<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIt is possible to use a Wi-Fi router as a Wi-Fi extender, but it depends on the type of router and its features. The easiest way is to connect it to your main router via an Ethernet cable<\/em> and then place it in\u00a0AP Mode\u00a0to use as a Wi-Fi extender. Secondly, you can switch an extra internet router into\u00a0Repeating Mode\u00a0to use it as a Wi-Fi repeater without a cable. Some routers have a built-in feature called a “Wireless Distribution System” (WDS) that allows them to connect to another wireless network and rebroadcast the signal.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, not all routers support this feature, and using a router as an extender may result in slower connection speeds and a weaker signal compared to using a dedicated Wi-Fi extender or mesh network system. It is generally recommended to use a dedicated extender for better performance and reliability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your router has the WDS feature, you can use it to extend the range of your wireless network. To do this, you need to configure both routers to use the same wireless network name (SSID) and security settings, and then connect them using the WDS feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, not all routers support WDS, and even among those that do, there may be compatibility issues with other routers or devices. In addition, using a router as an extender may result in a slower connection speed and a weaker signal compared to using a dedicated Wi-Fi extender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your primary goal is to extend the range of your wireless network, it is generally recommended to use a dedicated Wi-Fi extender or mesh network system that is designed specifically for this purpose. These devices are typically easier to set up and provide better performance and reliability than using a router as an extender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How do I turn my old router into a Wi-Fi extender?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere are two main ways that you can use to turn your old router into a WiFi extender. The easy one is to connect the router to the primary router via an Ethernet cable<\/strong> and turn the old router to AP mode. Alternatively, you can use the repeater mode if you don’t want to use an Ethernet cable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re not using your old router and want to repurpose it into a Wi-Fi extender, you\u2019ll need to make sure that it can act as a repeater. A repeater receives an incoming signal and re-transmits it at a different frequency. They\u2019re most commonly used to extend the range of your Wi-Fi network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the steps to turn your old router into a Wi-Fi extender:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Check if your old router supports WDS (Wireless Distribution System) or not.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reset your old router to its default settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Connect your computer or mobile device to the old router via Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Log in to the router’s web-based setup page and change the IP address to avoid conflicts with the main router.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Disable the DHCP server on the old router.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Configure the Wi-Fi settings on the old router to match the main router, including the SSID and security settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enable the WDS feature on the old router and connect it to the main router’s Wi-Fi network.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Place the old router in a location where it can extend the Wi-Fi signal to areas with poor coverage.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Keep in mind that the steps may vary depending on the make and model of your old router and the main router. Also, using a dedicated Wi-Fi extender or mesh network system is usually a better option than using an old router as an extender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How to use TP-Link router as WiFi extender<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nYou can use a TP-Link router as a WiFi extender to extend the coverage of your wireless network either as a repeater or through an Ethernet cable<\/strong>. By configuring the TP-Link router in “Wireless Bridge” mode, it can pick up the existing WiFi signal and retransmit it, effectively extending the coverage area without the need for a physical cable connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHere are the general steps to use a TP-Link router as a WiFi extender:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Connect your computer to the TP-Link router via Ethernet or WiFi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Open a web browser and log in to the router’s web interface by entering the IP address (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and your login credentials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click on “Wireless” and then “Wireless Settings”.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Change the wireless network name (SSID) to match your existing WiFi network and choose the same security encryption type and password.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click on “Wireless” and then “Wireless Bridge”.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Check the box for “Enable Wireless Bridge” and choose the network name of your existing WiFi network in the “SSID” field.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Save the settings and wait for the router to reboot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Disconnect the TP-Link router from your computer and place it in a location where it can receive a strong WiFi signal from your existing network.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Connect your devices to the TP-Link router’s WiFi network and enjoy extended coverage.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
You can also connect the router to the primary router through an Ethernet cable and set the secondary router on AP mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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