Configure your ISP router and set up the device properly.
Configure your ISP router and set up the device properly.
Hello everyone, I’m currently living in an apartment with two separate bedrooms. The ISP router is located in the first bedroom, which can’t be moved. The Wi-Fi in bedroom 2 is very slow, even when streaming YouTube. I need a second router in bedroom 2 to provide stronger Wi-Fi and LAN ports for my PC and other devices. I attempted a direct connection but faced issues. I’m still having connection drops on devices that try to connect to router A, even after setting it to access point mode. Some forums suggest switching the ISP router to bridge mode and assigning router A a static IP. However, my ISP is UPC (Vodafone) in Hungary, and their website says their router supports IPv6, making bridge mode unavailable. They advise contacting customer service, but their support seems unreliable. Some posts only mention enabling bridge mode with IPv4. I’m confused about why IPv6 and bridge mode can’t work together. Should I enable IPv6 on my ISP router? Or should I drop IPv6 and stick to IPv4? Lastly, is the setup correct—can router A handle everything while the ISP router stays in bridge mode, or are there other options? I still want good Wi-Fi in bedroom 1 and a functional ISP connection there. Thanks and have a great day!
I faced similar challenges when assisting with network setup at my parents' place. The ISP mentioned that such configurations often encounter problems when the second router has DHCP active. I wasn't very familiar with networking, but I thought disabling DHCP on the second router might help clarify things. Could anyone explain why a second router with DHCP enabled could cause issues?
You don't require IPV6. It's unnecessary for home use; IPV4 is sufficient. (For local networks with up to 250 devices, your router likely won't manage it well.) By switching the ISP router to Bridge Mode, you're essentially converting it into a modem, allowing your chosen router to handle everything. I strongly recommend this approach. A solid router would be better than what the ISPs provide.
IPv6 is essential, CGNAT presents significant challenges it bypasses. It doesn’t relate to the number of devices for home users.
Running two DHCP servers on a network creates a major headache for IT teams. These devices give conflicting instructions to network devices about traffic handling, especially when they overlap in IP ranges, leading to inconsistent addresses.
Specifically, my router A is a TP-Link Archer A6 in access point mode. DHCP is turned off because of the website, and I can't locate it in the settings even when switching to access point mode. If I need Wi-Fi in bedroom 1, can I connect another router B to the ISP modem now? I'm unsure if the Wi-Fi from router A in bedroom 2 will be sufficient for bedroom 1, so I should check that first. If I move router A outside for better coverage, cable routing might become complicated. Should I consider using my ISP router in bridge mode for IPv4, or is there more to it? Or would another solution be needed for the setup?
I would keep the ISP router as the default setting (verify it isn’t in bridge mode and the DHCP server is active) and configure Router A to operate in AP mode. You noted that the TP-Link router is already set to AP mode, which should turn off the DHCP server—possibly explaining why it’s not visible. I’ve only used older TP-Link models without AP functionality and had to adjust manually; this setup seems straightforward. Ensure the ISP router’s WAN port is connected (usually a yellow port) and that IPv4 devices get automatic assignment via DHCP while IPv6 uses Router Advertisements, which are uncommon in home networks due to Android limitations. Check the IPv6 configurations on both devices; TP-Link should only allow RA or DHCPv6, not full functionality. How is this working? Are your devices losing Wi-Fi, or do you see an error?
When I configure it as two routers, my Wi-Fi sometimes shuts off and comes back on intermittently. The smart bulbs and camera work through the LAN cable, but the LAN light itself is off. Restarting router A fixes everything again. In AP mode, the internet drops completely even with the LAN cable lit. Only after rebooting router A, unplugging and plugging it in does it resume functioning. I don’t assign a static IP to router A, so I’m unsure if that’s causing issues.