Can I have 2 routers with Xfinity?

Theoretically, yes – it is possible to have two Xfinity routers in the same area, through setting up a LAN-to-LAN or LAN-to-WAN connection.

Having a large home network presents unique challenges, as you may notice the difficulty of wirelessly connecting to the network from specific points. In such a situation, having a second router can present itself as a viable solution, as it boosts network performance while helping you connect from anywhere in the house.

Is it possible to setup two routers?

Unfortunately, most systems – including Xfinity – do not allow you to set up two routers at one address, and you may have to pay separately to get an extra connection, forcing you to pay for two accounts. However, it is still possible to set them up and configure them to use the same SSID, so that any device in your house will use the router with the stronger signal.

 How you can set up two Xfinity routers

When it comes to the connectivity option you want, you can choose a wireless or wired connection. Before doing so, though, there are considerations you must keep in mind. These are:

• Deciding the primary and secondary routers. The ideal is to choose the newer router with full features as the primary router, but if both routers are very similar, your choice will not matter much.
• Positioning is important, so place them close to the computer you are using during configuration to help when it comes to ease of access. You can always move them to their permanent locations later.
• You also need to know what you want from the secondary router, since you will set up the network in one of two formats – LAN-to-WAN, or LAN-to-LAN. To choose the best option, it is important to know the differences between WAN and LAN ports.

The differences between WAN and LAN ports

When choosing the connection type you want;

• LAN-to-LAN: This will extend the network connection strength when you incorporate the second router. It will allow you to share files between different devices regardless of the router they are using.
• LAN-to-WAN: This will create a second network in the Xfinity network, which allows you to put restrictions on the devices you want in your network, or isolate specific devices. However, unlike LAN-to-LAN setups, LAN-to-WAN will not support file sharing across different networks.

How to setup two Xfinity routers

Through Ethernet

1. You first need to do an initial setup on your primary router by ensuring you connect it to a modem through using an Ethernet cable, then connect it to your computer through a second Ethernet cable.
2. Access the web interface of the primary router, as it will control the internet connection. You do so through entering the IP address into the web browser’s URL bar and log in.
3. If setting up a LAN-to-WAN network, you will change the DHCP settings (do not do this if you are setting up a LAN-to-LAN network). If changing these settings, the DHCP will give you addresses ranging between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.50.
4. Save the changes and log out. Disconnect the router from your computer.
5. You will then apply these changes on the secondary router, so connect it to the computer you are using, then go to the browser to set the IP address. You will also set whether you want a LAN-to WAN or LAN-to-LAN connection.
6. If you are setting a LAN-to-WAN connection, you will change the IP address to 192.168.1.51. If you want a LAN-to-LAN connection, the IP address should match that of the primary router, but the second-to-last digit will increase by one.
7. Ensure the subnet mask is the same as the primary router, as well as disabling UPnP.
8. You will then configure DHCP. If using a LAN-to-LAN connection, you will disable it, while LAN-to-WAN connections will use an address between 192.168.2.2 and 192.168.2.50.
9. Adjust the wireless channels to avoid future interference of the Wi-Fi signals by setting the primary router to use a channel between 1 and 6, and the second router to use 11.
10. Save the changes and log out, then disconnect the router and use an Ethernet cable to connect the two routers together. If using LAN-to-LAN, connect them using any of their LAN ports, while LAN-to-WAN can use any of the LAN ports on the primary router and the WAN port on the secondary router.

Using wireless

1. Ensure your routers are compatible by checking if the secondary router has a ‘repeater’ or ‘bridge’ mode.
2. Perform an initial setup on the primary router, then log in to its portal. After this, disconnect the router from your computer.
3. Connect the secondary router through an Ethernet cable and access the configuration page.
4. Enable the bridge mode by checking for the ‘Network Mode’ option.
5. Set the IP address for the secondary router, which must lie between the DHCP of the primary router. If the primary router uses a range between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.50, for instance, the IP address for the secondary router should be any number in between.
6. Name the second router, save the changes, and position it.

Conclusion

The key to setting up two Xfinity routers in your home is understanding LAN and WAN connections, as this assists you to choose the network setup that works best for you.

FAQs

Can you use two Xfinity modems in one house?

No, as they do not allow you to have two modems on one plan. If you want a second modem, you must pay for a separate plan for it.

How can I setup two routers on the same network?

Through both Ethernet and wireless methods, and you must set their DHCP and IP addresses to be the same range.