Can I use 2 routers on the same home network?

If you have a large home network, you may have trouble connecting to it wirelessly from certain points in your home. A second router can improve network performance and help you connect from anywhere in your home.

Can I use 2 routers on the same home network?

Yes, you can use 2 (or even more) routers on the same home network. The benefits of a 2-router network include:

• Support for more wired devices : If the first router is a wired Ethernet type, it only supports a limited number of connected devices (usually 4 or 5). The second router provides more open Ethernet ports so that additional computers can join the network.
• Supports mixed wired and wireless setups : If you have a wired home network and want to connect WiFi devices to it, installing a second router allows those devices to connect, while the rest of your devices can still function normally on the Ethernet network. Conversely, a second router is also useful when most of your home's clients are wireless, but there are a few Ethernet devices in a room (like game consoles and file sharing servers) that benefit from a wired setup.

• Improve wireless range (signal range) : Adding a second wireless router to your existing WiFi network can extend the network's range to accommodate far-flung devices.
• Network isolation : If you use multiple network connections between certain computers (such as large file transfers or LAN gaming), setting those computers to run from the same router will keep network traffic from affecting the other router and other devices attached.
• Enhanced Security : Creating two different networks can help you protect your devices from attackers and unwanted access. When you use two routers, the second router will be able to access all the devices connected to the first router, but the reverse process will not be possible. This makes the second router more secure and less vulnerable to attacks than the first router. Separating devices is also important if you want to set up a home or office network that is impenetrable.
• Segregating devices on your network : Not only can you increase your WiFi performance with two different routers, but you can also have a more secure network environment by connecting vulnerable devices to a second router. Anyone connected to the main router will not be able to access the devices on the second router, and thus devices with less secure protocols like voice assistants or smart home devices will always be isolated from the outside world. You can also dedicate a separate WiFi router to devices that require high-speed Internet, like smart TVs and game consoles. This way, the additional router will be solely responsible for distributing data packets to specific devices, as opposed to the basic scheme where all devices in a given area share the same router, overloading it in the process.
• Minimize Downtime: If you have a small server or an application hosted on your computer, you can maximize your uptime by setting up multiple routers so that devices automatically connect to a secondary router in case the primary router fails. This is especially useful for organizations and businesses where downtime directly results in lost profits, be it monetary or otherwise.

How to choose a router

There are many types of routers available, from cheap options to the best-rated devices . Refer to some of the following articles on Quantrimang.com for useful advice:

• Guide to choosing the right Wi-Fi router
• How to choose a gaming router

How to use 2 routers in one house

Installing a second router on your home network requires special configuration.

Setup involves choosing a good location , ensuring proper physical connections, and configuring IP address settings (including DHCP ).

Alternatives to a Second Home Router

Instead of adding a second wired router to your existing network, add an Ethernet switch. A switch will accomplish the same goal of expanding your network size, but it doesn't require any IP addresses or DHCP configuration, greatly simplifying setup.

For WiFi networks, add a wireless access point instead of a second router.