Adding a router to my verizon router

Yes you can attached another router to an existing network that already has a router. However, you need to change setting on the new router so it is just used as an access point. The changes include changing the address of the new router, disabling the new router from assigning addresses. The instructions supplied with the new router/the website for the new router probably have the necessary instructions.

labeck wrote:
Does anyone know if you can add a second router to a verizon router?

In theory, you should be able to.

I'm fairly certain that if you have verizon fios you have to use their supplied router for the service.

You have to use their modem for their service. It just so happens that their modem includes a wireless router. But you should be able to attach any additional devices, including wireless routers.

Have you done it? Does it work? If so, whats the best way to set it up?

Before you spend any money, do a quick test with your Mac.

Using an ethernet cable, plug the Mac into one of the LAN ports on the Verizon router. Turn off the Mac's airport for good measure. Make sure you can access the internet. If that works, turn on Internet sharing and share your ethernet connection over airport. Try the iPad. If that works, get yourself a new router.

Apple builds lots of extras into their routers to try to give you more of a bang for the buck. The airport express has a few of those. The Time Capsule is very handy. I have a 2nd hand, 1st generation Time Capsule from 2007 that works great with everything, including the iPad. I also have an even old Buffalo router that I had flashed to DD-WRT that also works great. But if you don't need the extras, then any new router should work fine.

For the router, connect the WAN port on the new router to one of the LAN ports on the Verizon router. Try running the new router in Bridge mode. It should also work in normal model with a DHCP connection. Your setup on the new router is not typical, so the "quick start" instructions probably won't apply to you.

Buy a switcher to hookup to the router... That in my opinion is the way to go. I can hook up 24 devices with the one I have. Switchers can be $ for one I have. On eBay they be had really cheaply.

Here is an example of the one I have:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-2-Cisco-2950-Network-Switch-WS-C2950-12-/370391208516?cm d=ViewItem&pt=COMPENHubs&hash=item563d095244

Message was edited by: David M Brewer

But you can't hook up you iPad to a Cisco switch, so how is that going to help this person. They need a WiFi access point to use as an alternative to Verizon Fios unit they have.

If it were me, I would do the test mentioned by hardwiring a mac, and sharing the connection through Airport. If it performs well, get the Airport Express, and follow the instructions for configuring it as a connected Bridge. They are a bit pricey at $100.00 each, but work like a charm.

Yes! But add the airport express (n-version) not the extreme. Simply plug it into one of the LAN ports on the verizon router, using airport utility on another computer set it up to "create a wireless network", You may want to change the channel to less used channel (I set mine to 10, don't leave it on auto), I also set mine to transmit n only (b/g compatible @ 5ghz), set the security to WPA2 personal (you dont have to change the verizon router settings), update the router and wait for the prompt saying that it cannot create the network... it will ask you if you want the express to run in bridge mode, choose this (it will get it's own IP), update again and look for the network on your iPad, choose it, put in the WPA2 password and enjoy. I have not had a single dropped connection since doing this with my verizon router. I know the express is not technically a router, but it can handle supplying wifi to multiple wireless clients. You can still use the original verizon router at the same time as well. You will hopefully find that the express network is also considerably faster than the original one. Hope this helps!

This is an edited script from Linksys Tech Support. I used method 1 today and it worked without a hitch. Remember that to change the router ip, it must be connected to a computer through one of its numbered ports - not the internet port. No other connections! The default ip is 192.168.1.1.

Transcript:

Ken Sacks: I expect to use the WRT160N as a WAP while providing additional wired ports. I have set up other Linksys routers as secondaries before. Some have an uplink port others use port 4 to connect to the primary router. Will this work on the WRT160N?

Grachel Riveral-Pagalan (22762): You will have two options on how to configure the router when connected to the Verizon modem.

[Grachel Riveral-Pagalan (22762): First Method, the one that you've mentioned, disable the DHCP on the router, and connect the Verizon router to the port 4 of the WRT160N. You also have to disable the NAT of the WRT160N, and change the IP address.

Grachel Riveral-Pagalan (22762): Example, if your Verizon modem is using 192.168.1.1, you can change the IP address of the WRT160N to 192.168.1.2. It should be with the same IP segment of the Verizon modem.

[2010-06-07 08:35:01] Ken Sacks: Does that mean 192.168.1.xxx?

[2010-06-07 08:35:09] Grachel Riveral-Pagalan (22762): Yes.

Note: I changed address to 192.168.1.7

[2010-06-07 08:35:17] Grachel Riveral-Pagalan (22762): Second Method, connect the Verizon router to the Internet port of the WRT160N. Change the IP address of the WRT160N to 10.10.10.1. - Different IP segment with the Verizon router, to avoid IP address conflict.
No need to disable the NAT and DHCP server on the second option.

labeck wrote:
Hmmm, interesting idea. I'll try this out once I get home. My mac is already using the ethernet cable. Once I have internet sharing on, is there something specific I need to do with the iPad to connect?

Nope. Just give it a meaningful name and connect. You probably don't want to keep that configuration for long, especially if there are other people than can reach your wireless network. You can turn on security, but the Internet Sharing only supports WEP and that is a bit of a hassle. I have used my iPad in this configuration once, but I don't remember if I experienced any of the WEP connection issues.

As far as networks and routers go, there is nothing wrong or unusual with connecting another router. Verizon isn't going to support it however. That is why they gave you the wireless router to begin with - so they didn't have to worry about supporting wireless networks. It is possible that the Verizon router might not support another device that is bridge mode, but you don't have to run it that way.

If you have any trouble, just post again here. Be careful with information on the Internet. One of the top hits for this topic tells people to change settings on the Verizon device and you don't want to do that. The Verizon router is connected and happy, so don't mess with it. We may or may not be able to get your iPad working, but I don't want to break your Internet and so that you have to call Verizon to come out and fix it.

This is how my house is set up. My Verizon modem/wireless router is in the basement, near ethernet distribution center that came prewired. But because it is in the basement, the wireless signal is crummy on the first floor, and non existent on the second. My home also had a motorola router in the ceiling of the second floor , set up with POE.

I plugged the WAP port of the Motorola into one of the Verizon Modems ports without setting it up as a bridge. I actually have two different wireless networks connecting to internet in my house! I do think I gave the motorola a different address through 10.10.10.1 or something like that. I am an idiot for networking, but it somehow works.

I am now moving from DSL to a cable modem which only has one out ethernet port, so I will need a router. Also, the motorola is biting the dust, but I was able to find an old airport extreme POE cheap that I will replace it with. Now I need to figure out if I need another router ( my brother is offering an old trendnet wireless router), or just a switch. I really can't run another ethernet cable from the third floor ( where the motorola/apple is) to the basement ( where the ethernet switches are to 3 wired ethernet sites)

I'll let you know if this new hybrid works. My brother says the trendnet router can turn off wi-fi, but i still worry about competing routers, and suspect I may run the airport in bridge mode if it doesn't work.

+"If that works, turn on Internet sharing and share your ethernet connection over airport."+

If that works, why would I need an external router? Isn't the Internet Sharing effectively a router function? Can I connect the iPad AND a laptop this way? I guess that I'm looking for a mini-education regarding Internet Sharing.

By looking the the description of Internet Sharing on my Mini it uses the plural "computers" which says it can share the internet with more than one computer.

Philly_Phan wrote:
+"If that works, turn on Internet sharing and share your ethernet connection over airport."+

If that works, why would I need an external router? Isn't the Internet Sharing effectively a router function? Can I connect the iPad AND a laptop this way? I guess that I'm looking for a mini-education regarding Internet Sharing.

If you want to use a Mac (in the OPs case it was a MacBook) as a router (internet sharing) there are several considerations:

• The Mac must be located close to the router/modem to attach it via ethernet. (Not always so easy when you are not dealing with a laptop Mac).
• The Mac must be turned on and awake when being used as a router.
• The router functions will use some of the processing power of the Mac so that it is not available to other use of that Mac.
• A Mac is a rather high-cost substitute for a $30 router.

With these considerations a Mac could be used to connect an iPad and a laptop but it isn't particularly good as a long-term replacement for a wireless router.

Thanks. I had pretty much arrived at the same conclusion. I'm going to give it a try when I get a chance. I have Verizon DSL with a router built into the modem but it's old and it does not use the "n" standard. It's OK but I have to be careful how far I go from the router. I'm hoping that the Internet Sharing uses the "n" standard and will give me more distance.