Alex Tofts, broadband expert at Broadband Genie said reviving an old router can boost signal in your home
There is a simple way to boost your Wi-Fi signal to cover more of your home with a device that many of us have lying around the house.
If you have an old Wi-Fi router left over, you can use it to extend the range of your existing Wi-Fi network, said Alex Tofts, broadband expert at Broadband Genie.
Most modern routers have a setting that allows them to act as a ‘repeater’ for another Wi-Fi network.
Tofts said this can avoid the need for an expensive Wi-Fi extender or mesh network technology and help boost your broadband signal throughout the home.
Routers often struggle to send signals through thick walls, and homeowners turn to expensive tech extras to try and deal with the problem.
Tofts said: ‘Wi-Fi extenders are popular for households looking to boost their broadband signal. However, rather than buying one, an old router can often be reused to remove coverage black spots around the house.’
Tofts said that most new router models will happily work as a booster (although some older models may refuse to play ball), and it’s just a matter of tweaking the settings.
Tofts said: ‘To revive your router you will need to change its settings.
‘First, do a factory reset on the router by holding down the built-in reset button – it’s often small, so use a pencil.
Adjusting settings can make old routers work as a ‘repeater’ for your existing network
Then turn on the old router and connect it to your computer with an Ethernet cable. While you’re doing this, look at the back of the router, where you’ll likely find its IP address (usually 192.167.1.1), username and password.
On your computer, type the IP address in your usual browser, followed by the other details, to access the administration control panel.
Tofts pointed out that these menus will vary by router model, but you should look for three specific menu options — LAN, DHCP, and IP Address Settings.
This will allow you to change your router to work as a ‘repeater’ for your existing router rather than a router in its own right.
Tofts said: ‘Once logged in, look for the LAN (Local Area Network) settings to connect the two routers. Here you will also need to disable the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) settings on the old device so that it acts as an extender while your main router is in control.
Next, you have to manually give your new ‘repeater’ a new IP address, making it work with your existing network, Tofts said.
Tofts explained: ‘Go to the IP address setting and give the old router a similar IP address to your main address, and change the final digit (eg 192.168.1.2).
“This allows the routers to share the same local network without conflicting.”
The final step is to change the network name on the old router to match your network, Tofts explained.
Finally, under wireless settings, change the network name or SSID (Service Set Identifier). Match the name and password to your main router’s and save your changes. You should also make sure that both devices use the same type of encryption, for example WPA2, so that both Wi-Fi access points are equally secure.
Now disconnect the Ethernet cable and use it to connect the two routers. They must both have an Internet connection, be connected to the same network, and have access to devices that give your Wi-Fi signal a helping hand.’
If you don’t want an Ethernet cable, you can use power line extenders (available for about $30) to connect the two routers via your electrical system.