Multiple routers

[Delirium]

I'm having a bit of trouble hooking up multiple routers so I have better coverage over the entire house. I set the first router to act as the DHCP and I disabled it on the second. I changed the IP on the second router so it wouldn't interfere with the first router. I set two different channels so the two routers wouldn't interfere with one another. I set the gateway on the second as the IP of the first router.

After all this and I finally plug the 1st router into the 2nd, the 2nd router hangs and I need to reset it to factory defaults to be able to access it. Am I missing something?

[Wiley]

How are you plugging the second one into the first?  WAN on the 2nd to one of the LAN ports on the first?

[Delirium]

Correct, one of the LAN ports on the first to the WAN port on the 2nd router.

A long time ago, I ran the cable from my first router to a wall plate in the kitchen as my wife likes to do her medical charting from there. Now, she wants to do it wireless so I was able to get a hold of a 2nd router for better wireless signal. I really thought the hook up would be easy (I've done it before) but the 2nd router locks up.

[Krusty]

I had to do a combination of things like that with a wired and a wireless....

I found some problems with the individual routers and how they would be picky about certain things. I got around some of the problems by NOT using the "WAN" slot, but by connecting the router that was acting as a "switch" directly to one of its data ports. This also bypassed that particular router wanting to firewall all the data.

It may or may not work. Long story short: It was a pain in the behind. I recently replaced both with a single unit that does what I need and it's easier than fiddling.

If you need, pick up a dirt cheap "switch" -- not a port, not a hub. It has no DHCP, it won't split IPs, it just passes data and the router controls it all. Use it as your second device.

[bbosen]

Krusty has it right. If you add a switch as he suggests at the end of his post, you'll also need to add a "Wireless Access Point" (or you could JUST add the Wireless Access Point). It shouldn't be too hard, but there are a lot of little variables that can get in the way of success. I created some brief, video-clip-based training for this exact situation last year. Take a look here:

http://www.askmisterwizard.com/EZINE/AdvancedNetworkingSection/Architectures/AdvancedWirelessEnterpriseArchitectures/AdvancedWirelessEnterpriseArchitecturesP2FullPage.htm

If you click on the link named "PREVIOUS" from that page and then click on "2 Routers in Series?", you'll see an explanation of what Krusty is talking about where you bypass the router section of the second WiFi device. If you just go forward through the clips on the referenced page, you'll see an explanation of Krusty's other approach (which you have been attempting) in which your 2nd Router creates a second, new subnet.

One other clip that you might find helpful: This one will lead you through all of the steps generally needed whenever you want to add a new device into your LAN:

http://www.askmisterwizard.com/EZINE/AdvancedNetworkingSection/Architectures/AdvancedWirelessEnterpriseArchitectures/AdvancedWirelessEnterpriseArchitecturesP6FullPage.htm

I hope this helps!
 

[Krusty]

Above and beyond, bbosen! 

[Soulyss]

You can also look at a company called Luxul.  They make routers and amplified WAP's,  it's not cheap but depending on the size of the area you need to cover and how many routers or access points you need it may be worth looking at.

www.luxul.com

[katanaso]

After all this and I finally plug the 1st router into the 2nd, the 2nd router hangs and I need to reset it to factory defaults to be able to access it. Am I missing something?

Can you access it if you plug a PC into it after giving the PC an IP on the same subnet?  Network issues may prevent it from responding to ping or telnet through the wireless, but it shouldn't hang and require factory defaults to access it when hardwired.