Add second wireless router

Lennys_Shinpad

Hi, I have a Virgin Hub 3 and we get WiFi dead-spots in some rooms upstairs. I have tried a plug repeater for a while but I find it next-to-useless.

So, I bought myself a length of Cat5 cable plus WiFi router. I ran the cable upstairs and plugged it into my laptop to check that it works, which it did.

I now have the task of making the new router transmit the internet wirelessly upstairs. I have spent a good couple of hours on Youtube trying to figure out how to make this work but am nowhere closer to figuring it out.

Does anyone on here know how I should go about this? Assume no knowledge on my part and you won't go far wrong.

Thanks,

James.

arciere

This is a classic example for when I say that terminology is important in this field.
If you have already run a CAT5 cable (which is the most sensible thing to do, if you can), what you need is a Wireless Access Point (WAP), not a router. You already have a router, having two will only over-complicate things.

Can you return it for a refund? What's the model?

EDIT: Just realised that you posted the link. It's Amazon, so you should be able to return it fairly easily and buy a proper access point instead.

AndyPix

Might be able to use the newer router as an access point - depending on the model of course

arciere

AndyPix wrote: »

Might be able to use the newer router as an access point - depending on the model of course

Having had a look at it, it is indeed possible, but personally I would still opt for a simple access point, to reduce enabling/disabling things to a minimum.

arciere

If you decide to use it anyway, you will need to make sure that it works in 'Client mode' (it should take its address from the main router), or at least it should have DHCP disabled and be on the same subnet as the main router.
Note that some WAN routers have a port marked differently or in a different colour. This should be used to connect the router to the existing one but, depending on how you want to set it up and on what the router does, you might actually need to avoid that port altogether and only use the remaining ones.

You will also need to manually configure the WiFi as it will have a different name (SSID) and password than the one you have now.

Lennys_Shinpad

Thanks for the responses. Very helpful.

I would rather buy an access point than try and re-configure the wireless router as I don't really understand all the jargon in arciere's post.

I only bought the router yesterday so should be able to get a refund on it. I should have checked for advice on here first.

As for which access point to buy, would this one be ok for what I want to do?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-WA801ND-Wireless-Access-Point/dp/B004UBU8IE/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1548350938&sr=1-6&keywords=Wireless+Access+Point&refinements=p_76%3A419158031

Thanks,

James.

Robisere

Follow this link and learn how to use another router as a Repeater: -

https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/network-wifi/router-repeater-3633135/

that

This is a better solution, have a look here at the motorguy last post
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5911209/wifi-plug-broadband-problem&highlight=mesh+wifi

I have done it your way with two routers for a friend, but if one of the two routers keep loosing connection like the old plusnet one, it is a pita

debitcardmayhem

Lennys_Shinpad wrote: »

Thanks for the responses. Very helpful.

I would rather buy an access point than try and re-configure the wireless router as I don't really understand all the jargon in arciere's post.

I only bought the router yesterday so should be able to get a refund on it. I should have checked for advice on here first.

As for which access point to buy, would this one be ok for what I want to do?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-WA801ND-Wireless-Access-Point/dp/B004UBU8IE/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1548350938&sr=1-6&keywords=Wireless+Access+Point&refinements=p_76%3A419158031

Thanks,

James.

What you have will do the same and it's 600Mbps and it gives you spare ethernet points too

debitcardmayhem

that wrote: »

This is a better solution, have a look here at the motorguy last post
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5911209/wifi-plug-broadband-problem&highlight=mesh+wifi

I have done it your way with two routers for a friend, but if one of the two routers keep loosing connection like the old plusnet one, it is a pita

Huh, the second one is wired via cat5 the only way that it can lose connection is if the Virgin one does, no pain at all

Lennys_Shinpad

Robisere wrote: »

Follow this link and learn how to use another router as a Repeater: -

https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/network-wifi/router-repeater-3633135/

Thanks for the link Robisere. I worked my way through the article and think I am almost there. I just need some help configuring the new router.

The options are on the screen below. Should I be setting this up as an AP (Access Point I presume) or as a router?

Thanks,

James.