When we buy a new router for our home, we expect it to cover the entire area, and that we can enjoy fast navigation. But, sometimes we can find that the internet is not so good at certain points .
Even we find areas where there is no connection, this can make us feel dissatisfied with the purchase and we can think that if we bought a more powerful equipment , that would not be happening.
But the truth is that we can save some money if we properly use old routers , instead of saving or selling them, and that is why this article is dedicated to explaining how we can solve these inconveniences.
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Why use a router «old» as a wireless repeater to increase Wifi signal? Advantages
To enjoy a quality Internet service in our home or company, it is essential that we have the newest equipment, since over the years improvements are always being added that accelerate the speed of navigation. This makes older teams lose their function almost completely, or at least that’s what most people think .
These devices can be very useful to solve some signal problems that we will mention below . For example, in your home or in your office there may be dead spots, what we know as a point with no signal .
There are usually “dead spots” in rooms and offices that are far from the main router , or that are isolated or impeded by a large number of walls. Therefore, we present the advantages of recycling a router at home and using it as a repeater:
- You will completely save any expenses that you would normally have to do by buying an original repeater.
- You will expand the range of the signal range.
- It will increase the speed of navigation, loading and unloading , thanks to the strength of the signal.
Although it is true that one of the best ways to use an old router as a signal repeater, better said “access point” , is through Ethernet wiring. This method would require you to incur expenses, in case you don’t have a wiring for this task .
And also, from the aesthetic point of view, a cable that crosses the whole house from the site of the main router, to the router with access point function, is not very good for decoration .
Considerations to consider before using your router as a signal amplifier
There are some considerations that we must take into account when wanting to convert our old router into a signal repeater. These considerations are linked to the fact that not all routers can be used for this task, here we explain why .
It is well known that not all routers are equal and therefore at least those that work with a WIFI N, will be able to function as a repeater. Also it is possible to configure as repeaters routers that work with WiFI AC since these are multi band .
These features are important in the router since without them they would not be compatible with the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands which are essential for quality navigation. Another consideration before carrying out this procedure in your home, is that even if the range and speed of navigation were improved, the result obtained would not be as effective as that which can be achieved with a true signal repeater .
In general, when a router can be configured as a repeater, this functionality can be easily seen in the user manual, or the official support page of the equipment. Instead when this option is not visible anywhere, it may be necessary to use a custom DD-WRT Firmware .
The next thing we need to do is know exactly what the IP address of our router is, to access it from the browser.
Search the IP address in Windows
- To know this information from a Windows computer you just have to right click on the connection button in the lower right corner and then on «Open network settings and internet» .
- Then in the screen displayed in the lower area we will click on where it says «Change adapter options».
- And then in the wireless network connection we will right click and select the “Status” option. To culminate click on permittedDetails given.
- In the details of the wireless network connection we can find all the data of our connection and there will be the IP address of the router in question.
Search the IP address on Mac
The procedure on a Mac device is a bit simpler, we just have to go to the “Settings”, then in “Network” then in “Advanced » and finally in accounted for TCP-IP
And this is where we will find the router’s IP address, although in this case it is 192.168.0.1. Most routers usually have the IP address 192.168.1.1 and this can serve as a reference . It should be noted that this procedure must be performed both with the “old” router and with the main router since we will need this data later.
Other considerations
The next thing to consider before turning the router into a repeater, is to reset the device to the factory state . To do this we must introduce a pointed and thin object into a hole that is behind the equipment.
A sewing needle or pin can be used for this task, and we must enter it and leave it pressed for more than 5 seconds or until all the headlights turn on simultaneously and then blink. This is the indication of that the restart was successful and now we can start making the configuration to increase the signal of the house.
But don’t worry if your device doesn’t have the features to work as a repeater. Since on the contrary that means that it can be configured as an access point, only that this will require a small investment in Ethernet cable . This option eventually turns out to be the best, but that is not today’s topic.
Steps to configure a router as «Wifi mirror» to increase the signal of your connection
Next we start with the simplest protocol to configure the router and turn it into a repeater. Although all routers are different and each one has a different Firmware. and we will explain the steps so that they are understandable to any router .
Log in to the router
The router must be on and the computer from which we are going to make the change must be connected to it and not to the main router. Now in the browser of our preference we are going to write the IP address that we already extracted in the previous steps, in this example it is accoun192.168.0.1 conseque.
With this we are going to access the router from the browser and since it is newly reset it will not have a password and just simply click on “login”. If you have a password after the reset, this will be the one that comes by default in the device manual or on a label just below the device.
Change the IP address
Once logged in to the router “old” we must find the configuration section in which we are allowed to change the router’s IP address. This option can usually be found in the “Network” section and then in the accounted forLANLAN.
What we will do is put an address exactly the same as the main router but in the last number we will change it to a higher one. Example: Main router 192.168.0.1 “old router” 192.168.0.2. Then we must save the changes, close and log back into the router .
Bridge between the main router and the repeater router
To carry out this step we must first disable DHCP, then go to the Wireless section of your router. Then you must access the “Wireless” section and then “Wireless Settings”.
Here we will find several parameters to configure:
- The first one will be “Wireless Network Name” or “SSID”, depending on your device. In this we must put the name of our network, and it must be the same as the main router.
- The second parameter will be the channel or «Channel» in numbers, which should be different from the main router, to avoid interference.
- The last parameter will be to activate the “Enable WDS Bridging” or “Enable WDS” option depending on your device .
And with this we will have activated the bridge between our routers.
Connect to the Main router
Now what we have to do is access the “Search Survey” or “Survey” option depending on your team. Here we will scan the different access points of the different available networks. Then select from the list the one that matches our main router and we will click on accountedConnectly.
When doing this we will be asked to fill in the security parameters that must be totally equal to the main one. If we don’t know this data, we can access it by logging into the main router .
Security parameters
Now we go to the “Wireless” section and then to “Wireless Security”. Here we will establish the data, security type and password of the WIFI internet connection. They must be the same as the main router to be able to access with a single password in all areas to which the connection reaches.
Restart the router
This is the final step of the process in which all the parameters that we have just set will be saved. To do this we must go to the “System Tools” section and then to “Reboot”. With this we get the router to restart but save the parameters changed before.
On some computers it may happen that after this, step 3 is removed so it is good to review and re-establish it. More than anything in the “Wireless Network Name” or “SSID” section. Finally we must connect to any device, computer or mobile to verify that the Internet connection is working .
In case you need to install a Firmware on your router that allows you to perform the process that we already explained. You can check the DD-WRT website to see if there is a firmware version that is compatible with your device . And look for instructions to carry out the software installation.
List of brands and models of routers that can be used as amplifiers
Something important to know is that not all routers can be used as a mirror. This requires some special function, so you should investigate if the model you have can be. For our part, we leave you a list of the most recommended routers in the market to become signal repeaters:
TP-Link Archer C1200
It is a dual band router that perfectly meets the characteristics to serve as an internet signal repeater, thanks to its WIFI AC operation . No wonder its manufacturer is one of the best positioned worldwide.
FRITZ! Box 4040
A connection device that works with the WIFI AC standard and that is capable of navigating above 866 mbps and that is compatible with Wifi N therefore is capable of becoming a repeater, and about access if required .
Sinology RT1900ac
It is a powerful router that has 3 antennas and which boasts of navigating with a maximum 1900 mbps , so it is also excellent to turn it into a signal repeater, since it is Extra power will also be reflected in the increased connection.
Asus BRT-AC828
