Using an old router as wifi extender

[Alan Sex]

Can anyone give me a step by step guide on how to do this?

 

Using an iMac to do the fiddle bits.

[George Costanza]

depends on what the old router is & what the new router is.  Given its a router and not specifically designed wifi extender I'd probably not even bother & go out buy the right product (they are very cheap these days and through wps take seconds the setup)

 

what is the reason for attempting this (bar the obvious of extending wifi coverage - which you would still need to connect a cable between old & new router to do so)

[Alan Sex]

Looking to get better wifi coverage for wife's office in the basement, where she is chained up in the evenings with the transients I have picked up over the last few years.

[markcd]

it's pretty straightforward - but you will need a connection between the 2 routers.

 

I have used powerline adapters in the past, and it's worked ok, but it can be a bit of a pain if you've never done it before.

 

If you haven't got powerline adapters, and running a cable between the 2 isn't feasible, then completely agree with GC above, buy powerline wifi extenders, like this: http://goo.gl/JXxffj

[Duncan Clench]

It's certainly doable. This link should help. If the router hasn't got a repeater functionality built-in then you can install new firmware, if the router is supported by them what makes it try DD-WRT because it's good firmware with loads of different functions.

 

That being said, wifi repeaters aren't expensive and doing this is a good half an hour job and that's if it works, and you at leat sort of know what you're doing!

 

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-extend-your-wi-fi-network-with-an-old-router-915783308

[George Costanza]

I'd suggest a cheap wifi extender. You can get one for £20 & with wps setup you can be up & running in 5 minutes.  they are much more now that look like plugin air fresheners so are discrete but will double the wireless range of your router. Once setup as well you can move them around to find the best/optimum desired coverage

[scudger99]

Just turn the DHCP off on the router you'll use as an extender, give it a static IP address and use a cable to connect the two routers.  You should get away with a straight through cable rather that a crossover, most devices these days have a pretty good auto sensor built in.

You can use the 3 spare ports on your extender router as a switch, and can configure the wireless as you please.  Easy stuff.

[markcd]

One of the Amazon deal of the day items for today is:

 

Belkin N300 Wall Plug Mounted Universal Wi-Fi Range Extender/Wireless Signal Booster

 

for £13.99 it would save quite a bit of dicking around....

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KRDIEBW

[Alan Sex]

Yep think the extender is the way to go here.

[TheHowieLama]

Extender - really?