I'm trying to extend my wireless signal into my backyard. When I position my router (Netgear MR814v2) to reach all rooms in the house, the backyard is beyond range. So I added a second router (another Netgear MR814v2) with one of its LAN ports wired via Ethernet to a LAN port on the first router. The WAN port on the second router is unused. The second router sits next to a window facing the backyard and is on a different channel than the first router. It seems to work but I'm wondering if anyone sees problems I'm overlooking. So now I can roam anywhere within the house and pick up a strong signal from Router #1 on my notebook. When I go outside into the backyard, I tell the client radio to connect using the SSID of Router #2 and I also get a strong signal. Here's how I configured the routers:
Router #1
--------- Get dynamic IP and DNS addresses from ISP Use Router as DHCP Server Router IP Address 192.168.0.1 Channel 11
Router #2
--------- Static IP Address IP 192.168.0.50 Mask 255.255.255.0 Gateway 192.168.0.1
DNS servers (got these using ipconfig /all)
65.83.241.181 67.32.118.46Router IP Address 192.168.0.100 uncheck Use Router as DHCP Server (not a DHCP server) Channel 1
all other settings at default
On the client end, I'm using a low cost Zonet ZEW2501 usb adapter. Everything seems to work if I use static addresses on Router #2. At first I thought I could let those be assigned automatically but that doesn't seem to work. Is that because I need to use Router #1's IP as the Gateway for Router #2? I hope I don't run into trouble by using a static DNS address. Is the DNS address likely to change (I have cable Internet service)? I hope I'm asking sensible questions. Setting things up has been sort of like looking into a mirror backwards :)
I'd appreciate ideas from anyone doing something similar.
My next step is to improve the antennas on Router #2 and the client radios using some great suggestions from Jeff Liebermann and others posting here.
Bruce