Use your old internet router as a WiFi repeater at home

Having a stable and fast wireless Internet connection throughout the house can be a very complex task because it does not always reach all rooms equally. Fortunately, to improve network coverage without having to pay extra, it is possible to use an old router as a Wi-Fi repeater.

Let's remember that this is a tool Allows you to extend the wireless signal To do this, it connects to the main point and repeats the connection from its location, ideal for extending connectivity to remote areas of the home.

Additionally, using an older router for this task just won't do the trick It is an attractive proposition for improving the performance of your home network Without having to buy anything, but it is also in line with e-waste reduction initiatives by giving a second life to an old device.

The strategy involves a core router that acts as a gateway to the Internet, While the secondary router is responsible for extending the Wi-Fi signal Located in other parts of the house.

This is a crucial step for the device to amplify the network and the process begins by connecting the secondary router to the primary router Via Ethernet cable with RJ-45 termination. This connection allows both devices to communicate with each other to distribute the Internet connection more efficiently.

However, because the secondary router needs to be located away from the primary router to maximize network range, The challenge is connecting both devices over long distances within the home. To solve this problem, two main methods are proposed:

• Use of PLC (Powerline Communications), which allows the Internet signal to be transmitted over the electrical wires in the home. In other words, it's useful to have an Ethernet port wherever there's a plug.
• Implementation of Ethernet cable installationthe installation of which will depend on whether the user prefers to leave it visible or make an arrangement such that it is integrated into the wall.

You need to make sure that your main router and old router are connected properly using an Ethernet cable. in addition to, The second connection must be disconnected from the network To avoid interference during setup.

necessary Check and write your WiFi network settings, Including broadcast channel, SSID (network identifier) ​​and password, then turn off the main router so that there is no conflict when accessing the administration panel of the old device. This step is performed by entering your old router's standard IP address, usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, from a web browser.

Once you log into the administration panel of the secondary router, The user should look for the option to configure it as a repeaterWhich may vary depending on the device model and manufacturer.

If you don't have an automatic option, Go to manual configurationwhich includes adjusting the old router's IP address so that it does not overlap with that of the main router, disabling the DHCP server, and setting the same SSID and password as the main router.

next to, You must select a different channel from the main router To emit a WiFi signal, ensuring extended coverage without interference.

It is important to highlight that routers are not pretty devices and for this reason they tend to be placed in very inconspicuous places, however, it must be taken into account that the position of the router greatly affects the signal and if it is placed in an inappropriate place, it is likely It is very important that the coverage does not reach the entire house. The ideal is to place it in the center of the house.