2.
- Cipher Type AES.
- PSK / EAP –PSK.
Settings for repeater:
- IP address 192.168.1.254.
- Netmask 255.255.255.0.
- DHCP server "Turn off".
- SSID - Retranslator.
- Wireless Channel = 1.
- Wireless Security Mode - WPA2.
- Cipher Type AES.
- PSK / EAP - PSK.
In these settings, different broadcast channels. This is to ensure that access points do not interfere with each other. Such settings will be useful to users who need the Internet in various places of an organized network, for example, in different rooms. In the process of moving the mobile device will automatically switch between routers, and this will not affect the Internet.
TP-LINK to the rescue
But the owners of TP-LINK routers were very lucky, because the manufacturer worried about the end user and equipped all of their devices with a technology for expanding the coverage area called WDS. It remains only to explain how to connect the TP-LINK router to a similar device via Wi-Fi. On the repeater, go to the “Wireless Mode” settings menu and find the “Enable WDS” item in the list of suggested settings. Then you can enter the SSID name of the router or use the "Search" button if the exact name of the router is not known. The repeater will find all Wi-Fi devices within range and provide a complete list with names, MAC addresses and type of encryption. All that remains is to select the required router and click the "Connect" button. The connection will automatically transfer the user to Wi-Fi settings, where they will be asked to register the name of the access point upon detection, as well as set the password and type of encryption.
Finally
As can be seen from the review, the router-router network is not as simple as it seems at first glance. A lot of settings and all kinds of pitfalls that a network equipment manufacturer or provider can prepare. In any case, before organizing a wireless network at home or at work, it is worth starting the task with reading all the instructions. Understanding the material part and the principle of operation of devices will greatly simplify the configuration for any user, and this article will only help determine the type of connection.
You do not need to neglect the cable connection, because this class of data transfer is much higher in terms of reliability, durability and compatibility with other equipment than the wireless interface. And in terms of data transfer speed, Wi-Fi is still behind Ethernet.