How to Turn Your Old Router Into a Repeater?

That old router sitting in a drawer can actually solve your WiFi dead zone problem. Instead of buying a separate WiFi extender, you can configure your old router as a wireless repeater that picks up your main router signal and rebroadcasts it to areas of your house that the main router cannot reach.

What You Need Before Starting

You need your old router, an ethernet cable for initial setup, and access to your main router settings. Write down your main router WiFi name, password, security type, and WiFi channel. You will need these details to configure the old router to work with your main network. Also make sure the old router is factory reset before starting so there are no leftover settings that could cause conflicts.

Step 1: Factory Reset the Old Router

Press and hold the reset button on the old router for 10 seconds until the lights blink. This clears all previous settings. Wait for the router to fully restart before proceeding. If you do not know the default login credentials after the reset, check the sticker on the bottom of the router or search for your router model default password online.

Step 2: Connect to the Old Router

Plug an ethernet cable from your computer to one of the LAN ports on the old router. Do not connect it to your main router yet. Open a browser and type the old router default IP address which is usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Log in with the default admin credentials.

Step 3: Change the IP Address

Your old router needs a different IP address from your main router to avoid conflicts. If your main router uses 192.168.1.1, change the old router to something like 192.168.1.2. Go to the LAN or Network settings in the old router admin panel and change the IP address. Save and reconnect to the router using the new IP address.

Step 4: Disable DHCP on the Old Router

The main router handles assigning IP addresses to all devices on your network. Having two DHCP servers causes conflicts and connectivity issues. Find the DHCP settings in the old router admin panel and turn DHCP off completely. This lets your main router remain the only device assigning IP addresses while the old router simply extends the WiFi coverage.

Step 5: Match the Wireless Settings

Set the old router WiFi name and password to match your main router exactly. This way your devices will seamlessly switch between the two routers as you move around the house without you needing to manually change networks. Set the security type to the same as your main router which is usually WPA2 or WPA3. Set the WiFi channel to a different number from your main router to avoid interference. If your main router is on channel 1, set the old router to channel 6 or 11.

Step 6: Connect the Old Router to the Main Router

Run an ethernet cable from any LAN port on your main router to a LAN port on the old router. Do not use the WAN or Internet port on the old router. The old router is acting as an access point now and only needs a LAN connection. Place the old router in the area where your WiFi signal is weak. Power it on and it will start broadcasting the same WiFi network extending your coverage to that area.

Alternative: Wireless Repeater Mode

Some routers have a built-in Repeater or WDS Bridge mode that lets the old router connect to the main router wirelessly without needing an ethernet cable between them. Check if your old router supports this by looking in the Wireless settings for an option like Repeater Mode, WDS, or Wireless Bridge. Enable it and enter your main router WiFi details. This is more convenient than running a cable but the speed will be lower since the old router uses the same WiFi to receive and retransmit.