Leverage old routers to expand Wi-Fi coverage

If you have an older Router that supports Repeater functionality, you can use it to expand your home's Wi-Fi coverage.

You've just moved to a new home and one of the things you've invested in is the Internet. Similar to most other broadband connections, the network cables are usually connected to the wall. To ensure that you do not affect the look of your home, use wireless routers and place them right at the built-in audio outlets.

Everything is fine except that you use the Internet connection in the kitchen or balcony. Wi-Fi signals are hardly ever present in these places, and that is when you need to think about using an older router as a repeater.

The GuidingTech tutorial below will detail the steps you can take to turn an older router into a repeater for Wi-Fi.

Step 1: Get details of Wi-Fi from the main router

The first thing you need to do is to find out the details of your current Wi-Fi connection. You will need the SSID, ie the Wi-Fi network name, the password you use to connect, and finally the security type of the Wi-Fi network you are using.

The easiest way to get this information is to connect your computer to a Wi-Fi network and select Properties from the right-click menu.

The SSID is the name of the Wi-Fi network you are connecting to . The Security type and Network security key are located under the Security tab on the Wireless Network Properties window .

Save the settings by writing them down or save them in a Notepad file before proceeding to the next step.

In addition, you can also find the information on the router's administration page. However, access to the router is not necessary in this case.

Note : If you are using Connectify software or a virtual hotspot to broadcast Wi-Fi, the default security type will be WPA2.

Step 2: Reset the old router settings and make the connection

Once you have all the necessary details from the main router, power the old router and reset the factory settings to it.Most routers have a dedicated Reset button, or you may have to press and hold the WPS button for a few seconds.Restoring the original installation and starting the reset from scratch is the best way to accomplish this.

Once that's done, disconnect your computer from the main wireless network and connect it to the second router using an Ethernet or Wi-Fi cable.

To access the router's management page, you need to have its SSID, login name, and default password. This information may be printed on the device body or in the user's manual. You can also open the support page of the manufacturer to find them.

Now, you wait for the computer to receive the default IP and then connect to it via the default web browser on your computer. Most of the lines have default IPs of 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 but this IP may differ depending on the settings from the manufacturer. At the login page, enter admin in both the login name and password fields.

Step 3: Configure Router to Repeater

Once at the Router Management page, look for wireless network settings. At this setting page you will find an option called Operation Mode . Please select this setting and change it to Repeater . Next, click the Search / Survey button to find all the Wi-Fi networks around you.

Once you've done that, click the Connect button at your Wi-Fi network name, enter the password, and save the settings.

If the router does not ask for a password, open the wireless security page and manually enter the password.

The wireless security settings and passwords on the secondary router must match the settings on the main router, which is what you obtained in Step 1 . Finally, the router will ask you to restart the device. After booting, you will see that the second router is set to Repeater mode and has the same Wi-Fi name as the primary network.

Step 4: Select the router location

If your main router is being placed at the bottom of the house, do not place the second router near that location.Instead, place it somewhere in the middle of the house or in places where the Wi-Fi signal remains halfway up. This helps extend the Wi-Fi signal to the rest of the house, and that's where the main Wi-Fi routers of the main router are not.

Now you can enjoy a stable wireless Internet connection throughout your home. This way is especially useful for those who sit on the balcony to read the news or work and sip a cup of coffee and breathe fresh air every morning.