Help please using a second router as access point

[B1ll]

Help please been trying to set up a second router its a EE SH20A in my garage as a wifi access point connected to my BT smart hub 2 via ethernet cable. Been trying for two days not really tech minded followed all the internet help still cant sort it  any help in plain english would be much appreciated .

                                                          Thanks B1ll

[FLC]

Just buy a cheap WAP & do it properly. No idea why people still persist with this bodge.

[WSH]

Basically, you are connecting the two together LAN port to LAN port.  (Do not try to use the WAN ports).

Essentially, you can't have two routers in a network and you can't have two DHCPs, so the trick is to turn everything off on the second router except for the wireless functions.  If the wireless is still turned on in the SH2, it would also be a good idea to set the other router to use different channels, so they don't interfere with the Smart Hub.  For the 2.4GHz stick to channels 1, 6 and 11.  (If the channels in between are available, be aware they will cause adjacent channel interference, so avoid them).

You also need to give the second "router" a static IP address in the same network as the SH2.  (Anything up to 64 will do, such as 192.168.1.50).

[licquorice]

@FLC  It's not a bodge at all. It's a perfectly good way to re-purpose an unused spare router. Why buy a cheap WAP when you have a free router.

@B1ll  This has been documented countless times on the forum.

[FLC]

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@licquoricewrote:

@FLC  It's not a bodge at all. It's a perfectly good way to re-purpose an unused spare router. Why buy a cheap WAP when you have a free router.

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Two words, double NAT, which then takes more complexity with DMZ. Given the OP's lack of knowledge, that's likely another hurdle.

It's like never buying spanners because you already own a pair of pliers. With a degree of knowledge & using great care, the pliers will do the job. But a spanner just works...

[WSH]

Double NAT is not involved, as the router/firewall functions are not used.  Likewise, any DMZ. 

A wireless access point (WAP) is already inside your network.  What protects it from people breaking in is the use of a good, long and complex password.  Unfortunately, what most of the public think is a secure password leaves a lot to be desired.

[licquorice]

@FLC oh dear, there is no double NAT when configured as a wap.

Not sure you're in a position to comment on the OP's lack of networking knowledge.

[B1ll]

l have wifi, but three story house and wifi on ground floor is poor thats why l have hard wired the second router but cant seem to configure it, need it on the same network and password so to get seamless wifi.

[WSH]

Have you read my post in message 3?

Yes, you can use the same network name (SSID) and password but you need to use different channels to avoid them talking across one another.

If it still doesn't work perhaps you could be clearer about what you have tried so far.

[licquorice]

@B1ll  No you don't, switching between the routers will be exactly the same whether you use the same iD and password or not.. As long as your device has the network and password stored, it will just switch to the second router. In fact it is better to have a different name and password as you can manually switch to it if your device decides to hang on to a weak signal rather than switching to a strong signal. 

It will only be truly seamless by using a mesh system which controls the handoff between nodes.

Forget giving the second router the same wifi name and password,  disable DHCP on it, set its IP address to 192.168.1.50 and if needed Gateway to 192.168.1.254 and join the 2 routers LAN port to LAN port. Very simple.