How to use 2 routers with one modem

You’ll want to connect two routers to one modem for several reasons. Adding a second router can act as a range extender, improving your ability to connect to the Internet. Another advantage is the additional Ethernet ports.

Although it is not entirely common, you can use two routers with one modem. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of this setup.

Using 2 routers with a modem

There are many benefits to using two routers with one modem.

Backup router

Technology sometimes fails us. Losing the ability to connect to the Internet or your LAN could become a catastrophe. By connecting two routers to your modem, if one fails, you’ll have a backup.

Greater connectivity for wired devices

Your main router has a limited number of available LAN ports. Adding another router will increase the number of available ports. If your network runs many different wired devices, you will have many available ports. This type of configuration eliminates the need to install a network switch.

Ability to isolate devices

Dual routers can be configured to isolate devices that require heavy network traffic. A PC, gaming controller, or TV that streams online content can be connected to one router and leave the other for additional devices.

Mixed wired/wireless configuration

With two routers, you can use one solely for wired connections, such as gaming devices, and the other for wireless connections. Doing so could improve the performance of all connected devices.

How to set up 2 routers with one modem

Improving your home or office network doesn’t require extensive IT knowledge. However, it involves several different steps. Depending on the type of router you have, the process may differ slightly. Here we will discuss the most common way to configure two routers with one modem.

Check router compatibility

Before you begin the setup process, you’ll need to make sure your routers are compatible with your needs. Your second router will need to support the WDS (Wireless Distribution System) bridge. If the new router you want to add doesn’t support this, adding it won’t help extend your Wi-Fi network. Check the documentation for your new router to see if it supports WDS. If so, you will see “bridge mode”, “repeater function” or “WDS” in your documentation.

Decide which will be the main router

If you are setting up your system from scratch, you will need to determine which router will be used as the primary router. The one that will be connected directly to the Internet is considered the main router.

Make sure your Ethernet cable is long enough

Unless both routers are the same manufacturer and model, you will want to use an Ethernet cable. Some models allow wireless bridges, but in most cases you will need to wire them. Please note that the cable should only be long enough to connect the modems. Using an excessively long cable could degrade network quality. For this reason, it is recommended to measure the distance between the two routers and purchase a cable of the appropriate length.

Connect your main router to the Internet

If you are setting up for the first time, you will need to connect your main router to the Internet. First, make sure your modem is actually connected. Next, you will need to connect an Ethernet cable from your modem to the WAN or Internet port of your main router.

Connect your computer to the main router

Now that your main router is connected to your modem, it’s time to connect it to your computer. Even if your main router has Wi-Fi, it’s best to use an Ethernet cable. Insert one end of the Ethernet cable into a LAN port on the main router and the other end into an Ethernet port on your computer.

Set up your main router

Before setting up your secondary router, you’ll need to make some adjustments and write down some settings. This is required before you can add the secondary router. First, you will need to determine the IP address of your main router.

This is what you should do:

1. Click the “Home” icon and then tap the “Gear” icon to open your settings.
   
2. Select “Network and Internet.”
   
3. Using the right side panel, choose “View connection and hardware properties”.
   
4. Next to “Default Gateway,” you will find the IP address of your primary modem. Write down this number.
   

Now that you have the IP address, you will need to access the router’s management website.

1. Open a browser on your computer.
   
2. In the address bar, type the IP address and press “Enter.”
   
3. Locate “DHCP Server” and tap the button that says “Enabled.”
   
4. Write down the following information that you will find on this page:
   
   • SSDI (network name and password)
   • Security, network or encryption mode
   • Frequency
   • Internet IP address and subnet mask
5. Once you have all the information written down, press the “Save” button.
   

You can now disconnect the Ethernet cable from your computer.

Set up your secondary router

Now that you have the necessary information from your primary router, you will need to configure the secondary router.

1. Connect the Ethernet cable to the secondary router and your computer.
   
2. Locate the IP address of this router using the same method described above.
   
3. Open a browser, type the IP address and press “Enter.”
   
4. Locate “Connection Type” and select “WDS”, “Bridged”, “Repeater” or “Bridge Mode”, depending on your options.
   
5. Press the “Save” button.
   

Please note that not all routers have exactly the same menus, so the following steps may vary depending on your model. These instructions are generic in nature due to the number of options available depending on the user interface of each model.

1. Locate the heading that says “Basic Wireless Settings.”
   
2. Using the information you noted, make the appropriate changes to match the primary modem.
   
3. Once you’ve done this, click “Save” or “Modify,” depending on your options.
   

Put both routers online

With both routers configured correctly, you are now ready to connect them. You will first need to place the routers where you want them. Once you have everything situated, follow these steps to complete the process:

1. Connect the two routers by connecting them with an Ethernet cable.
   
2. Unplug and restart both routers.
   
3. Once they have been turned back on, they will both be accessible and connected to the Internet.

Expand your Wi-Fi and isolate devices with 2 routers

With two routers, you can quickly extend your Wi-Fi to hard-to-reach locations in your office or home. With two routers you can dedicate one to devices that require a lot of bandwidth and use the other for those that do not have a high demand. Although it may take a little time to set them up correctly, once installed, you will have a much more efficient Internet and LAN setup.