Adding router to DSL Modem/router combo

[Dizzydre21]

Hello all,

I just moved in with some friends that have DSL Internet. Over ethernet I can get 1.5 to 2 MB/s downloads, but over Wifi, I only yet like 300 KB/s. I am wondering if it would be worth it to add a better router so I can access the Internet from my room as there isn't a way to route ethernet back there. Could I get anywhere near 1.5 MB/s by adding a good router? Also, what steps would I have to take to run a router off of a DSL router/modem combo?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[nigelivey]

If the second router is also a wireless access point it may have an access point mode within the gui, if not give it a fixed IP address on the same subnet as the first router and turn off DHCP, connect second router to the first using a LAN port each end. If you can, set the wifi on the second router on different channels to the wifi on the first router.

 

[Dizzydre21]

If the second router is also a wireless access point it may have an access point mode within the gui, if not give it a fixed IP address on the same subnet as the first router and turn off DHCP, connect second router to the first using a LAN port each end. If you can, set the wifi on the second router on different channels to the wifi on the first router.

First off, thanks for your reply. I am familiar with IP networking, but I am not clear on a few things. Do I need a router that is an acces or point or can I just set up any router that way? As far as giving the 2nd router a static IP, only the last octal is different from the first, correct? How would I go about getting the IP of the first router? I do not remember the brand of it, but the service is through CenturyLink in Denver and the router/modem combo is being rented through them. Lastly, should I even opt for an 802.11AC router if I am limited to DSL speeds?

 

[nigelivey]

You will need to look for a router that can be put in AP mode, most routers now support that as a function. If not, you can force any Wireless router into being just an AP by the steps given above. If you are connected to the CenturyLink router run ipconfig /all from a command prompt in windows and it will give you the IP address that has been issued to that machine. This will give you the correct range and mask to be used for the second router. I would take a guess that it will be 192.168.1.x 255.255.255.0 or 192.168.0.x 255.255.255.0 or may be even 10.0.0.x again with a /24 mask (255.255.255.0). How many devices are currently connected to the network? If the CenturyLink router is x.x.x.1 you could add the second one on a fixed IP of x.x.x.254 to be sure there is no conflicts with other devices, presuming you don't have any other reserved addresses (not given by DHCP). Wireless AC is a mixed bag, if you require high throughput between AC enabled devices then why not, it does however uses more channels on the 5Ghz spectrum. Is the wireless environment congested??

 

[Dizzydre21]

There are 2 laptops, one desktop, and 3 mobile phones that will be on the network. They will not be used all at once though I was thinking I'd keep my stuff (laptop, desktop, and phone) on my network and everything else on the modem/router combo.

 

[nigelivey]

There are 2 laptops, one desktop, and 3 mobile phones that will be on the network. They will not be used all at once though I was thinking I'd keep my stuff (laptop, desktop, and phone) on my network and everything else on the modem/router combo.

It was only relevant to what to set the fixed IP of the second router at. Can you access the CenturyLink router?

 

[Dizzydre21]

I will be home in 20 minutes to try and set it up. Just bought a Linksys WRT1200ac

 

[Dizzydre21]

Will I need to have a wired connection from my laptop to the router to set it up or can I do it wirelessly? I only have one ethernet cable and need it for the router to router/modem connection

 

[nigelivey]

Will I need to have a wired connection from my laptop to the router to set it up or can I do it wirelessly? I only have one ethernet cable and need it for the router to router/modem connection

OK once you get in the gui, try and put it in bridge mode. The DHCP and NAT options should then disappear and you just connect the two routers but in this case use the yellow "Internet" port to connect back to a LAN port on the CenturyLink. Set your SSID etc and you should be set.

 

[nigelivey]

Will I need to have a wired connection from my laptop to the router to set it up or can I do it wirelessly? I only have one ethernet cable and need it for the router to router/modem connection

Yes you will need a patch cable. You will also need to know the default IP of the Linksys (should be on the back of the router) and you might need to change your laptop or PC's IP settings to be on the same subnet as the router in order to access the GUI. DHCP might be enabled by default on this model I cant be sure.

 

[Dizzydre21]

Will I need to have a wired connection from my laptop to the router to set it up or can I do it wirelessly? I only have one ethernet cable and need it for the router to router/modem connection

OK once you get in the gui, try and put it in bridge mode. The DHCP and NAT options should then disappear and you just connect the two routers but in this case use the yellow "Internet" port to connect back to a LAN port on the CenturyLink. Set your SSID etc and you should be set.

Does the router or the modem need to be in bridge mode?

 

[nigelivey]

Will I need to have a wired connection from my laptop to the router to set it up or can I do it wirelessly? I only have one ethernet cable and need it for the router to router/modem connection

OK once you get in the gui, try and put it in bridge mode. The DHCP and NAT options should then disappear and you just connect the two routers but in this case use the yellow "Internet" port to connect back to a LAN port on the CenturyLink. Set your SSID etc and you should be set.

Does the router or the modem need to be in bridge mode?

Your new Linksys!

 

[Dizzydre21]

I was able to set up the router in bridge mode, affectively using it only as an access point. Getting speeds up to 2.5MB/s on steam downloads now. Thanks for the help!

 

[nigelivey]

I was able to set up the router in bridge mode, affectively using it only as an access point. Getting speeds up to 2.5MB/s on steam downloads now. Thanks for the help!

No problem glad you got it sorted