LAN to LAN connection - 5 routers

[elr412]

Hi everyone. I have set up multiple routers with the same network to extend wireless coverage at home since it has so many levels and walls but I'm not entirely sure if I did the right thing. Here's the set up:

ISP MODEM ROUTER
192.168.1.254
DHCP: ON

ROUTER 1/SSID 1
192.168.1.1
DHCP OFF

ROUTER 2/SSID 2
192.168.1.2
DHCP OFF

ROUTER 1/SSID 3
192.168.1.3
DHCP OFF

ROUTER 4/SSID 4
192.168.1.4
DHCP OFF

ROUTER 5/SSID 5
192.168.1.5
DHCP OFF

Routers 1 to 4 are connected to the ISP Modem Router via ethernet cable and Router 5 is over to the Router 4. 1. Is there something wrong with this set up? Does it matter if one router connects to the other router and not necessarily from the main ISP modem router?

2. Routers Wifi range somewhat overlap to each other so should I change each channel as well?
3. Is there any difference if I switch to LAN to WAN? I'm not actually familiar with this set up but my friend told me that LAN to WAN is much easier. Not sure though.

I'm not really familiar with the networking stuff but I just checked some tutorials online. Your help is highly appreciated.

 

[bill001g]

What you are doing is running the router as a AP. You would think a actual AP would be cheaper but because of supply and demand you can get inexpensive routers cheaper.

You do need to be concerned about the radio channel selection because the device likely overlap a lot...unless you have turned down the transmit power if that is even a option on your router. Selection of channels though is not easy since the new protocols use so much bandwidth. Using 802.11ac for example uses 4 of the 9 available "channels" so you can only get 2 devices without having to reuse the radio bandwidth.

In general it is best to cable it back to the main router but because wifi is slow compared to the ethernet cabling it mostly does not matter how you have it cabled together.

You do not want to use the WAN port on the router unless it has a AP feature...which more or less makes it into another lan port. If you run it as a router you will have multiple networks in your house which can cause issues with things like file sharing.

 

[elr412]

You do not want to use the WAN port on the router unless it has a AP feature...which more or less makes it into another lan port. If you run it as a router you will have multiple networks in your house which can cause issues with things like file sharing.

Thanks for your input bill001g. So my current set up is totally fine especially in terms of multi media file sharing within the house.

Another question. We have rental property next to our house and I haven't set up the internet yet. Unfortunately, all these routers I have already set up are unable to reach the property so I'm planning to connect another one. Is it possible to set up LAN to WAN since I want the property to have its own network? But I will run an ethernet cable from my 5th router to the new router. Thanks

 

[bill001g]

It only appears to have its own network. Since its wan port has a IP on your main network all the machines will just share that ip and still have access to your main network. You might be able to put in firewall limits on that router that blocks access but there is no way to actually have multiple networks using consumer grade equipment.