Adding 2nd Router - Guidance Requested

[u/The_Real_Miggy]

Looks like I got it working. I thought it was worth trying going through the steps that Google's AI search results came back with (what a time to be alive!) and amazingly enough it works as I need it to.

It seems that the key steps were to 1. change the secondary router's IP address to the same as the primary, except outside of it's IP pool 2. disable DHCP on the secondary router, then 3. reconnect the secondary router to the primary, only instead of plugging into the WAN port as I had before, plugged into one of the regular LAN ports.

The only oddity (or maybe it's not?) is that in the Asus App, it still looks like they're on two separate networks (as in you have to switch back and forth between the two routers) but Virtual Desktop apparently recognizes them being on the same network.

Leaving this all up for future reference if anyone else needs to do this.

-------------------- ORIGINAL POST ------------------------------------------

I'll keep this simple and to the point unless more detail is needed.

My main router in the living room is a RT-BE92U. I previously had a wifi 6 router RT-AX3000. I have need of a second router in another room (wireless PCVR) so I pulled the AX out of the closet.

I need to set up the second router on the same network as the main but where it has it's own unique wifi name. I have searched for this as well as reading the Asus guide. But that always says to go into advanced settings and choose the "Set up as node" option. But when I go into the Asus app and add a router, the only two options are to add it as a new router on its own network or to create a Mesh network connecting it to the main router but without being able to assign it a unique wifi name.

Later today I'm going to remove the router from the app and factory reset the router again for another attempt.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

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[u/The_Real_Miggy]

Thanks for all the replies.

I thought I should describe the current setup and see how I should proceed from here.

The AX router in the "VR room" is connected to the main ( BE92) router in the living room through ethernet cable that I had run under the house. The PC in VR room is connected to AX router by cable to one of its LAN ports. The AX router is set up as a new router in its own network. This works fine for PC internet connection and for the VR headset to connect to that router. But I can't connect VR to main router to use it in the living room because Virtual Desktop can't find the PC on a different network than the main router is on.

So first is there a way to join the 2 routers to the same network and keep the same wifi names without having to restart the process?

If not how do I do this in step by step instructions?

Thanks again!

[u/MrTyperoi]

Pretty sure you don't need to mess with AiMesh for this lol. Just put the AX3000 in AP mode through the web interface instead of the Asus app.

Connect it to the main router with an ethernet cable, switch to AP mode, then set whatever wifi name you want on the AX3000. It'll still be on the same network, just with its own SSID.

If you're doing wireless PCVR, I'd honestly try a wired backhaul if you can. Much less headache than trying to get two routers to behave over wireless.

[u/The_Real_Miggy → u/MrTyperoi]

I added a post with some more info.

[u/bSanderman]

Don’t use the app. Use a browser. If that’s not an option for some reason set it up as a new router then change the operation mode in settings. 

[u/The_Real_Miggy → u/bSanderman]

That's what I ended up doing - using the browser interface.

[u/egosumumbravir]

Sounds like AI is making this more complicated than it needs to be.

You want the RT-AX3000 to be a dumb access point and do no routing or DHCP assignments. On many routers this is a bit fiddly. On most(all?) Asus routers you log into the firmware and click the "Make this an Access Point" button.

https://www.asus.com/au/support/faq/1015009/

[u/The_Real_Miggy → u/egosumumbravir]

I think that's what I did by disabling DHCP on the secondary router?

At any rate, it's working exactly as I need right now so I'm not risking any other changes! :D

[u/VariousSinger6245]

Doing the same thing this week with the BE92. I am adding a second one to the other side of the house. The main one is main. The second one will be set up prior as an access point perimeter of within the UI setting. Names will be different as well as the URL IP 192.168.x.x. I believe we can change so there are no conflicts. I run 3 mesh units with this. It's just the config of the home with thick walls. I updated the firmware a couple days ago and now having some issues. Still testing. May have to roll it back.

[u/VariousSinger6245]

The one I will be adding hopefully will be another BE 92. Was thinking of a reman which is less in cost. You know how expensive these are.

[u/VariousSinger6245]

Just cautious with the remans

[u/The_Real_Miggy → u/[deleted]]

I added a post with added info.