Using 2 routers?

lbrtdy · 06-06-2009, 01:42 PM

I'm not sure this is the correct way to go about this, but this is the situation. I live in a house that is right next to a restaurant which I own. Having the router in one corner of the house next to my desktop and connecting to it via Cat5 would give great service to my desktop, but can't access wireless network at the restaurant. But when I move the router over to the other side of the house, I get decent reception at restaurant, but I would have to hook up my wireless dongle for desktop (which i don't like because it sometimes causes hung shutdowns). So, I was wondering if it is possible to have 1 router on one side of the room connected to the modem, so it gives decent reception to the restaurant, and then have my desktop on the other side of the house connected to a second router via cat5, which connects to the first router via wireless? That way I hope to over come the usb dongle hung shutdown problem.. Is this at all feasible? The routers that I have are a Linksys wrt54g and netgear wnr834b. I currently don't mind which router where the location of the routers should be, left or right side of the house it doesn't matter. Any downsides of doing this? Thanks!

**Net Jockey** · 06-06-2009, 04:21 PM

Just place your router on the side of the house...that works for your restaurant...and run the cables to each computer...or wirelessly connect to each computer...what ever of the combinations that will work...or is that to easy ?

lbrtdy · 06-07-2009, 02:35 PM

Well that's the thing, I can't really run cables to each computer having the router on one side of the house, as that would make my clumsy self more likely to trip over it ^^. and wireless works, but trying to avoid that because the usb adapter for my desktop causes hung shutdown problems. Was really hoping to utilize 2 routers since I have them lying around.. :p

**Net Jockey** · 06-07-2009, 06:11 PM

Would you not have to run cables...to make two routers work?

**lorjack** · 06-07-2009, 07:43 PM

To do that the two routers would have to support a wireless bridge mode. Here is a guide on how to do it with DDWRT, it probably won't be the same for you but this will just give you an idea on what you have to do to set it up.
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials...le.php/3639271

You could always just buy a new wireless card too.

**johnwill** · 06-08-2009, 09:50 AM

If your wireless adapter isn't receiving on the other side of the house, it's likely the wireless bridge won't either.

lbrtdy · 06-08-2009, 11:50 PM

thank you lorjack, it just so happens that I own a Linksys WRT54G, and I just flashed it to DD WRT :) now reading up your guide on how to do it. Thanks you! :) And @johnwill, the router receives like 100% at other side of house, just not at the restaurant which is a good 100 feet or so away and 4 walls.

06-06-2009, 01:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
lbrtdy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 29 OS: XP	Using 2 routers? I'm not sure this is the correct way to go about this, but this is the situation. I live in a house that is right next to a restaurant which I own. Having the router in one corner of the house next to my desktop and connecting to it via Cat5 would give great service to my desktop, but can't access wireless network at the restaurant. But when I move the router over to the other side of the house, I get decent reception at restaurant, but I would have to hook up my wireless dongle for desktop (which i don't like because it sometimes causes hung shutdowns). So, I was wondering if it is possible to have 1 router on one side of the room connected to the modem, so it gives decent reception to the restaurant, and then have my desktop on the other side of the house connected to a second router via cat5, which connects to the first router via wireless? That way I hope to over come the usb dongle hung shutdown problem.. Is this at all feasible? The routers that I have are a Linksys wrt54g and netgear wnr834b. I currently don't mind which router where the location of the routers should be, left or right side of the house it doesn't matter. Any downsides of doing this? Thanks! Last edited by lbrtdy; 06-06-2009 at 01:44 PM.

06-06-2009, 04:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Net Jockey TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Deroche BC. Canada Posts: 565 OS: XP Pro sp 3 My System	Re: Using 2 routers? Just place your router on the side of the house...that works for your restaurant...and run the cables to each computer...or wirelessly connect to each computer...what ever of the combinations that will work...or is that to easy ?

06-07-2009, 02:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
lbrtdy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 29 OS: XP	Re: Using 2 routers? Well that's the thing, I can't really run cables to each computer having the router on one side of the house, as that would make my clumsy self more likely to trip over it ^^. and wireless works, but trying to avoid that because the usb adapter for my desktop causes hung shutdown problems. Was really hoping to utilize 2 routers since I have them lying around.. :p

06-07-2009, 06:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Net Jockey TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Deroche BC. Canada Posts: 565 OS: XP Pro sp 3 My System	Re: Using 2 routers? Would you not have to run cables...to make two routers work?

06-07-2009, 07:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
lorjack TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 2,205 OS: Windows 2K, XP Pro sp3, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Ubuntu	Re: Using 2 routers? To do that the two routers would have to support a wireless bridge mode. Here is a guide on how to do it with DDWRT, it probably won't be the same for you but this will just give you an idea on what you have to do to set it up. http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials...le.php/3639271 You could always just buy a new wireless card too. __________________ Those who can't write, write manuals. Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you...

06-08-2009, 09:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Using 2 routers? If your wireless adapter isn't receiving on the other side of the house, it's likely the wireless bridge won't either. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

06-08-2009, 11:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
lbrtdy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 29 OS: XP	Re: Using 2 routers? thank you lorjack, it just so happens that I own a Linksys WRT54G, and I just flashed it to DD WRT :) now reading up your guide on how to do it. Thanks you! :) And @johnwill, the router receives like 100% at other side of house, just not at the restaurant which is a good 100 feet or so away and 4 walls.