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Weak Wireless Signal - Add SECOND router as Wireless Bridge/AP/Extender?

SETUP AND EQUIPMENT:
Office (home): basement (finished)
Desktop: hard-wired LAN cable
Other Devices: wireless (iPad, laptops, iPhones, etc.)
ISP: Comcast/Xfinity with "Blast" speed
Modem (personal not rented): Arris/Motorola SB6190 DOCSIS 3.0 (1 month old)
Wireless Router: Linksys EA7300 - dual band (1 month old)
SPARE Wireless Router (not in use YET): Linksys EA6500 dual band

BACKGROUND INFO
I recently bought and moved into a pretty good size 3 level house (3,500+ sqft) with a finished basement, main floor, and upstairs.

Up until now, I WAS always getting really good signal and fast downloads (80-90Mbps) via wireless anywhere in my home in the last 3 places I rented.

Now, at my new place, it's as if the wireless doesn't work, even though I have FULL bars/signal on my devices. Basically, it's hit or miss, and not consistent.

FYI...Everything seems just fine hard-wired with my desktop (Speed Tests are 80ish Mbps)

QUESTION
What is the best way/mode to use my two routers via wireless (I don't have the option to run a LAN cable between them)?

I want to use my 2 wireless routers: Linksys EA7300 and SPARE Linksys Router (EA6500) to "boost" my signal by putting it either on my main floor or upstairs.

1) Which Router should be upstairs as the "booster" and which one should be in my office, in the basement, connected to the cable modem? Basically, should the newer/better one (EA7300) vs the older spare (EA6500)?

2) Which mode should I use given my 2 routers  I have?
EA7300 has 2 options in the firmware: "Wireless Bridge" and Wireless Extender"
EA6500 has "Bridge" mode. I know sometimes vendors aren't clear in what they call it vs what it does.

Thank you!
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Yes. Just make sure the Wireless router is top quality.
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I appreciate the recommendations, but like I said I have my office and modem in the basement with a desktop that's needs to be hard wired. I work from home often and cant afford unpredictable internet nor do I want to install/ use wireless on my desktop. At least I'm good hard-wired for that side of things. I don't have the option of moving my modem and wireless router to another floor. Or the ability to run a LAN cable given all walls and ceilings are finished (without a lot of work and expense, cutting holes in walls, etc.)

I'll give your wifi analyzer tool a shot and see what I can find.
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@Ramin: Isn't the "bridged router" supposed to be the one NOT connected to the modem? Unless I am wrong and misunderstand how it works....


I did the scan. Looks like there is A TON of network traffic/signals from neighbors, etc. (15+) that I was able to pickup with Acrylic.
However, I used my wife's laptop, which is NOT AC, so I only picked up 2.4 signals. The majority of them were on channel 6. At the time
of the scan I ran, I WAS on channel 9. I have since changed to channel 7 as I didn't see any others on channel 7. It has helped a bit, but not
"night and day" difference.

I ran the scan for about 45mins, changing rooms every so often, and doing all 3 floor in my house (basement, main, upstairs) to get a more
accurate scan and average. UNFORTUNATELY, just as I was doing a screenshot, the laptop shut off (low battery) so I was unable to post it into here (let me know if you think it will make a big difference by posting; and I'll try to do another one to post).

Bottom, like, I want to use my second router. I'm 90% there, but then I keep getting stuck, as after I put my router in "wireless bridged" mode, I look connectivity, even if I "statically assign" an IP PRIOR. From what I have read and researched, it usually "auto-assigns" itself an IP, you just have to figure out what that "NEW IP" is...

This is where I am stuck. I cannot figure out the IP, to get back into the router. I have looking at the route table on my "Main/primary" router to see if I can match the MAC. I have tried doing some "ARP Commands" to match the MAC --> IP, but no luck so far.

The one thing I have NOT done yet, is plug my second (bridge mode) router into a LAN port on my primary router, and see if I can get an IP that way.

Guys, any other ideas? I am STUCK!
You can try your last step but I thought you needed more range.

Connect a LAN port of the second router into a LAN port on the main router.
Log into the second router and give it a Static IP address on your network.
Turn DHCP OFF on the second router.

That will connect it.
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Ramin

Below settings can give you Maximum range with no overlap.

802.11 Mode: 802.11 N
Frequency: 2.4 GHz
Band Width: 20 MHz
Wireless channel: CH11


Isn't the "bridged router" supposed to be the one NOT connected to the modem?
Correct,

Useful link.
https://www.hanselman.com/blog/ConfiguringTwoWirelessRoutersWithOneSSIDNetworkNameAtHomeForFreeRoaming.aspx
FYI... I have since swapped around the routers, as I could NOT see a way to get the Linksys EA6500 to operate in WIRELESS bridged mode (just bridged mode). However, my Linksys EA7300 DOES have wireless bridged mode.

COMCAST--->MODEM(SB6190)--->Router-01(Linksys EA6500)<----->WIRELESS CONNECTION<----->Router-02(Linksys EA7300 - Wireless Bridge)

I referenced this Linksys Doc on their site (for the EA7300 - Wireless Bridged Mode Setup):
https://www.linksys.com/ca/support-article?articleNum=141083

So, the only way I was able to figure out the IP address of the second router was to plug it into one of my main router's LAN ports.
I then had to look at the main router's "route table" (under troubleshooting) to get the IP (ended up being 192.168.1.237), even though I statically assigned
192.168.1.2 PRIOR (*see below). Main router being 192.168.1.1

If you guys have any ideas how to set a Static IP, please let me know, that would help a lot and save a lot of time. I was thinking I may just need
to setup a "DHCP Reservation" for it on my main router (unless there's a better way?).

*TIP/WARNING: to save anyone else time who wants to do this. Don't bother wasting your time (like I did) configuring the router PRIOR to bridged mode.
The second you put it into bridged mode, for whatever reason, it basically wipes 99% of the routers settings (that you just did).
I do recommend you at least set the "host name/router name" PRIOR, as that DOES stay, and helps out a lot to quickly identify the second router in your main routers route table.

I got everything configured, established the connection between the 2 routers (via 2.4GHz) leaving 5GHz open and usable on the second router.
HOWEVER, when I am connected (via Wireless) to my second router(EA7300), I get "No Internet Connection Found" on my devices. The second I disconnect or power off my second router (reconnecting back to the main router) I do get internet.

This is where I am stuck, and not sure what's not working or being blocked?

Where do you guys suggest I go from here? What should I try?
If you guys have any ideas how to set a Static IP, please let me know, that would help a lot and save a lot of time. I was thinking I may just need to setup a "DHCP Reservation" for it on my main router (unless there's a better way?).

Go into the LAN setup of  the second router and give it a Static IP on your main router.  192.168.1.x

You do not use DHCP reservations on consumer routers.
My concern, and where I am stuck, is like my last post stated...I'm not getting "internet connection" when connected to the second router.
What things should I try and test? It seems something might be blocking it?


I can worry about the IP Address later (after I get it to work)...
I'm not sure what you mean or how that would even work "setting up a static IP FOR my second router via my main router (inside the main router)?

Unless I'm missing something in the Linksys interface(s), I really only have 2 options:
1) Set DHCP reservation inside my main router, FOR my second router.
2) Do nothing, as when a router (at least my 2 Linksys) is in "Wireless Bridge Mode" 90% of the interface and functionality it had PRIOR in the firmware
is disabled and not visible. One of which, is the ability to set a Static IP (unfortunately); unless I'm missing something?



Thank you!
I am not sure how else to put it. Connect a LAN port on the second router to a LAN port on the main router. Log into the second router with a browser and set it up as per above
Again, that is not really a concern at this point (static vs DHCP address). The main concern I'd like to stay focused on is, getting internet
connectivity via the second router. All configurations, settings, etc. are setup. The 2 routers talk to each other (as far as I can tell).
However, the second router seems it cannot get out to the internet via the main router.

I have already done that (LAN to LAN between routers), that is how I configured the second router, after I changing it to wireless bridged mode.The issue is, there is absolutely no place to assign a static IP for the second router, once it's in wireless bridged mode.

Main router has/already had a static ip of 192.168.1.1
Second router ONLY has a DHCP IP address (when in wireless bridged mode) received FROM the main router.
The issue is, there is absolutely no place to assign a static IP for the second router, once it's in wireless bridged mode

There should be LAN settings you can access. I can set up all my Wi-Fi routers this way.
I'm not say it's not possible "generally", but it seems you cannot with the router I have (Linksys EA6500) when IN wireless bridge mode. When it's NOT, all those options ARE there under LAN (like you are saying).

1) What type of routers do you have?
2) Are you doing wireless bridge mode?

As for the connectivity out to the internet...any of you guys have any ideas? Any tests, or things I can try to narrow this issue down?
I use a Cisco RV134 AC wireless router.

I just hook it directly to my network, so I have no need to bridge it - just connect it.

Once done, it gives me internet via the main router.
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Although, I have not gotten my setup (via Wireless Bridge Mode) to work how I intended and wanted.
I'm going to go ahead and close out this question. As several of you have listed out several viable options (alternatives to Wireless Bridge Mode)
that would work.

If I do get my setup to work, I'll post a "How To Comment" later (if or when it works). For now, it's only fair to give credit where credit is do
for those of you who provided other options and ideas.

If any of you object, please let me know & why.


Thank you everyone for all the help and ideas!
You are very welcome and I was happy to help you.