September 10, 2023, 1:49 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
If the Wi-Fi signal is too weak in some corners of your apartment or house, you can use a repeater. You don’t even need a new device for this–an old router works just as well. TECHBOOK shows how it works.
Discarded routers don’t have to end up in the trash; they can be used as repeaters to boost your home Wi-Fi. This not only saves money on a new repeater but also avoids unnecessary electronic waste. TECHBOOK provides a step-by-step guide on how to proceed.
Overview
Using an Old Router as a Wi-Fi Repeater
As a repeater, the old router picks up the signal from the home base, meaning the new router, and extends it, allowing for a better Wi-Fi signal even in the most remote corners of your home.
This type of signal amplification can also provide internet access to remote rooms or even the garden and garage, where the Wi-Fi signal would otherwise be too weak for a stable connection. Additionally, devices can be connected to the router-repeater via LAN cable–an advantage over many conventional repeaters.
To achieve optimal transmission speed, it is recommended to use two devices from the same manufacturer. However, routers from different manufacturers can also be set up as the central unit and repeater.
Read also: Should you replace the router provided by your provider?
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How the Configuration Works
To use an old router as a repeater, you need to configure the device accordingly. First, connect the old router to your laptop via LAN cable or Wi-Fi. Then, enter in the browser’s address bar, for example, fritz.box for a Fritzbox, speedport.ip for a Telekom router, or o2.box for an O2 Homebox. This will take you to the respective router interface. If it doesn’t work, or if access is protected by a password you don’t know, reset the old router to factory settings.
Setup via Router Interface
In the next step, you usually need to activate the “Advanced View” on the router interface’s homepage for more extensive settings options. This is available on almost every router model. The following steps are outlined using an AVM Fritzbox. However, they should be found under the same or very similar names on routers from other manufacturers.
Go to the “Wi-Fi” menu and select “Mesh Repeater.” Now change the operating mode of the old router from Mesh Master to “Router as Mesh Repeater.” The Fritzbox will automatically adopt the settings of the home base, meaning the main router. You can also set whether you want to configure the old router as a Wi-Fi repeater or connect devices via LAN cable.
Read also: How repeaters can make your Wi-Fi faster
Setup by Button Press
Alternatively, the old router can also be integrated into the mesh by pressing a button. Depending on the model, press and hold the Connect or WPS button on the repeater router until its Wi-Fi light blinks. Within two minutes, press the connection button on the main router until its confirmation LED lights up. Now both devices connect, with the main router also transferring all important settings to the repeater. After successful pairing, both devices should be displayed in the mesh overview.
Which button to press on different Fritzbox models and which LED lights up when is listed by AVM on a help page.
Which Router Is Right for Me?
Various Fritzbox models, along with devices from Netgear, Asus, and others: The market is full of different routers. If you can’t decide which one to buy–TECHBOOK’s comprehensive router buying guide provides clarity.