Linksys EA3500 User Manual

Setting Up: Advanced

Linksys EA-Series

 

If you have a large area to 

cover with your wireless signal, or if part of your home has weak signals due to 

interference, you can use this router to extend the range of your old router’s 

wireless network.

To set up your new router as an access point:
1.  Use a network cable to connect this router’s

 

 

port to the Ethernet

 

or

 

 

port on the router that is connected to your modem.

2.  Log into Cisco Connect Cloud. (See “How to configure your router” on 

page 14.

3.  Under  Router  Settings,  click  Connectivity,  then  click  the  Internet 

Settings tab.

4.  Click IPv4.
5.  For Type of Internet Connection, select Bridge Mode.
6.  Click  Obtain an IPv4 address automatically,  then  click  OK. The  new 

router’s LAN IP address will be changed and obtained from the router 

that is connected to your modem.

How can I use my old router as an access point? If you have a large area to 

cover with your wireless signal, or if part of your home has weak signals due to 

interference, you can use your old router to extend the range of your wireless 

network. This is a complex process, so this procedure assumes that you have 

some networking knowledge.

Check the documentation for your old router. Some brands of 

routers include either a switch on the outside of the case or a 

software option to convert it to an access point. If either of these 

options is available, follow your old router’s instructions to convert 

it to an access point.

You need to take note of your new router’s settings, then apply some of those 

settings to the old router so it can work as an access point.

To view your new router’s settings:
1.  Make sure that your new router is connected to the Internet. 
2.  Log into Cisco Connect Cloud. (See “How to configure your router” on 

page 14.

3.  Under Router Settings, click Wireless, then take note of the Network 

name (SSID),

 

Password, Security mode, and Channel.

4.  Under Router Settings, click Connectivity, then click the Local Network 

tab. Take note of the DHCP server’s IP address range (192.168.1.100 to 

192.168.1.149 by default)

To use your old router as an access point:
1.  With your computer connected to your old router, log into its browser-

based administration utility. 

Save your changes after finishing each step below.

2.  Open the setup page for the local network (LAN).
3.  In the Router IP address field, enter an unused IP address for the LAN 

network of your new router. 
For  example,  if  your  new  router  has  an  IP  address  of  192.168.1.1,  you 

should choose an IP address on the 192.168.1.0 network. You can choose 

any address within the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254. You should 

exclude addresses in the range that will be used by the DHCP Server of 

your new router (192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.149). A safe choice might be 

192.168.1.250. Take note of this address, because this will be the address 

that you will use to manage your old router in the future.

4.  In the Subnet Mask field, enter 255.255.255.0 or, if available, select that 

subnet mask from a drop-down list.

5.  Disable the DHCP server on your old router. (Because your old router will 

be operating as an access point instead of a router, you don’t want it to 

distribute IP addresses. There should be only one active DHCP server on 

your network, and that should be your new router.)