How to Use Another Router’s DHCP with an Edimax Router
A home network usually needs one device to distribute network settings automatically. This function, called Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), gives phones, computers, televisions and other clients an IP address, gateway and DNS details. When two routers provide DHCP on the same network, devices may receive conflicting information and lose reliable access to the internet.
An Edimax router can continue providing Wi-Fi while another router handles DHCP. This arrangement is common when an NBN modem-router supplied by an internet provider is retained as the main gateway and an older Edimax unit is reused as an access point. It can improve wireless coverage in a different room without creating a second, isolated network.
The key steps are to identify the primary router, choose a suitable management address for the Edimax device, disable its DHCP server and connect the units correctly. The Edimax router must also be placed on the same local subnet as the main router, while avoiding an IP address already assigned to another device.
Menu names vary between Edimax models and firmware versions. You may see options such as LAN, Network Settings, DHCP Server, Wireless, Access Point Mode or Operation Mode after opening the Edimax setup page. The default address may be printed on the label, shown in the manual or listed as a common private address such as 192.168.2.1.
Decide Which Router Should Control The Network
The router connected to the NBN connection should normally remain the network’s DHCP authority. For example, an NBN FTTP installation may use an ISP-provided gateway connected to the NBN Network Termination Device, while the Edimax router is positioned in a study, garage or upstairs room. The main router supplies internet access, assigns addresses and controls features such as port forwarding and parental controls.
Before changing anything, log in to the primary router and record its LAN address and DHCP range. A typical arrangement might use 192.168.1.1 as the gateway and assign client addresses from 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200. In that case, an Edimax management address such as 192.168.1.2 may be suitable, provided it is outside the automatic pool and is not used elsewhere.
The Edimax device should use the same subnet as the main router. If the primary router is 192.168.1.1 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, the Edimax can use another unused 192.168.1.x address. Do not select the primary router’s address, the broadcast address 192.168.1.255 or an address that the main router may later hand to another client.
For a home in Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, this approach works in much the same way regardless of the ISP, although the supplied gateway’s menus and default IP address can differ. A quick look at the primary router’s LAN settings prevents guesswork and makes it easier to reconnect to the Edimax after its address changes.
Prepare The Edimax Before Disabling DHCP
Connect a computer to the Edimax with an Ethernet cable where possible. Wired access is preferable during configuration because changing the wireless or LAN settings can briefly disconnect Wi-Fi. Open the Edimax administration page using its current address, then sign in with the administrator credentials. Avoid making the change from a phone connected through a weak wireless signal.
Find the LAN or local network settings and change the Edimax router’s IP address to an unused address on the primary router’s subnet. Using the example above, set the Edimax to 192.168.1.2 and retain the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask. The default gateway can usually be set to 192.168.1.1, although some access-point configurations do not require a gateway for local management.
Apply the address change and wait for the device to restart. The browser may report that the page cannot be found because the Edimax is no longer available at its old address. Browse to the new management address instead. If the page does not open, disconnect and reconnect the computer’s Ethernet cable, or renew its network address so it receives settings from the correct router.
It is sensible to write down the new Edimax address and administrator password. In Australian homes, routers are often installed in cupboards, media cabinets or garages where labels are difficult to see later. Keeping the details in a secure password manager can save time when changing wireless channels, updating firmware or checking the device’s operating mode.
Turn Off The Edimax DHCP Server
Within the Edimax interface, open the LAN, DHCP or Network Settings section. Locate the DHCP Server option and select Disable, Off or a similar setting. Do not disable DHCP on the primary router unless you intend to configure every device manually or use a dedicated DHCP service elsewhere.
Save or apply the setting, then allow the Edimax to restart if requested. From this point, clients connected to the Edimax should obtain their IP configuration from the primary router. A laptop connected to an Edimax LAN port should receive an address inside the main router’s DHCP pool, such as 192.168.1.115, rather than an address from a separate Edimax range.
Some firmware separates router mode from access-point mode. If an Access Point or Bridge option is available, it may automatically disable routing functions and DHCP. However, check the resulting LAN address and connection method rather than assuming that a mode change completed every requirement. Older models sometimes keep DHCP enabled until it is manually switched off.
If the Edimax settings have become confused or you can no longer reach the administration page, a factory reset may be necessary. Before using the reset button, remember that it removes wireless names, passwords, port rules and other custom settings; the Edimax reset guide explains the usual procedure and precautions.
Connect The Routers For A Single Network
For a simple access-point arrangement, run an Ethernet cable from a LAN port on the primary router to a LAN port on the Edimax. Leave the Edimax WAN or Internet port unused. This LAN-to-LAN connection places both devices on the same local network and allows the primary router to assign addresses to wireless and wired clients attached to the Edimax.
The Edimax Wi-Fi network can use the same wireless name and password as the main router if the goal is easier roaming around the home. Matching security settings, such as WPA2-Personal or WPA3 where supported, is important. Alternatively, a distinct name such as Home-Study can make it clear which access point a device is using while testing coverage.
Avoid selecting the same fixed wireless channel as a nearby access point when the units are close together. For 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, channels 1, 6 and 11 are commonly used because they do not overlap. On 5 GHz, automatic channel selection is often suitable, although radar-detection rules and channel availability can affect some Australian devices.
A separate WAN connection is appropriate only when the Edimax is deliberately being used as a router with a different subnet. That design creates double NAT and can interfere with device discovery, gaming, remote access and some smart-home equipment. It is usually unnecessary when the intention is to extend the existing network through an access point.
Verify Addressing And Everyday Operation
After connecting the cable, restart or reconnect a few client devices. Check their network details and confirm that the IP address, default gateway and DNS server come from the primary router. On many computers, the gateway should be the main router’s address, such as 192.168.1.1, while the client address should fall within the primary DHCP range.
Open a few websites, then test local services such as a network printer, shared storage or a Chromecast device. A successful internet test alone does not prove the network is configured correctly, because double NAT can still allow basic browsing while preventing local discovery. Confirm that a device connected through the Edimax can communicate with equipment connected directly to the main router.
If a client receives an address beginning with 169.254, it has failed to obtain a DHCP lease. Check that the Edimax DHCP service is disabled, the cable is connected to LAN ports and the primary router’s DHCP pool has available addresses. If a client receives an address from a completely different range, one of the routers may still be operating as a separate gateway.
The Edimax administration page should now be available at its new fixed LAN address. If it cannot be reached, check the client’s current gateway and confirm that the Edimax address was entered correctly. A DHCP reservation on the primary router can also help maintain a predictable address, though it should not overlap with a manually configured address on the Edimax.
| Arrangement | DHCP authority | Cable connection | Suitable use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edimax as access point | Primary router | Primary LAN to Edimax LAN | One shared home network |
| Edimax as separate router | Edimax or both routers | Primary LAN to Edimax WAN | Isolated network or special routing |
| Wireless extender mode | Usually primary router | Wireless backhaul | Coverage where Ethernet is unavailable |
| Two active DHCP servers on one LAN | Unclear and conflicting | Any mixed connection | Avoid; causes unreliable addressing |
A wired access point is generally more stable than a wireless extender, especially through brick walls or across large Australian homes. In a Melbourne apartment, Ethernet may be the practical way to avoid crowded 2.4 GHz channels. In a larger regional property, a long cable, an additional access point or a mesh system may provide better coverage than placing an extender at the edge of the existing signal.
Keep the Edimax firmware current where the model still receives updates, use a strong administrator password and turn off remote administration unless it is genuinely required. DHCP should be enabled on exactly one device for this shared-subnet design. The essential arrangement is simple: the main router assigns network settings, the Edimax uses a unique address on the same subnet, and the Ethernet link runs from LAN to LAN.