Summary: Adding a second access point to your network is a great way to extend your range. But you'll need to take care to avoid configuration conflicts.
I have a cable modem connected to a Linksys router for internet service. I am trying to connect 2 Linksys access points to the router in order to provide wireless internet to opposite sides of the building. I can't get both access points to work at the same time. Whenever one works the other will not. The access points are not where they can communicate with each other. Any ideas why they will not work at the same time?
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It's likely that there's a simple solution to this.
Access points have become "smart" devices, and that means you need to be able to configure them. Configuring them means that you need to be able to access them across the network. That means they need an IP address.
I'll bet they both have the same, default IP address.
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I have a similar situation to yours: a LinkSys router, to which I've connected a LinkSys access point. I even have a second access point "ready to go" should I need to expand the range of my network.
My router, like many, is at a default fixed IP address on my LAN: 192.168.1.1. The access point also comes pre-configured to communicate using a fixed IP address: 192.168.1.245. Those two are different so that you can communicate to each device without confusion.
If I add a second access point, it too will be pre-configured to communicate on that same IP address: 192.168.245. Two devices can't share the same IP, and at a minimum confusion will result.
Here's the approach I recommend:
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"Once you've confirmed that this access point is working at its new IP address, you can plug in the second access point without conflict."
Plug in the first access point.
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Access it via its default IP address of 192.168.1.245. (Remember that the default password for LinkSys equipment is "admin", with no user name.) You should see something like this:
Note that the IP address listed is the default address: 192.168.1.245.
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Change that IP address. I simply changed the last number on mine:
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Click Save Settings
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Now, access the access point again via that new IP address. In my case, 192.168.1.246.
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Once you've confirmed that this access point is working at its new IP address, you can plug in the second access point without conflict.
That should do it.
Remember to record the IP address you've set for this access point. Since it's not the default address, you won't find it in any of the access point's documentation.
Related:
Ask Leo! - Can I use a second wireless access point to extend my wireless network?
Ask Leo! - How do I extend my network wirelessly?
Ask Leo! - How should I set up my home network?
Article C3056 - June 14, 2007
That's not the answer to the question Leo. I think what he is trying to ask is somthing different
To the Questionar:
I bet what you did is something called: making a parallel connection. Parallel connections from cable modem to Linksys Routers will not work .
You must connect them in a series
First connect the cable modem to one of the routers (unplug it, since you already might have messed up the mind of the cable modem)
Then connect the other Router the first router
Then plug everything back to their adapters
If this doesn't work I have to try this my self to understand what you are talking about.
Recommended: keep all things unplugged when connecting them together (that's because wireless router send off signals int your hand if you touch the antenna)
Posted by: Masum Ahmed at August 17, 2007 8:25 PMI have 2 linksys routers that i'm using for a test.
Router1: 192.168.0.1
computer1
Router2: 192.168.1.1
Computer2
Each with one computer. computer1 cannot ping router2, how do i fix this ? Please help, i'm new to this.
Posted by: Shawn at November 8, 2007 3:01 PMMy question is as follows.
Have 2 DSL wireless routers with a 6mb download limit each. computer has 2 wireless cards. one built into the computer, the second via usb. each router is set on a different sub mask, each card is set to connect to only one of the routers. Would like to be able to use both routers at the same time to download and double my bandwidth. I have permission to use both routers.
I tried bridging the cards, but that did not improve the bandwidth.
How can you use both routers at the same time?
please help.
Posted by: eric broswell at November 21, 2009 11:53 AM