Adding an Asus RT- AC58U Router to Home Hub 2

[#1]

Hi folks,

Before I start, I will apologise for my lack of IT ability and knowledge, also being at an age where information does not sink in, or stay in, the old brainbox. This may be a question you’ve answered on numerous occasions, but after a quick search, I could not see the exact information I required.

I have the above router, gathering dust in a cupboard at home, since I joined Plusnet a while back, which I would like to make use of, as possibly a wired access point to extend my home network. Obviously I would like all gadgets to automatically roam and move to the strongest signal available. How is this done?

After watching numerous YouTube videos, where people seem to use different methods and ideas, it’s got me more than a little confused.

Details Ethernet Hub 2

Gateway:                                   192.168.1.254

IPv4 Address:                            192.168.1.120

Server address range:               192.168.1.64 -192.168.1.253

IPv4 Subnet:                              255.255.255.0

Asus RT - AC58U Router

Gateway IP:                               192.168.50.1

From what I have picked up, so as the 2 routers do not conflict, I have to disable DHCP on the secondary router and possibly change the gateway address as well?

Do I need to change the Server Address Range on Hub 2 down from 253 to say 250?

Then set secondary router address/gateway as 192.168.1.251, 252 or 253?

Is there anything else I need to do, or have I got it totally wrong?

I would be very grateful for any help or assistance in achieving this objective.

Thank you

[#2]

Is your broadband connection Part Fibre (FFTC/SoGEA) or Full Fibre (FTTP)?
For Part Fibre you can configure the Hub Two to bridge mode making it a modem only device. The Asus WAN port would connect to Hub LAN port.
For Full Fibre the Hub is not required, the Asus WAN port would connect directly to the Openreach ONT LAN port.
In both cases the Asus router would need to be configured to a PPPoE connection.
HTH

[#3]

@markjp 

To use the Asus as an Access Point, Disable DHCP and set the gateway to an unused address in the range 192.168.1.2-63, for example 192.168.1.10. Connect the two via an Ethernet cable.

No other changes should be needed, the Plusnet Hub 2 is unchanged.

The chances of devices automatically swapping to the strongest signal will depend on the actual device but in my experience devices tend to hang on to the weeker signal when moved close to the stronger one, and need the wireless connection to be dropped then re-enabled.

The only sure way of achieving what you really want is to forget WAPs and invest in a Mesh system. If you are on FTTC then use the Hub 1 in bridge mode. If FTTP you can connect the master Mesh unit directly to the incoming ONT.

[#4]

@markjp 

If you are intending to use the asus device as a WAP then I suggest you look for a setting "Access Point Mode"

If like other routers this will switch off the asus routers DHCP server and other related router, it is likely to set the router to use DHCP which means there is even less to do as the Hub 2 DHCP will assign an IP Address.

I would suggest setting the 2.4GHz wireless to use a different channel to the Hub 2 which should hopefully allow better roaming. 

Hub 2 only uses channels 1, 6 or 11, so use one the Hub is not using.

[#5]

Hi

Thanks for your help.

I did set the Asus using the Access Point setting this morning, which I will monitor over time, to see the usage.

Its mainly for my daughter, whose bedroom gets least coverage, but with Plusnet coverage has much better than previously experienced with another competitor, who own large metal birds! 

Thank you and all the community for your replies.