Can I add a second wireless router to my home network to get extended range?

Question

How would I set it up?

Answer 1

You can also get whats called a repeater. This repeats the mac address of the router. You would put the mac address of your wireless router into it (You would find this off the router or the manual) and it would then repeat that signal for the range capable of the repeater. I have done this on my home network and it worked effectively

Answer 2

Not a *router* but an access-point.  You can make a router act like an access-point by configuring the wireless-security/SSID/etc. and then disabling DHCP before connecting it to the main router with a LAN port (DO NOT use the WAN/Uplink/Modem port or it won't work right).

If you don't yet have the second router, here are some other suggestions that may be cheaper/easier (including your idea):

Put your wireless router as high up as you can and as far from electrical and metal things as you can, that'll give you the best coverage.  Try to put it in the middle of where you expect to be (usually the middle of the house).  If you have 2.4GHz cordless phones you may want to replace them with 5.8GHz, 900MHz, or the new DECT6.0 phones that won't cause interference.  Also, wireless video senders, or wireless cameras that run on 2.4GHz should be set to the farthest channel from your router (e.g. set video sender to 1 or A and put the router on channel 11).  Channels 1, 6, and 11 are preferable because they don't "overlap" with each other.

A few routers support replacing the antennas with either directional or high-gain antennas, sometimes that works, sometimes not.  I've found it's usually hard to find out if the replacment antenna will be comptible though.

If you really need more range after positioning your router as best you can, some companies sell "WiFi Repeaters" that re-transmit the information stronger to boost the signal.  If you can run wires to (or near) the location where you have weak signal, get an "Access Point" or a router that can be configured as an access point (a second router would cause problems) and set it to the same SSID (name) and Encryption key (security) - then computers will pick whichever is strongest.

I suppose you could always try making one of these, it will decrease the range on one side but increase range wherever it's pointed.  I was able to get from 60 up to 85 percent in my basement.  For free...well ok, a sheet of cooking foil, some glue, and cardstock or photopaper...it's worth a try!

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/tem...

Even if it doesn't help, it sure looks cool :)