Extending Wi-Fi Coverage Using a Wired Access Point Setup

This is an article about setting up a wired access point using a router (TP-Link) to extend the Wi-Fi coverage in your home or office. This method is ideal if you have areas with weak Wi-Fi signals and already own an extra router. This solution works especially well for multi-story buildings, where the main router is on one floor, and you need better coverage on another floor.

Objective:

To extend Wi-Fi coverage using a second router as a wired access point, connected via an ethernet cable to the primary router.

Equipment:

• Main Router (Primary, connected to the internet)
• Secondary Router (Used as an access point)
• Ethernet Cable (To connect both routers)
• Active Internet Connection

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Connect the Secondary Router to the Main Router
   Run an ethernet cable from one of the LAN ports of the main router to one of the LAN ports on the secondary router (avoid using the WAN port on the secondary router).
   This establishes a direct wired connection between the two routers, ensuring fast and stable communication between them.
2. Access the Admin Panel for Configuration
   To configure the router, you need to access its admin panel:
   Option 1: Via Ethernet Cable: Connect your PC or laptop directly to the secondary router via another LAN port.
   Option 2: Via Wi-Fi: If the secondary router broadcasts a default Wi-Fi network, you can connect your PC or laptop to this network.
   Once connected, open a web browser and enter the router’s default gateway IP address in the address bar. Typically, this will be 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. You can find the specific IP in the router's manual.
   Enter the default admin username and password (usually printed on the router’s label or provided in the manual).
3. Configure the Main Router
   IP Address: Ensure that the main router uses an IP address like 192.168.1.1 (or similar, depending on your network).
   DHCP: Enable DHCP on the main router to automatically assign IP addresses to all devices in the network.
   Adjust the DHCP Range: Change the Start IP Address to 192.168.1.10 (or similar) to leave room for static devices like the secondary router.
   Set the End IP Address to 192.168.1.254 (or appropriate for your setup).
4. Configure the secondary router as an Access Point
   Assign a Static IP: In the admin panel of the secondary router, navigate to the LAN settings and change its IP address to 192.168.1.2 (or any IP address outside the DHCP range of the main router but within the same subnet).
   Disable DHCP: Navigate to the DHCP settings and disable DHCP on the secondary router. This ensures that only the main router handles IP address assignments.
   Save Settings and Reboot: After making these changes, save your settings and reboot the secondary router to apply them.
5. WI-FI Setup
   You can configure the Wi-Fi network in one of two ways:
   Option 1 (Same SSID): Use the same SSID (Wi-Fi network name) and password as your main router. This allows for seamless roaming between the two routers, with devices automatically switching to the stronger signal.
   Option 2 (Different SSID): Use a different SSID and password for the secondary router. This requires manual switching but gives you control over which network to connect to.
6. Test the Setup
   Once everything is set up, connect to the Wi-Fi network from different areas of the building, especially where you had weak signals. Ensure that the devices are receiving stable internet, and the IP addresses are being assigned correctly by the main router.