how to set up 2 routers in one home?

[joshsalgado]

So Im going to be building a gaming rig and putting it in a bedroom across the house, my question is will they interfere with eachother or is it no big deal? I dont want to put a wireless card in ao that is why Ill be getting another router. Modems are Motorola SB6121 and the modem I have in my living room is a netgear WNDR3700v.2 and I was wanting to get a netgear WNDR4300 for my room. will there be any issues? wifi wise? they will be about 30' apart. Thanks in advance!

 

[USAFRet]

If it's going to be fully wired, then you need a switch, not another router.

 

[smitbret]

Are you saying that you want to use the 2nd router to receive the wireless signal and then connect the PC to the network by cabling it to the 2nd router?

That means the 2nd router needs to be set up as a wireless bridge. Just flash the WNDR3400 with DD-WRT and set it to bridge mode. Use the 3700 as the main router.

 

[SirSub42]

Another option would to be purchase a cheap wifi extender. This essentially does what smitbret suggested, but is cheaper than purchasing a WNDR4300. The extender will connect to your existing wireless network, and allow you to connect a wired connection for your new gaming rig. Best of luck to you whichever route you decide - Sub

 

[joshsalgado]

Thanks guys I think what I will do as @USAFret suggested and put a 5 port Gb switch in living room for PS3 and XBOX and put the router in my room with a new moto sb6121. Thanks guys!

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks guys I think what I will do as @USAFret suggested and put a 5 port Gb switch in living room for PS3 and XBOX and put the router in my room with a new moto sb6121. Thanks guys!

Wait...that might not work as you think. And not what what I said/meant.

The flow needs to be - Modem -> router -> switch -> devices.
The current main modem/router - is it a modem only, or modem + router? (How many ports are on the back?)

Everything else needs to depend off of that.

 

[joshsalgado]

Modem and router are seperate... so I do need modems and 2 routers then, as I do not want to run 30' cables through my home

 

[USAFRet]

Modem and router are seperate... so I do need modems and 2 routers then, as I do not want to run 30' cables through my home

No.
1 modem, 1 router (with WiFi?)
To distribute a wifi signal elsewhere, an Access Point midway between the router and the device.

What is happening is this:
Modem - Router -------------------------------------------------------------------------------PC (weak signal)

What needs to happen is:
Modem - Router ---------------------------Access Point/Repeater-----------------------PC (better signal)

You can usually turn a second router into an access point, but that means turning off most of its functionality. Why pay for functions you can't use?

 

[joshsalgado]

Yes router has wifi. My main reasoning for putting a router in my gaming room is for streaming and online gaming if I use a WAP I might aswell just install a wireless card, which i do not want to do.

 

[USAFRet]

Yes router has wifi. My main reasoning for putting a router in my gaming room is for streaming and online gaming if I use a WAP I might aswell just install a wireless card, which i do not want to do.

Well....you need a signal in two widely separated rooms. PC here, XBox there. On one account.

3 choices.
1. Ethernet cable
2. WiFI
3. Powerline

But everything needs to depend off the main router (DHCP, etc) wherever that may be, either via a wire or wifi.

 

[joshsalgado]

I appologize I dont think I was clear, sorry. In my living room I have cable going into my modem which is then connected to my router. in a seperate room I also have cable going into a modem and possibly a router. in essence it will be 2 seperate networks (I think) is there a problem with this setup? or will I run in to problems?

 

[USAFRet]

I appologize I dont think I was clear, sorry. In my living room I have cable going into my modem which is then connected to my router. in a seperate room I also have cable going into a modem and possibly a router. in essence it will be 2 seperate networks (I think) is there a problem with this setup? or will I run in to problems?

That will not work. Unless of course you've contracted with the ISP for two separate IP addresses. (Unlikely)

The ISP talks to one and only one modem. It has a public IP address. That then talks to a router. That router serves up multiple internal IP addresses. 192.168.1.xxx.

Two modems cannot talk to the ISP, unless you've specifically contracted for, and paid for, two IP addresses. No matter what the internal house wiring is.

 

[USAFRet]

If you've talked to the ISP, and are paying for 2 distinct IP addresses...then yes, that would work.
But that is unusual on a residential account.

 

[joshsalgado]

Ah Im pickin up what your puttin down. Then the smartest thing to do would be just to move the modem and router to new room, make xbox and ps3 wireless correct?

 

[USAFRet]

Ah Im pickin up what your puttin down. Then the smartest thing to do would be just to move the modem and router to new room, make xbox and ps3 wireless correct?

If they can get a good signal from that distance, yes.

And if the house coax wiring is pretty much direct from the new room/modem location back to the main distro box on the side of the house. I've seen some where the other rooms read off multiple splitters. Which is not good for having the main router there.
The modem/router needs to be as close to the main distro box on the side of the house as possible.

It all depends.

 

[joshsalgado]

Argh....... maybe just buy a high end wireless card then... sigh... or a higher end WAP...