Using a Wireless Router as an Access Point Wireless Networking Forum FAQ

This Section

Using a Wireless Router as an Access Point

Members often ask about how to add wireless capabilities to their existing network, which already uses a wired router. See note after 2b, for attaching a Wifi Router as an AP/switch to an existing wifi network. Since it is often less expensive than an access point, a wireless router may make sense.

1. Using a PC wired into the current router, unplug it from the wired connection and plug into a LAN port on the secondary router. Access the secondary router using your browser via its default LAN IP address and default password. Since the PC was attached to the previous router you will have tell the PC to obtain a LAN IP from the new device. Use 'winipcfg' in win9x or 'ipconfig release/renew' with W2K/XP on the PC.

2. On the secondary router (hereafter called the AP)

a. change the default password to a minimum combination of 8 letters/numbers/symbols.

b. Change the ESSID to a unique name and make all the necessary wireless configurations.
Note: If attaching a WiFi router as an AP/switch to an existing wifi network, one should keep the ESSIDs the same for seamless roaming, or separate if one wants to manually decide which AP to connect to. If you decide to use the existing ESSID as your existing wireless network, your security settings should be the same. Also, ensure channel separation (1-6-11 common for three devices). Two wireless AP on the same channel does not work very well.

3. In the AP, go to the LAN setup page:

a. Turn DHCP serving OFF on the AP (i.e secondary router being configured as AP). This is necessary so that your DHCP clients obtain correct settings (with correct gateway) from the primary router instead of the incomplete/erroneous one from the AP.

b. Change the LAN IP of the AP from its default so that it lies within the subnet of the primary router but preferably outside the dynamic LAN IP range of the primary router. (examples below) Note: This is not a requirement, but keeping everything in the same IP range can make administration and file sharing easier.

c. Disable or turn RIP off, if there is that option.

d. Disable or turn off Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support (if any).

4. Plug the PC back into the wired connection and repeat the process of getting new LAN IP. A reboot of the PC may be needed.

5. Plug the AP into the primary router, LAN port TO LAN port directly or via switch/patch panel etc. Leave the WAN port of AP disconnected.

6. It may be necessary to reboot one or both routers but one should be able to assign LAN IPs wirelessly and connect at this point, ensuring WiFi card setup properly.

Example:

Primary Router
LAN IP 192.168.1.1
old Dynamic DHCP Pool 192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.xx
subnet mask 255.255.255.0

Will need to change Dynamic DHCP pool
new DCHP Pool 192.168.1.33 - 192.168.1.xx (for example)
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0

Secondary Router (our Access Point)
old LAN IP 192.168.0.1 -or any other default

Will need to change LAN IP to be within subnet of primary.
new LAN IP 192.168.1.2
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0

Thanks to Anav

for these instructions, to GeekNJ

and Shootist

for their similar threads and to SipSizzurp

for additional clarity.

Thanks to Bill

for this dandy example diagram. »i.dslr.net/pics/faqs/image93081.jpg

got feedback?

Does any router work with this method? How do I know if a router can work as you described? Thx

2012-12-17 04:44:55

Finally, directions that work. You example made it clear and easy; other's were too complicated. One thing, I thought I screwed up because I couldn't renew my IP connection to my AP after I changed it to a subnet of primary (192.168.1.2 [originally 192.168.0.1]). XP kept telling me that beacuse I had no DHCP server it couldn't renew the IP, BUT I plugged it into the primary router and I could access it! Now it works great

2012-05-26 07:17:02

2012-05-26 07:16:40

I want to thank you for a great article. It cleared up my frequent internet disconnects and duplicate IP error messages. The diagram is what I have set up. The first router also is a wireless router that belongs to the cable co. but they shut me off from controlling it. So I have WPA2 on the second.

2012-02-01 08:19:48

Works great. I named the second router AP 192.168.1.2, the first was 192.1861.1 and "produced" DHCP pools starting form 192.168.1.101 onwards (which seems also common, reading other web info). The option RIP was not on the second AP (or i did not find it ...) , what is it supposed to be. The UPnP was an option and i disabled it ... (this advice i only found in your post .. thanks) In ubuntu I used tha application wifi radar to set "roaming" ... now ubuntu uses the strongest signal. Although there is an awfull lot that i do not understand about wifi's and routers, your post just made it clear and straightforward ... Thanks ... Chris (belgium)

2012-06-30 06:07:45

yes...the best and simpliest directions...thanks

2012-11-13 17:55:45

sorry for popping in. but what if, if the primary router has got no dhcp enabled? what will I do then? regards, peter

2012-05-29 12:46:48

This worked great for me as well. The trick (I think) was not using the WAN port on my wireless router and instead using the LAN port. My base router let me easily define a static IP for my wireless access point.

2012-04-15 01:56:07

This was very helpful to me. I was able to use my old wrt54g router to extend my network. The instructions were very clear. Thank's

2012-03-12 23:19:23 (jkj860 )

I'm don't think I am understanding something. I followed the directions but couldn't get my wireless router (downstairs) to connect to my wireless cable modem (upstairs). Was the the intent of the article? I have my Wireless Cable Modem connected through a LAN cable to my computer, but I have some devices downstairs that need a LAN connection as well. I am trying to use an old wireless router to connect to my cable modem, wirelessly and use the internet connection from it. Using the instructions above, I was not able to get an internet connection from my router downstairs. Based on the article above, I don't understand how the router downstairs would connect to my router upstairs, wirelessly and use it's internet connection. Any help would be appreciated!

2012-05-27 00:47:45

Superstar! I'm in software rather than networking so how to do this had me scratching my head. Worked first time.

2012-06-07 07:21:47

OK I have been surfing the net on this topic and found this wile doing so. like seams everyone else is looking for. here's whats going on with me. My nabor is shareing his wireless Internet with me with his OK. the thing I'm looking for is how can i use my D-link DIR-825. to see his wireless so that i may put my D-Link in my front room with the windsurfer antenna i made to pick up his wireless stronger so that I can put my self back into my PC room and out of the main living room were I have had to move to to receive his signal

2012-06-02 20:58:04 (msmolt )

Everything works great now. Thks. Just one question. What does one set for "firewall" in the router now setup as an AP. Disabled/Enabled/Doesnt matter? I have tried both, but I have no idea if one works better than the other. Thks.

2012-06-24 01:06:03

Seems to have worked fine for me too! Great guide! I did this to a D-link DIR-635, cheap and great wireless range!

2012-06-24 16:08:18

this is indeed an excellent step-by-step directions. the only problem is that, are these instructions to use the 2nd router as a "Wireless" access point? i followed these instructions (but will go through them again), but my laptop keeps connecting to the access point then the main router, and back and forth, but never establishes a connection. any suggestions? thanks

2012-07-21 06:13:15

One question. If I have to connect the two routers using ethernet then how will I get signals in a room that is far from my current location? Thanks in advance.

2012-09-30 09:46:16

Totally worked! Like previous post I'm unable to access the admin page of my AP, is this expected? Do I need to reset the AP and reconfigure if I want to change my wifi settings?

2013-01-07 02:28:51 (lostspaceman )

CHEERS! Awesome!

2012-10-12 06:09:55

So far so good! Thanks!

2013-01-12 18:36:06

Man, thank you SO much! Works great. It would have taken me forever to figure this out, being technical but not an IT so much. Saved me $ too by being able to use a donated Wi-Fi router to add wireless on my existing LAN instead of starting from scratch and throwing out my older router. For some reason I'm not able to see the AP's admin or config pages though when trying to access them through a browser. Would be nice to do that as I had to go back after I had the new wireless devices connected, reset the AP and redo the process just in order to turn off the SSID broadcast on the wireless. Thanks again!!! JMH

2012-12-12 19:18:29

Perfect works well. thanks and I get my old routers to do a job and not just collect dust..!

2013-02-10 09:08:24

by No_Strings edited by DrTCP
last modified: 2012-01-10 13:22:26

All FAQs » Wireless Networking Forum FAQ » 30.0 Setup

Using a Wireless Router as an Access Point