If you have an old router lying around in your house, you can put it to good use by using it as a signal extender or repeater for your WiFi network. Instead of splurging money on a mesh WiFi network, an old router will do the trick nicely. Of course, your devices will take a few extra seconds to make the switch when you move to a different area within your house, but it’s worth saving a few extra bucks. Let’s take a look at the top 2 ways to use a router as a WiFi extender or repeater.
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In This Article
What’s the difference between a WiFi repeater and an extender?
The terms ‘repeater’ and ‘extender’ are often used interchangeably, but they have a key difference. A WiFi repeater merely repeats the signal that it receives from the primary router. For example, if you place the repeater at a considerable distance from the primary router, it will receive a weaker signal. This weak signal will then be repeated to an extended area. Ideally, you should place the repeater in a place where it receives a strong signal which it can then disperse to a wider area.
A WiFi extender, on the other hand, increases the range of the signal from the primary router to a wider area. The signal strength does not take a massive hit. You can connect an extender to the primary router using an Ethernet cable. If you want a wireless connection, you will need to make sure that the extender is in close range of the primary router so that it doesn’t receive a weaker signal.
Use an old router as a WiFi repeater
Step 1: Grab your old router and reset it using the pinhole.
Step 2: Once the router has been reset, plug it into a power outlet and connect it to your PC. You can either connect to its WiFi network or use an ethernet cable for the task.
Step 3: Access the router’s management page on your PC’s web browser. Entering 192.168.0.1 in the address bar will take you to the management page of most routers.
Step 4: Log into the router management page by entering the username and password. You can find these credentials on the router’s body or retail packaging. The default username and password for most routers is ‘admin’.
Step 5: Once you’re on the management page, select Repeating Mode from settings.
Step 6: On the following page, select your primary router’s WiFi network.
Step 7: Enter the login credentials of the WiFi network you have selected.
Step 8: Hit Save.
Use an old router as a WiFi extender
Step 1: Reset the old router and update its firmware.
Step 2: Grab an Ethernet cable and plug it into the Ethernet/LAN port on the main router. Connect the other end of the cable to the WAN port on the old router.
Step 3: Turn on the secondary router and log into its management page.
Step 4: Find AP Mode and enable it.
Step 5: Hit Save.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I log into my router’s management page?
Connect to the WiFi network transmitted by the router and enter 192.168.0.1 in the address bar of your web browser. If this doesn’t work, use 192.168.1.1. Once you’re on the management page, enter ‘admin’ in the username and password fields to log in. You can also use the All Router Admin app to find out which credentials work for your router.
Can I use an old router as a WiFi repeater and extender?
If you have an old router lying around, you can use it to extend the coverage of your current WiFi network by linking it to your current router.
Do I need an Ethernet cable to extend my WiFi network?
If you’re planning on extending your WiFi network coverage using an old router, you don’t necessarily need an Ethernet cable to pair it with your current router. You can simply connect it to the existing network.
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Conclusion
These are the top 2 ways to use an old router as the WiFi repeater or extender. The biggest drawback of using an old router as a signal repeater is that the switch between the two networks is not as seamless as expected. If you want to eliminate this problem, you should look into buying a mesh network.
