How to use an old router as WiFi range extender

If you are getting WiFi connectivity issues even after new extender setup at home, don’t panic in any way. Just walk through this webpage and find out the magic formula to vanish this issue. You can use an old router as WiFi range extender to achieve better signal strength throughout the home or office. Yes, you read that absolutely right. To know how to do so, read more.

Unless you live in a small apartment or cottage, it is very rare that a single router can provide wireless signals in an entire home. Instead of complaining to your mate about areas where you can’t watch YouTube videos or listen to online music, you can do something yourself about it: transform your router into a range extender. Once done, it takes the existing signals and retransmits them.

Let us tell you something: it is pretty easy to reconfigure your old router as an extender so that it can spread the fastest connectivity over the house even in dead zones. Despite the fact that it costs almost nothing to do so, don’t anticipate WiFi miracles immediately after the setup. Still, it is a great way to fill your home with wireless connectivity in an inexpensive manner.

In this post, we are going to turn a dusty Netgear R7000 802.11ac router into a WiFi booster as an example of how to execute this trick. With the help of Netgear genie setup, we transformed an old router into a repeater to add WiFi to dead zones. Let’s get started with the process.

Important Note: The general process for other routers is almost the same.

Points to remember:

• You have to use WEP security standard.
• Make sure that your router has WPS feature by default.
• You can set up the router using a laptop or computer. For more information about Netgear router setup, contact our experts immediately.

Get started with the process

1. Find a compatible router

In the case of an old router, check with the instructions booklet to ensure that it can be converted into an extender. Be suspicious about the routers which have 802.11b and 802.11g standards since they don’t work well. Such routers include lower maximum bandwidth which results in blockage in your network.

2. Update firmware and reset preferences

Install the latest firmware version on your Netgear WiFi range extender through mywifiext.net. Afterward, connect the router to a wireless network and go to routerlogin.net web address. Other routers make use of different IP addresses e.g. 192.168.1.250 for login.

3. Set a static address

Quite tricky step! This step requires you to type in a static IP address for WiFi extender. Use an IP address to signify that it is a part of the infrastructure of LAN (Local Area Network). Before proceeding further, uncheck the box saying disable wireless client association and type the MAC address of router. You can find the MAC address on a sticker placed on the device or in Netgear WiFi range extender manual.

4. Repeat for 5GHz

Some Netgear routers are dual-band e.g. R7000. So you have to follow the previous set of instructions (mentioned above) once again. As soon as you are done with this, do not forget to click on apply button. Now, the router should reboot or power-cycle. And after a couple of minutes, it should behave like a WiFi booster or repeater.

5. Check your work

It is time for Netgear extender setup. Select an area about midway between the router and dead zone. There are a number of specifics to take care of while finding a great spot for your artificial extender. Start the extender and connect your device to the network. If you are getting a good internet speed, congrats as you are successful in this task. If not, do contact our Netgear extender support team and ask whatever technical queries are in your mind.