How do I properly cascade two linksys routers?

[torturedInsouciance]

I'm a total novice, so I apologize in advance! I followed instructions to set up a LAN-to-LAN cascade from this link:

http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.aspx?pid=80&vw=1&articleid=3733

I have two E4200 linksys wireless routers and successfully hooked them together for wired cascading. However, I got a little lost on how to set the wireless side of it. The intent is to seamlessly have wifi devices switch from one router to the other, depending on signal strength (is this even possible?)

I initially set the wireless settings for both routers to have the exact same SSID and password, but different channels (i.e. channel 1 for one, channel 7 for other). I thought this would be the way to have wifi devices auto-switch. This seemed to have worked initially, but after a few hours wifi does not work. The wired connections function fine.

So as of now, I have the two routers' SSIDs different. Wifi no longer malfunctions.. but I have to manually switch the wifi based on which one is stronger.

I'd like to have just one SSID for both routers.. is that possible?

 

[CaptainSTX]

Automatic/seamless roaming is not part of the WiFi standard when using SOHO grade routers. Commercial equipment with centralized AP management software can make it happen.

In your case, and for most people, using different SSIDs on non overlapping channels works best as you have proven.

Some people will tell you that using the same SSIDs works great for them, but that is a result more of their unique circumstances and luck than any particular settings.

 

[stevech]

Best to not cascade routers. That means the WAN port of one goes to the LAN port of the other.

Better to use an Access Point or a WiFi router reconfigured to behave as an Access point.

It's the common way to add or improve coverage.

Give each a unique SSID so that users can choose best-AP based on where they are; WiFi and 802.11 won't do that.

 

[KGB7]

Cascading is fine, but you need to use different ssid as it was mentioned above.

Using same channel is fine as well, as long as they are one of three: 1,6,11.

Both routers should have different lan IP range;
Router 1: 192.168.10.1
Router 2: 192.168.20.1

If your routers have the option AP mode, then set the second router as AP. This will prevent double NAT. But if you set it as AP, you will lose the function of lan ports.

Another way to avoid double NAT, is to add second router to DMZ in the first router. And by turning off the firewall on the second router

 

[sinshiva]

Router 1: 192.168.10.1
Router 2: 192.160.10.1

i know that ipv4 is essentially classless now, but 192.168/16 is still reserved for private use. this should be subnetted, not changed.

if you are unfamiliar with subnetting, just stick with /24 and use the third octet to create networks and leave the 4th octet for host addresses

 

[KGB7]

i know that ipv4 is essentially classless now, but 192.168/16 is still reserved for private use. this should be subnetted, not changed.

if you are unfamiliar with subnetting, just stick with /24 and use the third octet to create networks and leave the 4th octet for host addresses

You over thinking it and will confuse novice OP.

 

[htismaqe]

Stop speaking in Klingon. OP needs help, not a crucifixion. So please stop being a selfish know it all.
You continue to confuse novice members.

He's actually right about this one.

192.160.10.1 actually exists in the assignable range. In fact, it's assigned to Firebrand Networks, Ltd.

Using public address space on a private network is not a good idea, for several reasons. His recommendation of dividing the 192.168 address space into subnets is actually the best advice.

In fact, most residential routers default to a 24-bit mask (netmask 255.255.255.0) so it could be as simple as setting one router to 192.160.10.1 and the other to 192.160.20.1.

 

[KGB7]

He's actually right about this one.

192.160.10.1 actually exists in the assignable range. In fact, it's assigned to Firebrand Networks, Ltd.

Using public address space on a private network is not a good idea, for several reasons. His recommendation of dividing the 192.168 address space into subnets is actually the best advice.

In fact, most residential routers default to a 24-bit mask (netmask 255.255.255.0) so it could be as simple as setting one router to 192.160.10.1 and the other to 192.160.20.1.

It doesn't matter who it belongs to. OP is using it for his personal internal lan network.

I use same IP on one of the routers, and the world still spinning.

So quit creating an issue out of nothing!!

 

[htismaqe]

It doesn't matter who it belongs to. OP is using it for his personal internal lan network.

I use same IP on one of the routers, and the world still spinning.

So quit creating an issue out of nothing!!

It's a question of good Internet citizenship.

If you can't take something like that seriously, it undermines your credibility as someone who can legitimately provide solid advice.

I'm not trying to be a dick but this simply isn't "nothing". If everybody did this, it could become a potentially big deal. In the past I've had to broker a dispute between a Fortune 50 financial institution and the United States Air Force because one or the other party didn't feel like following RFC 1918.

 

[thiggins]

Cleaned up thread

I have corrected the post that caused controversy and removed posts related to it.

 

[roldogg]

I have cascading routers right now, and since I just bought through AC87R, I'm trying to figure out how I should incorporate my Netgear R7000 into my network. Just set your primary router up as usual. Set your 2nd router to AP mode and give it a static IP address that falls within range of the primary DHCP settings. I used 192.168.1.2 so anything that connects to my AP (the 2nd router) can see everything else on the network. Also set a static IP on your primary router using the MAC address and the IP address you choose. I'm also using the same SSID for my 2.4Ghz and my 5Ghz network so if I'm roaming around the house, it'll automatically switch to the 2nd router as you get closer to it instead of having to change networks. It's similar to driving down the interstate and you cell phone automatically switching towers to the one producing a higher signal. When you hook up the 2nd router, be sure you connect your cable into one of the LAN ports on your router, not the WAN port, which is how your primary router is connected to your modem. If you hook iron into your WAN port, it'll assign a different IP address, usually the Linksys routers pick an IP address that starts with the number 10. If it's hooked into the WAN port and gets assigned an IP address, it'll be on a different subnet so you won't be able to communicate to anything on your other network.

 

[roldogg]

I'm using "cascade" since most people read about doing this online, then they want to do it, but what they usually want to do is hook up an additional router to use on their network, or have an Access Point.

 

[roldogg]

Cascading is fine, but you need to use different ssid as it was mentioned above.

Using same channel is fine as well, as long as they are one of three: 1,6,11.

Both routers should have different lan IP range;
Router 1: 192.168.10.1
Router 2: 192.168.20.1

If your routers have the option AP mode, then set the second router as AP. This will prevent double NAT. But if you set it as AP, you will lose the function of lan ports.

Another way to avoid double NAT, is to add second router to DMZ in the first router. And by turning off the firewall on the second router

I'm using my LAN ports on my AP.

 

[roldogg]

I'm a total novice, so I apologize in advance! I followed instructions to set up a LAN-to-LAN cascade from this link:

http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.aspx?pid=80&vw=1&articleid=3733

I have two E4200 linksys wireless routers and successfully hooked them together for wired cascading. However, I got a little lost on how to set the wireless side of it. The intent is to seamlessly have wifi devices switch from one router to the other, depending on signal strength (is this even possible?)

I initially set the wireless settings for both routers to have the exact same SSID and password, but different channels (i.e. channel 1 for one, channel 7 for other). I thought this would be the way to have wifi devices auto-switch. This seemed to have worked initially, but after a few hours wifi does not work. The wired connections function fine.

So as of now, I have the two routers' SSIDs different. Wifi no longer malfunctions.. but I have to manually switch the wifi based on which one is stronger.

I'd like to have just one SSID for both routers.. is that possible?

See my post. I've been using mine for a couple of years and never had any problems. I've also done it using the EA4200 Linksys "smart router." Linksys says it's so smart that it'll configure itself once you plug it into another router, assigning it an IP starting with the number 10, but I figured out it works better if you do it manually. Be sure to disable DHCP on the 2nd router and assign it a static IP address. Once you have them setup, the "smart apps" from Linksys that you can use to see your network with no longer wotk. They might on the primary router, but if you try accessing the settings on the 2nd router, it'll just direct you to the website to login to the router.