In today’s internet-connected world, having a stable and reliable Wi-Fi network is essential. However, you may realize that your Wi-Fi signal does not reach all areas of your home or office, causing frustration and a slowdown in your internet speed. Before throwing away your old router, it is worth considering using it as a repeater to extend your wireless coverage. This article will show you how to turn your old router into a repeater.

Step 1: Identify Compatibility

The first step to turning your router into a repeater is to check its compatibility with the main router. The old router needs to support the same network protocols, such as 802.11ac or 802.11n. Ensure that the mode you choose is compatible with your primary router.

Step 2: Reset the Router

An old router may have old settings such as IP address, username, and password that may not work with the current network set up. Resetting the router to the factory settings by accessing its settings page can help clear out these settings. To do this, connect your computer to the router using an ethernet cable, open your web browser and enter the IP address of the router into the address bar. Once on the login page, enter the default username and password provided in the manual. Look for the reset settings option.

Step 3: Change IP address of the Old Router

To avoid IP address conflicts between the old and the primary router, you need to assign a new IP address to the old router manually. Go to the settings page of the old router and type in an IP address from the range of the primary router.

Step 4: Set up the Repeater Mode

Once you have set up the new IP address, navigate to the “Wireless” settings on the old router. There you will find the “Wireless Mode” option. Select the option that supports “Repeater” or “Bridge” mode, depending on the kind of router.

Step 5: Connect the Old Router

After successfully setting up the old router in repeater mode, it is time to connect it to the primary router. To do this, go to the “Wireless” settings again and scan for a list of available wireless networks. From there, locate the primary network and select it. Enter the password for the primary network and save the settings. The old router will reboot and connect to the primary router.

Step 6: Fine-tune the Settings

Before using the new repeater, it is worth repeating the same steps and logging into the repeater router. You can now fine-tune the settings on the router to improve its performance. You can change the channel, SSID name, and the password of the repeater.

Conclusion

Setting up a repeater using an old router can increase your wireless coverage, allowing you to access the internet in all parts of your home or office. However, it is crucial to explore compatibility with the primary router, reset the device, and reconfigure the settings to ensure it works as intended. Follow these steps, and you’ll have an inexpensive and easy way to extend your wireless network.