Configure the access point properly this time.
Configure the access point properly this time.
Are you linking the second router to your primary router? Do you already have Wi-Fi configured throughout the house? Are you aiming for identical SSIDs on both devices so you can move effortlessly between floors and switch networks without interruption? If yes, the previous options won’t work. For dual SSIDs, connect the second router to the first’s LAN port and turn off DHCP on the second. Don’t worry about assigning IP addresses manually—they’ll be auto-assigned from the first router’s DHCP. Then adjust the second router’s settings for its wireless name and password. Using the same SSID might be possible, but devices could disconnect or reconnect when switching networks. Some routers offer an Access Point mode for this purpose, though I haven’t reviewed the manual yet.
You might also consider using APs such as Ubiquiti models and connect them to your primary router or modem. For more details, visit https://www.ui.com/unifi/unifi-ap/
It's not advisable to configure an AP with a dynamic internal IP address. Once the lease expires, all connected clients will experience temporary disconnection since their IP leases need renewal. Assigning a static IP—either directly on the device or through the primary router—offers a superior solution. This approach also supports seamless handoffs when users switch between APs. In fact, the IP lease should remain active, eliminating the need for renewal; only a change in AP is required.
Interesting, my Ubiquiti APs get their IP through DHCP and I have yet to have any issues. Now these are designed from the ground up to be APs and not jigging some routers to act like APs. There is a chance that even going through the manual stuff that has been suggested that handoff from one "Access Point" to the other won't be seamless.
Check the router's configuration page for an AP management section listed there. It should appear under wireless settings.
Navigate to Network settings, select Wireless, then WDS. The option displays Wireless Bridge Setup as AP Mode: Access Point or Wireless bridge. It sets the default to Access Point.
I configured the router in AP mode, turned off DHCP, and linked lan-lan between main and second router. Now I can connect to the second router without issues. When I move up and connect to the primary router, everything functions perfectly. However, if I go downstairs again and try to link to the second router, it halts at "retrieving IP address."
This won't function properly unless you use a setup built specifically for this purpose (like the ubuquity system). With two AP devices connected this way, they won't disconnect from each other until the signal completely disappears. This causes issues such as moving between floors, staying linked to the upstairs network, then descending—even if you're just a meter away from the downstairs AP, the phone still receives weak signal from the top, resulting in poor performance unless you manually switch to the bottom AP each time.