If your WiFi network does not have enough coverage for your entire house, you can expand your network with an extra WiFi router. We explain step-by-step how to do this easily. As an example we will use the Nighthawk AC1900 smart wi-fi router from Netgear. It can also work with any other router.
1. Router ISP
Grab your laptop and start it up. Open your web browser and enter the IP address of your modem in the url bar. To check your router's IP address, check the status of your network connection in the network center. You get here by first pressing your Windows icon at the bottom left of the screen. Then you go to Computer, Network and click Open Network and Sharing Center. Move your mouse to Wireless network connection, click this and then go to Details. The pop-up screen provides a lot of information about the connection, including the IP address of your router which you will find behind IPv4 Default Gateway.
At details you will receive information about your connection.
2. Assign Addresses
Log in to your router via the found IP address. The login name and password can be found in the manual. In the web interface, look for the DHCP Settings. These are the addresses that your router uses to automatically assign IP addresses to network equipment. We want to assign a fixed IP address to the router with which we extend the network. For example, does the DHCP server run from 192.168.1.2 until 192.168.1.100, then you can use a higher number for your new router, for example 192.168.1.150. Write this address on a piece of paper, you will need it later. If all IP addresses are reserved, try restricting it so that there are IP addresses that are not managed by the DHCP server. The highest available address is 192.168.1.254 and you need to set it lower to keep access to your new router.
You can generally adjust your settings on a page similar to this one.
Help: Can't change anything
Unfortunately, you may not be able to adjust the DHCP settings. KPN is a good example of a provider that locks up its modems, so that you cannot make certain adjustments. Then read on and before you start step 5, look in the box below.
3. Configure
It's time to configure your own router, in our case a Netgear router. Take it out of the box along with the power cable and Ethernet cable. In the case of the Nighthawk, there are three antennas present. Attach it to the router. Plug in the power cable and connect your laptop to the router via one of the four network ports. You can also connect to the wireless network that the router provides. To do this, press the Windows icon at the bottom left of the screen and go to computer. Then click on the bottom left network and open the network center. Choose the option Set up a new connection or network. Press connect to the internet and then choose wireless. All wireless networks from which your computer picks up the signal are listed. Then move your mouse to the name that matches the name on your router and select this option. click on Make a connection and enter the password. Consult the manual for this.
The Network and Sharing Center is the place for network settings.
4. Set Router
Now check if the settings of the router are correct. Enter its IP address in the url bar, you can find this IP address in the same way as in step 1. Log in with the data that you can find at the bottom of the Netgear router. Go to Base, thereafter wireless and you land on the page Wireless installation. Here you can change the network names (SSID) of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz connections, as well as the passwords. Do this especially, because this way you can ensure a well-secured network yourself. When you're done, press To apply. You must now log in again to the newly modified network to regain access to the internet.
5. Disable DHCP
Click now Advanced. Go to to install and press LAN settings. Top up LAN TCP/IP Setup behind IP address Enter your chosen IP address in step 2. The router will reboot itself and you will then have to log in again. Do this and return to the same page. The screen shows DHCP checked, uncheck it. Save the settings and get out of the router page. Now connect the Ethernet cable running from the modem to one of the four available ports, not the WAN port which is colored yellow. Your router is now set up correctly and works as an amplifier for the modem.
Finally, disable the DHCP.
Reachable without a fixed IP address
If you are unable to free up an IP address in your internet provider's modem/router, perform step 5, but skip 'In Configure LAN-TCP/IP, enter your IP address chosen in step 2 after IP address' about. Follow step 1 again until the first pop-up window opens. Choose at the bottom left of the screen characteristics. In the new window, place your cursor on Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Make sure you don't uncheck the box. click on Characteristics.. Finch use the following IP address: at. Enter the IP address of the newly installed router, at subnet mask the same as that of your modem (this is usually 255.255.255.0) and at default gateway enter the IP address of the Nighthawk. This is the same address that brought you to the router's page. Click OK and enter the IP address in your web browser. You can now make any changes to the router.
Even if it is not in the correct IP range, you can always reach your new router by entering a manual IP address.
6. The right location
To make optimal use of your new router, it is wise to look carefully at where connections from the modem, or any other Wi-Fi router, are too weak. The new router may offer a powerful network and therefore does not necessarily have to be located where you want the internet. For example, you can also connect the device in the computer room if you want a fast wireless connection one floor up. If you use the router to quickly stream videos, make sure it is connected close to the correct PC or television. The faster 5GHz network only makes sense up close, but the 2.4GHz band is more useful for longer distances.
7. Connect and use the internet
Now take the rest out of the box. Connect the Ethernet cable to a network port on your internet provider's router/modem and connect the cable to one of the network ports on the new router. Do not use the (usually yellow) WAN connection of your new router. It is not a problem if there is still a switch somewhere between your router/modem and the new router.
The antennas are attached to the back.
