Introduction
In today's world, having a reliable internet connection is a necessity, especially for those who own rental properties. Sometimes, you might want to provide your tenants with their own Wi-Fi networks while using the same WAN source for both networks. This article will walk you through the process of setting up two Wi-Fi routers with different LANs and different passwords, using the same WAN source.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, make sure you have the following:
- Two Wi-Fi routers (preferably of the same brand and model)
- One WAN connection (cable or DSL)
- Ethernet cables
Step 1: Set Up the First Router
Connect the first router to the WAN connection using an Ethernet cable. Once connected, power on the router and wait for it to finish booting up.
Configure the First Router
Open a web browser and navigate to the router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Log in using the default username and password (check the router's documentation for this information).
Go to the "WAN" settings page and configure the connection type as "Static IP." Set the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway according to your ISP's instructions. Save the changes and apply them.
Step 2: Set Up the Second Router
Connect the second router to one of the LAN ports on the first router using an Ethernet cable. Power on the second router and wait for it to finish booting up.
Configure the Second Router
Open a web browser and navigate to the second router's IP address (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, depending on which router you're configuring). Log in using the default username and password (check the router's documentation for this information).
Go to the "WAN" settings page and configure the connection type as "Static IP." Set the IP address to a different subnet than the first router (for example, if the first router is using 192.168.1.1, use 192.168.2.1 for the second router). Set the subnet mask and default gateway according to your requirements. Save the changes and apply them.
Step 3: Configure the Routers to Share the WAN Connection
Go back to the first router's configuration page and navigate to the "LAN" settings page. Find the "Port Forwarding" or "Virtual Servers" section and add a new entry:
Port Number: 80 (or any other port number)
Protocol: TCP or UDP (depending on your requirements)
Internal IP Address: The IP address of the second router
External IP Address: Leave it blank
Save the changes and apply them. Now, go to the second router's configuration page and navigate to the "WAN" settings page. Set the connection type to "Bridge" or "Access Point" mode.
Step 4: Set Up the Wi-Fi Networks
Go back to the configuration pages of both routers and set up the Wi-Fi networks with different SSIDs and passwords.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you've successfully set up two Wi-Fi routers with different LANs, different passwords, and the same WAN source. This setup allows you to provide your tenants with their own Wi-Fi networks while using the same WAN connection for both networks.