Can i make a dual router setup in my home?

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sum12merkwith

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Jan 16, 2014
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I have a medialink router in my house right now and i want to get another for my own room specifically. I was considering a airport express, can i make a dual router setup with these two? or would that be an issue because its an apple product?
 
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Router: Takes the data connection from your service provider and routes it to the an internal network, usually providing some security functions and WiFi capability.
Access Point: A device that connects a wired network to wireless users. Most routers can perform without issue in access point only mode. Either with a native mode or by manual settings.
Repeater: takes a WiFi signal and rebroadcasts it to extend the range. They do work but should be avoided if possible because of throughput losses.

What you, the OP, are talking about should work just fine if you have a Ethernet cable where you want the Airport Router. It will just need to be configured in access point mode with the channel set so it doesn't interfere with other WiFi...
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nukemaster

nukemaster

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Having an extra router will not help performance on its own.

You can use such a setup to keep computers from seeing on another(you can also v-lan them to do similar)

If you are happy with the way things are now and just want another access point for your personal wireless devices, disable DHCP and that will effectively make the router a switch with a wireless bridge. You would connect from the first routers lan port to the airport express lan port and not to the WAN port.

The first router will deal with all the actual routing and giving system IP addresses and the second will act as a wireless access point for just your devices.

Apple routers use the same protocols as normal routers, they just have a different name on them and different firmware(the hardware inside may well be found in many other routers as well). So compatibility is not an issue.

If you want your devices to not see others on the main router(for what ever reason), you can leave everything as it is and just connect from LAN(first router) to WAN on the second router. Please note this means all packets have one extra hop(it should not cause any noticeable difference.).
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Once you dumb down a router enough to not conflict with the primary, that's all it is.

What you probably need to do is put the access point midway between the primary WiFI signal and your device. If you put it in the same room, it's getting the same crappy signal.

Crappy
router---------------------------------------------------------------------------PC

Just as crappy
router----------------------------------------------------------------------AP-PC

Better
router-------------------------------AP----------------------------------------PC
 
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sum12merkwith

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Jan 16, 2014
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Lets put in perspective, I live in a big house about 3000 SqFT. I have a medialink router downstairs for average use so guest and family can use. I would use the second one upstairs for the use of the gamers in the house (my brother and i) 2 xbox ones and my PC, i have my PC hooked up to ethernet. I want a get a new one for upstairs that would be a separate signal outside an AP. The signal isn't strong enough to make the access point any use. I just wanted to know if it was possible with apple's airport express with a medialink router
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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A router is generally the primary broadcast signal, as well as performing DHCP, DNS, and firewall functions. In a residential situation, you really only want one of these.
An access point merely rebroadcasts a WiFI signal.

Some APs are wireless only. They pick up a signal from a WiFi source and rebroadcast it.
Some also have a wired facility. RJ-45 into the AP, and then it rebroadcasts WiFi.

 
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sum12merkwith

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so could i just buy an airport express and wire it in through an ethernet cable and use that as an AP (router) upstairs in my house a another router? or does it need to have detectable signal from the main 'router'?

 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Not sure about the airport express. Never used one. You'd have to look through the documentation and see if it supports that function.
But if it does, yes.
 
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Pooneil

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Router: Takes the data connection from your service provider and routes it to the an internal network, usually providing some security functions and WiFi capability.
Access Point: A device that connects a wired network to wireless users. Most routers can perform without issue in access point only mode. Either with a native mode or by manual settings.
Repeater: takes a WiFi signal and rebroadcasts it to extend the range. They do work but should be avoided if possible because of throughput losses.

What you, the OP, are talking about should work just fine if you have a Ethernet cable where you want the Airport Router. It will just need to be configured in access point mode with the channel set so it doesn't interfere with other WiFi devices.
 
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