Question Can I connect a router to another router to boost Wi-Fi but also retain the hardline it's connected to?

[TheRealAlice]

I have a modem provided by my Telcom provider that I need to use, that modem is then connected to my router providing internet to the router. The router then provides Wi-Fi and a bunch of wired connections to all the devices in my house.

One of those hardlines coming from my router goes to the other end of the house where the Wi-Fi is weak. I want to boost the Wi-Fi in that part of the house by connecting either a booster or another router to that hardline coming from my original router. But I also want to retain the hardline.

So, for example, I want a hardline to connect to my Nvidia shield for streaming stability but I also want Wi-Fi to be boosted for my phone or tablet in that area. Right now I have the hardline but the Wi-Fi sucks as it's to far from my router and it's not practical to move my router closer.

What's the best way to do this? Another router connected to that hardline? A Wi-Fi booster? Ideally I would think to split the hardline going to that area and have 2 lines: 1 going to the Shield and one going to a Wi-Fi booster or router.

Some advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Alice

 

[bill001g]

What you are looking for is called a AP. Many so called "booster", "repeater","mesh" devices can do this but it is much simpler to just get a inexpensive router that has AP mode. Almost any router can run as a AP even those that do not have a special feature.

Using a router also solves your other problem of wanting more ethernet ports.

In effect when you run a router as a AP it functions as a dumb switch that also has wifi radios. It is not really that simplistic but that is how it will appear to function.

If you have a extra old router I would try that first. If not just find something rather inexpensive. Now if you want something like wifi6e then the router will be more costly but you can still avoid the really expensive brands since you are only using the radio function and none of the other features many of these expensive routers have.

 

[TheRealAlice]

What you are looking for is called a AP. Many so called "booster", "repeater","mesh" devices can do this but it is much simpler to just get a inexpensive router that has AP mode. Almost any router can run as a AP even those that do not have a special feature.

Using a router also solves your other problem of wanting more ethernet ports.

In effect when you run a router as a AP it functions as a dumb switch that also has wifi radios. It is not really that simplistic but that is how it will appear to function.

If you have a extra old router I would try that first. If not just find something rather inexpensive. Now if you want something like wifi6e then the router will be more costly but you can still avoid the really expensive brands since you are only using the radio function and none of the other features many of these expensive routers have.

Thanks Bill, not to repeat what you said exactly but just so I got it right; I basically get a cheap router that has AP mode, connect it to the hardline coming off my original router, and then I'll have access to the same Wi-Fi network as the original router, but in that area of the house. So same password, same wireless network as the rest of the house (from my main router).

Likewise, I can have hardlines coming off the 2nd router going to whatever devices in that area and it will look like it's just connected to the main router.

Is that correct?

As far as the extra hardlines go, will that cause problems for my original router, if it sees I have more hardline connections then the router has ports for? I'm using the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000.

 

[bill001g]

You can set the SSID & passwords the same or different depending on what you want. It is all the same network no matter what name ie SSID you put on it. There are advantages and disadvantages for both options.

The main router does not really care how many devices are hooked to any port. There is some total limit to the number of devices but it is likely many hundreds if not thousands of devices.

The only limitation is all the devices in the remote room are going to share the same 1gbit cable back to your main router. This tends to not matter for most people. If you had say 5gbit internet then you would need multiple cables so more devices could run at gigabit speeds. But again almost nobody even comes close to using 1gbit so it will work fine for you.

 

[TheRealAlice]

You can set the SSID & passwords the same or different depending on what you want. It is all the same network no matter what name ie SSID you put on it. There are advantages and disadvantages for both options.

The main router does not really care how many devices are hooked to any port. There is some total limit to the number of devices but it is likely many hundreds if not thousands of devices.

The only limitation is all the devices in the remote room are going to share the same 1gbit cable back to your main router. This tends to not matter for most people. If you had say 5gbit internet then you would need multiple cables so more devices could run at gigabit speeds. But again almost nobody even comes close to using 1gbit so it will work fine for you.

I think 1g bandwidth will be more then fine, it's streaming in 4k on the TV and then like browsing on the phone at the same time. Great, seems clear enough, I'll do that. Thank you

 

[TheRealAlice]

I think 1g bandwidth will be more then fine, it's streaming in 4k on the TV and then like browsing on the phone at the same time. Great, seems clear enough, I'll do

What you are looking for is called a AP. Many so called "booster", "repeater","mesh" devices can do this but it is much simpler to just get a inexpensive router that has AP mode. Almost any router can run as a AP even those that do not have a special feature.

Using a router also solves your other problem of wanting more ethernet ports.

In effect when you run a router as a AP it functions as a dumb switch that also has wifi radios. It is not really that simplistic but that is how it will appear to function.

If you have a extra old router I would try that first. If not just find something rather inexpensive. Now if you want something like wifi6e then the router will be more costly but you can still avoid the really expensive brands since you are only using the radio function and none of the other features many of these expensive routers have.

Just following up that this worked like a charm. I got a 2nd cheap ASUS modem and actually just enabled it as a node in Asus AiMesh and it works great. Couldn't be more plug and play; the main router set everything up and my devices automatically switch to the stronger signal as I move around the house. Thanks again.