How to convert an old router into a repeater

If you have an old router, you can put it to use instead of throwing it on a shelf or in the trash. These items should be reused instead of being thrown away because e-waste is one of the most common toxic wastes in the world, including mercury, which is highly toxic to human health, causing liver and brain damage. When e-waste mixes with the ground or soil, it becomes contaminated. Therefore, reusing these items is a better option than throwing them away. That's why we'll explore the best uses for your old router.

Are you experiencing dead spots or weak Wi-Fi connections in your home? Many people face this problem. You want reliable service throughout your home but don't want to spend a fortune on a whole-home network system.

If you have an old router lying around, you can convert it into a repeater and achieve full coverage with an investment of less than $20 and a little time. Even if you don't have an old router, you can get one from a site like eBay for a small price.

what do you need

To redirect your router as a Wi-Fi repeater, you will need the following items:

• Powerline network adapter without Wi-Fi
• Old router (802.11n or 802.11ac)
• Ethernet cable
• Extension cord (maybe)

Create a new duplicate device

First, you need to determine the IP address of your current router, which channel it is broadcasting on, and what type of security it is using.

1. Open Settings.
2. Click Network & Internet.
3. Click the “Network and Sharing Center” link.
4. Change adapter settings.
5. Right-click on your Wi-Fi network.
6. Click on status.
7. Click on the details button.

Now type the default gateway address of the primary router.

Contact the primary router

To connect to your current router:

You can access it by typing the IP address into your browser, or you can enter the address provided by your router manufacturer.

Asus - http://router.asus.com Belkin - http://router D-Link - http://mydlinkrouter.local Linksys - http://myrouter.local Netgear - http://www.routerlogin.net TP-Link - http://tplinklogin.net or http://tplinkwifi.net

Enter your username and password. If you don't know them, you can often find them on the bottom of your router or online.

Check your Wi-Fi settings

For this step, we won't be changing anything. We're just looking for information about your Wi-Fi settings to use when setting up the second router.

1. On the home page of the router you just accessed, find the router name, channel, and security type.
2. Write this down, but don't change anything.
3. Sign out.

Reset your old router

The first thing to do to an old router is to completely erase any data stored from when it was in use.

1. Log in to the router.
2. Insert a paper clip or small, thin object into the marked hole on the back of the router.
3. Hold for about thirty seconds.
4. Release and all lights should go out and come back on. You are now back to factory settings.
5. Configure a secondary router

To get your router ready to use:

1. Turn off the primary router or disconnect a computer from the network.
2. Connect the router to a computer that is not connected to the network.
3. Go through step 1 again using your old router until you reach the configuration page.

Copy settings from primary router

Now you need to enter the information you copied from the primary router settings into the one you will now use as a repeater.

1. Ignore any setup wizards.
2. Go to the Wi-Fi settings page.
3. Enable wireless.
4. Change the network name to the same as your primary router.
5. Choose a channel away from the one used by the primary router.
6. Match the security type exactly.
7. Set the same password as your primary password.

Set the old router's IP as a static address

The router you are using for your repeater needs its own IP address.

1. Go to the LAN setup page and give the router an IP address in the range assigned by the main router but outside the addresses automatically issued by DHCP (Dynamic Host Communications Protocol).
2. Disable DHCP by unchecking it on the configuration page.
3. Give it a new address, one outside the ranges defined by the router. For example, if the router gives out addresses from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.49, give the new router the address 192.168.1.50.
4. Save settings.
5. Wait for the computer to restart.

Put it together

The best way to connect routers is with a long network cable, but this isn't always practical. Instead, use a cheap powerline network adapter. It will use your electrical system as the signal transmission mechanism. Just make sure you use a single electrical system connected to the same fuse box.

Check your work

Now it's time to check your connections.

1. Choose a spot halfway between the dead spot and the primary router.
2. Plug the powerline adapter into the wall.
3. Connect the router to the switch using an Ethernet cable.
4. Turn on the extender router and try to connect.
5. Use a site like speedtest.net to check your connection speed near your primary router.
6. Speed test with secondary router and compare the first reading.
7. Move your secondary router a little to see if you can get a faster connection.

If you need better Wi-Fi in the corners of your house, but don't have a lot of money to make it happen, try this first to see if it works for you.