How to turn an old router into a Wi-Fi extender – Guide
If you have an old router that is not being used as it should be, you can extend your home network with a few easy changes. A router can take your signal and spread it even further, which can help a lot if you want to use internet hungry devices like the Dell XPS 17 9710. What else would you use your old router for? Here is how to do it:
- Make sure that the router is turned on and connected to the internet.
- Open the device’s settings and make sure that Wi-Fi is enabled.
- Change the channel from 2 to 3 if your current channel is 2 or 4 if your current channel is 3 or 5.
- If using an extender, make sure that it has been set up properly and that it is connected to the same network as your original router.
How to turn an old router into a wifi extender
Find a compatible router
If you have an old router, check with the manual to see if the device can be converted into a repeater or extender and get specific instructions. If the router does not support running as a repeater or extender using the manufacturer’s firmware, there is another way. See if the router can use open source firmware (like DD-WRT). In that case, chances are you can use your old router as an extender. If your router is more than a few years old, it may not be able to support running as an extender or repeater using the manufacturer’s firmware. There is another way to try if your router supports open source firmware like DD-WRT. ..
If you’re looking for a router that will work well with 802.11b/g/n networks, be sure to look for routers from the 802.11beg era. These routers have lower maximum bandwidths, which can cause problems on your network. Only an 802.11n or ac router will be able to handle your needs.
Asus AiMesh routers can connect to create a mesh network on their own. There are 17 Asus routers that support the AiMesh tool and can automatically create a mesh network topology to fill a home with wireless data. However, you will need to load new firmware to make it work.
Update firmware and reset preferences
After obtaining and installing the latest firmware for the R7000 and connecting the router to our network with a Cat5 jumper cable, we open a browser window and type “www.rouoterlogin.net” to open the login screen. Other brands of routers will have different addresses or will have real IP addresses such as 192.168.1.1. See the chart below to find out the details of your router brand:
Netgear routers typically default to admin/password, but there are other combinations that can be used. If you don’t have the correct password for your Netgear router, you can usually find it on the manufacturer’s product support pages or on sites like RouterPasswords.com and Router-Reset.com.
It is important that you change your password for your router as soon as possible to protect yourself from potential online threats. If you have not done so already, you can reset the router by holding the reset button off for 20 or 30 seconds and then the router will restart.
Netgear’s Genie software, built into the R7000 router, can be used to change the configuration. Once logged in, go to the Wireless section of the main configuration page. Then open Advanced Setup and Wireless Repeating at the bottom. Start with the 2.4GHz section at the top and make sure that network name and password match the rest of the network to ensure reliable roaming from router to extender. Then click or tap Enable Wireless Repeating Function and then Wireless Repeater. ..
Set a static address
It can be tricky to enter a static IP address for the repeater. I like to use 192.168.1.2 (one greater than the base router address) to indicate that it is part of the LAN infrastructure and not a client or printer. I keep a handwritten list of static addresses pasted on the router to avoid further confusion about IP addresses.Almost ready. Make sure the subnet mask matches the router’s subnet mask. The subnet mask is what the router uses to determine whether the network segment and client are local or remote.
This information can usually be found on the router’s management software, on the same screen as the IP address you just set. The most common default subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 and there is no reason to change it. Before finishing, check the Disable Wireless Client Association box and enter the MAC address of the router; it is usually on a sticker on the back or bottom of the router or included in the device documentation.
Repeat for 5GHz
The R7000 is a dual-band router, so go down to the 5GHz section and repeat the previous instruction set. When finished, click Apply. The router should restart and, in a few minutes, behave like a wireless extender.
check your work
It’s time to define your Wi-Fi extender. Choose a location with an AC outlet that is halfway between your network router and the area you want to fill with Wi-Fi. There are a lot of details to worry about when finding the best location for your router, but you are basically looking for the sweet spot where you get the best reads.
To get started with the extender, try online resources. Next, use Speedtest.net to check your bandwidth availability. It may take some tries, a lot of errors, and maybe an extension cord if there isn’t an AC outlet nearby. ..
Final note
This guide will show you how to turn an old router into a Wi-Fi extender. If you have any query about this article, please ask us. Additionally, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends.
