How can I set up a second access point in my house?

Question

I want to set up a second access point in the basement. I have another modem, but how do I set it up to work off the same network? Is it as simple as plugging it in, and hooking up my laptop to the new modem with an ethernet cable?

Answer 1

Another modem is not the answer. You need another wireless router or an access point. I suspect you meant a wireless router when you said you had another modem.



You can use a second wireless router by doing the following:



1) Find an unused address in the subnet provided by the current router. It should be outside the range of addresses that the current router uses for its DHCP pool. Adjust the DHCP address range if there are no free addresses.



2) Set the second router on the address found in step 1.



3) Turn off the DHCP service in the second router.



4) Connect the two routers together - PC/LAN port to PC/LAN port. The WAN/Internet/ADSL port on the new router is not used. You might need a cross-over cable or adapter, but try a normal Ethernet cable first.



Alternatively, take a look at Powerline network adapters such as:



http://www.tp-link.us/products/details/?categoryid=2244&model=TL-WPA4220KIT



This will avoid running long Ethernet cables round your home.



I hope this helps.

Answer 2

An Access Point is not a Modem... or a Router... its more like a Wireless Switch able to give Wireless Connections (WiFi) devices access to your network.



An Access Point takes a Wired Connection and turns it into a Wireless Connection... so thereby its an Access Point for WiFi Devices Only.



The Best way to achieve this is to get a Dedicated Access Point which can work in 3 ways:

1.) Access Point... converts a Wired Signal into a Wireless Access Point

2.) Wireless Repeating... Connects to a existing WiFi Signal and regenerates it stronger.

3.) Wireless Distribution System... Also called Wireless Bridging connects two AP (access points) together. You would really need to understand Network bridging to understand this to separate it from Wireless Repeating. Basically it can connect to Wireless Routers together... This doesn't form one network, but does connect two networks together.



If I confused you even more Point Blank all you need is Access Point feature or Wireless Repeating Feature as your only extending one network.... WDS is for connecting two networks together... "Bridging"

Answer 3

You can't use 2 modems, you need 2 different accounts. If you say you have an extra ROUTER, than yes, but the line has to come from your primary router.



You would convert the new router to an AP so you don't have 2 networks. Even a modem/router can be converted into an AP by turning off services and plugging in LAN to LAN, switch to switch, since all you would be using are the WIFI radio and switch ports.

Answer 4

"How can I set up a second access point in my house?"



Modem to router via cable

Router to access point via cable

Answer 5

Yes.

Answer 6

just get a splitter and split your internet signal