Solved Configure TP-Link Router As Access Point

I would disable DHCP on the TP-Link router (assuming you already have your main router dishing out DHCP to network clients). I would then configure the LAN side of the router with an IP address in the same subnet as the existing network. Only, you’ll want to use an IP that’s not within the DHCP scope.

Then, configure your wireless network (WLAN) and use WPA encryption and a complex password for the SSID.

Finally, connect a LAN port on the TP-Link to a LAN port on the main router and it should work.

Let’s say your exising router is setup as follows:

LAN IP: 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

DHCP Enabled = Yes
DHCP Scope = 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.199
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway = 192.168.0.1
DNS 192.168.0.1

On the LAN side of the TP-Link I would assign:
IP: 192.168.0.10
SM: 255.255.255.0
DG: 192.168.0.1
DNS: 192.168.0.1

Plug in LAN to LAN from TP-Link to main router and connect a PC to another LAN Port on the TP-Link and test. Does your computer get a proper TCP/IP settings from DHCP? Can it surf the web?

If yes to both, configure the WLAN.

If no, you messed something up and you need to reset the TP-Link and go through the setup again.

For more info on connecting the second router, click on my name above in my response and read my “how-to” guide titled: “Adding a second router to your LAN” You’ll want the “LAN to LAN” scenario as I’ve already said.

It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

***William Henley***