In this article, we will tell you how to make a new access point out of an old router in order to easily expand the wifi coverage of your home or office.
Currently, the vast majority of apartments have an Internet connection. Sometimes, due to non-standard layout, the wireless network does not reach everywhere in the house, even with ordinary walls. There are many solutions to finally create a stable WiFi connection in every corner of the house: signal booster, repeater (repeater), etc. But they all require financial investments for the purchase, which do not always provide the expected result and solution to the problem.
Now we will show completely free alternative, with which you can get a good signal in all those places in the house where the signal is attenuated or has poor connection quality.
I think many of you, or your friends, have recently updated the router model. An old router that is no longer in use can be used as a second point WiFi access in the home or office to receive a signal in all corners of the room.
The first thing we need to do is find a place where we want to place this second access point so that its signal reaches places where the current router cannot reach.
After that, we will need to install the router and connect it to the outlet. After correct inclusion router (approximately 2 minutes), you need to connect the cable to the LAN port of the computer to set up as an access point.
Type in address bar computer browser IP 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, enter the name and password. Customize wifi network and her safety. Disconnect the cable and connect to this router wirelessly, albeit on this moment we won't have internet access.
Once we access the configuration of the router without a cable connection, we need to open the -server settings and disable it. Further, its work will be performed by the main router.
Now everything is ready to be connected with the Ethernet cable of the main router with the old one. You just need to connect these 2 routers with an Ethernet cable. To the main router - to the LAN port, and to the old one - to the WAN port. Reboot both routers to apply the DHCP server to assign IP addresses to the connected equipment.
Few people bother with exploring the capabilities of their Wi-Fi router. There is internet, that's fine. In fact good wifi router knows a lot of cool stuff. And to use all the features, you do not need to have special knowledge, download alternative firmware and study hundreds of forum pages. How it works - showusing the example of a router, which can be bought for 2,500–2,700 rubles.
Let's say you get a signal from a nearby cafe. Or a neighbor out of kindness gave you the password to his Wi-Fi. Instead of connecting to the network from a smartphone, tablet or computer, connect to it through a router, and use it from the router free internet. This function is called " " (WISP), and it has several advantages:
This feature is called Multi WAN. It allows you to connect as many providers as there are ports on your router, and additionally add a USB modem.
Let's say you have Internet from two providers at once. One is the main one, the second is the reserve one with the cheapest rate. This is a good practice that allows you to stay online even if something happens at the main provider.
In order not to swap cables every time, not to reconfigure the router or computer, and not to do other time-consuming and effort-consuming things, just plug both cables into the router. The main one - to the standard port (it is usually of a different color), and the backup - to any other. Set up the router once by, and in the future everything will work and switch automatically.
This is possible if the router has a USB port, and you have a USB modem from a cellular operator with which you can access the Network from a laptop from anywhere.
Connect the modem to the router's USB port and run quick setup By . Now you have a backup Mobile Internet, which will be enabled automatically when problems occur with the main provider.
This life hack will allow you to use a Wi-Fi network not only in the country, where there is no fixed Internet, but also on a trip. On the Internet, you can find an adapter adapter to power the router from the cigarette lighter in the car. Connect a USB modem to the router, and all your passengers will be able to use the Internet while traveling - provided, of course, there is a cellular network signal.
If you have an external HDD, connect it to the router via USB.
Activate the ability to download torrents in the router settings by.
You can remotely launch and manage downloads through the My.Keenetic Android app.
Downloading and distributing torrents through a router occurs without the participation of a computer. By default, the download and upload speeds are set so as not to clog the entire channel. You can change the speed in the settings. You won’t get more than 5 MB / s from the budget Keenetic Omni, but the Internet will not slow down when downloading.
The router can not only download, but also broadcast video to a TV via DLNA, and in the torrent settings you can select sequential loading torrent to start watching the movie before the download is complete.
For all "kinetics" a free branded KeenDNS service is available, replacing any other DDNS services (such as No-IP and DynDNS) in a situation where you have a white but dynamic IP address.
But what if the address is gray, as, for example, almost everyone mobile operators for the connection described above via a USB modem or a backup?
KeenDNS solves this problem:
Apple has stopped making its routers, but the need to back up your MacBook hasn't gone away.
Turn on backup time machine in the router settings by . You will again need an external hard drive - now it will also become a backup storage. And it is not at all necessary to format it in apple format. file system HFS +, because the router can also make backups on an NTFS disk.
If you need high speed Reserve copy, Keenetic Omni may not be able to handle it. Look towards the top routers Keenetic Giga or ultra.
This function will allow you to record or view files if there is no computer at hand, and the smartphone does not support OTG, or the OTG cable has disappeared somewhere.
Connect the flash drive to the router and run it on your smartphone file manager like "ES Explorer" with support for network access. You will have full access to the contents of the flash drive, regardless of its file system.
In the USB port of the router, you can plug not only a modem or disk, but also a branded DECT set-top box. With it, your router will work as a wireless telephone exchange with support for up to 6 handsets. Everything you need for this is possible without special knowledge.
Third party support software packages() V official firmware turns the router into a real one Swiss knife with a bunch of goodies. You can install the rTorrent torrent client, the Asterisk IP-PBX telephone exchange, another DLNA server, and much more into the router. In routers Keenetic does not change the main firmware, and you do not lose the warranty.
Thanks to recent events on the Russian Internet, everyone now knows about VPN and its benefits.
Using a router, you can save a lot by buying just one license for one device from some good VPN provider, but you can use the service on all your devices at once.
To do this, it is enough to enable VPN not on one of the devices, but directly on the router. Now any smartphone, tablet or computer connected to the router will automatically access the Internet via VPN. If this does not suit you, go to the router settings and specify which gadgets should work through the VPN and which should not.
If you only want to use a VPN to improve your online security, you don't need overseas VPN servers, and therefore don't have to pay for them. With a white IP, you can safely surf the Internet through your own VPN while away from home. As a bonus, you will have access to your home network and its contents from anywhere in the world.
Most routers operate in the 2.4 GHz band. When several routers are located nearby - for example, in an apartment building - they interfere with each other. Imagine a bazaar: a bunch of people, everyone is shouting, nothing is clear. It's the same with routers, only the quality and speed of the Internet drops.
The range is divided into several channels. For example, Vasya's neighbor's router works on the 6th channel, and Petya - on the 11th. The router is able to monitor the current congestion of channels and even automatically switch to the least populated ones, but neighboring routers can have the same function. What to do?
Create as many networks as your router allows. Give the networks different names so that your cunning plan is not seen through by the neighbors (and do not forget to set passwords). All networks you create will be on the same channel. For any Wi-Fi analyzer, the channel will seem overloaded, and therefore it will consider it inappropriate to create a grid in it. This means that the channel will remain completely at your disposal.
Much depends on the developer of the software stuffing of the router. Some devices receive updates and all the latest features, while others remain on old version. Users of the second have to get out and install custom firmware at their own peril and risk, while losing the warranty on the device.
Keenetic uses a single operating system, which is constantly being improved and adds new features to all models of routers. 
It doesn't matter if you use the top Keenetic Giga or the budget Keenetic Lite - you will always have the best fresh version OSes with all the new features.
Naturally, hardware limitations play a role. Not possible with software update grow a USB port for the router. A device built for 2.4 GHz only will never learn to work in the 5 GHz band. But if the filling of the device meets the requirements for work new feature, then you will receive it regardless of the model of your Keenetic.
One router is enough for the network to function. However, when you replace old router for a new, faster one, you can spend time trying to get away with it, or you can turn it into an access point (AP). Placing this homemade AP at the far end of the house and connecting it to a new router (via a long network cable) - The best way cover your house Wi-Fi network. How to do it?
Your home Wi-Fi router has a built-in AP (or even two or three built-in access points in the case of dual-band or tri-band routers) in addition to its function as a main router. Wireless clients such as , tablets, etc. can also connect.
First, let's look at the new router that is placed on the home network as router A. The old one will be transformed into router B. The task is to make router B an external AP for router A.
Many routers over the past few years have been able to operate in access point mode, which can be enabled via an interface.
Note A: Some routers have an access point mode (you will see this in the feature list if available). If this is the case for your Router B, you can simply enable this mode and it will start acting as an access point.
This guide is only needed for Wi-Fi routers that don't have this feature (or if you don't know how to enable this feature) and only works for routers that have a web interface, which luckily most routers have. .
If you are familiar with configuring routers and networks in general, you need to do the following.
1. Tape the WAN port () of Router B with a piece of tape. You want to avoid using the port, as this will prevent you from converting the router into an access point.
2. Range Router A by IP address. For example, if Router A's IP address is 192.168.1.1, then we can safely assume that the IP pool ranges from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254.
3. Manually set Router B's IP address to an unused IP in Router A's range. For example, you can make it 192.168.1.2. Just make sure you don't have and won't use this IP address for any other device.
4. Disable the DHCP function in Router B.
That's all. Now if you connect Router B (which is no longer a router) to Router A with network cable(from LAN port to LAN port), it will function as an access point, giving you the best Wi-Fi range for your devices.
If you are new to the network, first of all, figure out how to set uphome router. When you're done with that, follow these steps.
Step 1Disable the WAN (Internet) Port Router B.
If the router does not have a native AP mode, you should completely avoid using the WAN port. Using this port will cause the router to function as a router because that is the intended role of the device. Seal, for example, the port with tape to avoid its accidental use.
text-align: center;"> The IP address of the router is easy to find out on the network
Step 2: Find out what is the range of Router A.
This is a step in two parts. First you need to find out the IP address of Router A. Connect your computer to Router A via Wi-Fi or with a network cable through one of the LAN ports.
If this is a Windows computer:
Or on Mac:
System Preferences > Network > select the currently connected connection (you should see a green dot indicating the connection is working) > Advanced > under the TCP/IP tab, note "Router:". The router's IP address will be displayed next to it.
Once you have determined the router's IP address (which always consists of four groups of numbers separated by a dot between each group), use it to determine the range of IP addresses. The range of numbers you can choose from uses the same numbers in the first three groups with the last group ranging from 1 to 254. The router's current IP address will not be available for use.
For example, if the router's IP address is 192.168.1.1, then the IP address pool will range from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254. If the router's IP is 192.168.1.254 then the IP range will be 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.253. When a device is connected to Router A and has an IP address within its range, it will be accepted into the network.
This guide assumes that 192.168.1.1 is Router A's IP. This will probably be your case as well, because many home routers (from Netgear, Asus, D-Link, etc.) tend to use this Default IP address.
Step 3: Set Router B's IP address as an unused IP within Router A's IP range.
Connect your computer to Router B via Wi-Fi or with a network cable through one of the LAN ports to find out the current IP of the router (repeat the first part of step 2).
Log in to the router's web interface by pointing the browser to its IP address. In the interface, go to the section where you can change your default IP address. Depending on the router, this section is usually called Network, LAN, or Settings. Change this IP address to one of those in the IP pool identified in the second part of step 2 above. For example, if Router A's IP is 192.168.1.1, you can make Router B's IP 192.168.1.2 (make sure you don't manually assign this IP to another device, if so, choose a different IP address) and then save the changes. Router B must be restarted for the changes to take effect.
text-align: center;"> Disabling the old router's DHCP server function and assigning an unused primary router IP will allow the old router to act as an access point when its WAN port is not in use.
Step 4Disable the feature DHCP servers in router B.
Log in to Router B again, pointing the browser to the new IP address manually from step 3 (in our case, it was 192.168.1.2), and then go to the Setup section again local network or networks. Disable the DHCP server function here. Save your changes and you're done.
(Depending on the interface, some routers allow steps 3 and 4 to be done as one without a reboot).
Now Router B, when connected to Router A with a network cable, will function as both a switch (allowing you to use its LAN port to add wired devices to the network) and an access point.
This is how you can use old router.
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It is quite obvious that no one likes wires in the middle of the house, and if possible wireless connection all devices, we will gladly use it. Based on this idea, wireless routers appeared, and then a whole range of devices and networks based on them, and all this is designed to provide us with an intelligent life.
But even today we sometimes suffer from bad signal WiFi, especially if we have a large house with many concrete walls that interfere with the wireless signal and even create "dead zones". You can solve your problem by using the old one (or buy a cheap one).
(also called expander) is network device, which fixes an already existing wireless signal from the main wireless router and resends it, thereby creating a second wireless network. Wireless repeaters are used in large homes or offices to provide a reliable signal in specific areas.
And even if your home isn't that big, a repeater will come in handy in situations where there's a lot of interference, like thick concrete walls or microwaves.
But there are also some drawbacks to be aware of. The wireless repeater will reduce throughput wireless network by about 50%, and this is due to the fact that the transmission does not go directly from the router to the client, but through a repeater. You also need to monitor the channels used, as you can create interference in your own network.
Another thing to think about is compatibility. For example, if you have a dual band router and want to repeat the 5GHz signal, then you will need an extender that supports the 5GHz band. In addition, you also need to think about security, since an older router can only support WEP or WPA encryption and does not have the newer and better WPA2.
Switching the router to repeater mode is not that hard, and there are two ways to do it, depending on the firmware: either the device offers repeater mode natively, or you need to install special firmware such as DD-WRT, OpenWRT or Tomato.
If your router has a built-in wireless repeater function, follow the general instructions below.
STEP 1: Factory reset.
This is important especially if you haven't used your router for a long time and have forgotten about any changes you might have made. To avoid unwanted headaches in the future, it's best to have a router with default settings. Most routers have a special button for this, which you need to hold down for a while.
STEP 2: Find and write down the MAC address of both the main router and the old one.
Typically, most manufacturers write the MAC address on a label on the bottom of the router (the MAC address should look like this: "AA: AA: AA: AA: AA: AA"). You can also find out the MAC address in the router settings, in the status tab.
STEP 3: Connect your old router to your computer and access the interface.
Use the LAN port to connect to a computer and enter the router's IP address into the browser. The default is usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. If you are not sure, you can check the IP address given by the manufacturer on the bottom label. You can also find the default username and password for logging into the interface there.
STEP 4: Find the repeater settings in the interface.
On some routers this step is straightforward and straightforward, while on others it can be a guessing game. It is important to check how the router manufacturer has configured the router before choosing a mode. This can be done by referring to the documentation either found online or in the physical user manual.
STEP 5: Choose the correct mode.
It's pretty easy once you've found desired section, select the wireless repeater mode.
STEP 6: Enter the MAC address of the main router.
Usually user interface is pretty clear and easy to understand where you should paste the MAC address.
STEP 7: Save your settings.
And you did it! You have now successfully configured your wireless repeater.
Don't worry, because you can install special firmware that will enable this setting. For example, TP-LINK TL-WR841N, a fairly cheap router, does not have this mode from the factory, but install the DD-WRT firmware and you can use this feature (and more). You can also try OpenWRT.
It must be remembered that there are certain risks when installing custom firmware. First of all, if you don't install the correct version for your router, you can block your router forever.
Also, if you buy a new router for the sole purpose of using it as a repeater, you may void your product warranty. If you're ready to take risks, let's get started.
STEP 1: Investigate and download the compatible firmware version for your router.
This is very important because, as we said, you can end up blocking the router. If you need help, the DD-WRT and OpenWRT communities are really willing to help, so feel free to visit their forums.
STEP 2: Install the DD-WRT firmware on the router.
After downloading the firmware files to the computer, connect the router using the LAN port and enter the interface. Use the default username and password to access the interface and then install the new firmware.
STEP 3: Access to the new interface.
After you have installed the custom firmware, access the new interface by pasting in the IP address (usually 192.168.1.1).
STEP 4: Select the repeater mode and change the SSID name.
Now that you have access to the customizable firmware interface, go to "Basic Settings" and select the wireless menu. Select a repeater. Then, in the Wireless Network Name (SSID) field, enter the same SSID as the main router, then click Save.
STEP 5: Select a different SSID under "Virtual Interfaces".
Once saved, go to the Virtual Interface section (at the bottom of the page) and use the ADD button and enter a different SSID. This is important because in this way you can connect the client to the desired router, especially if you are closer to it.
STEP 6: Set up wireless security.
Go to Wireless -> Wireless Security and change the security settings to match those of your main router. For physical interface enter the required information taken from the main router (leave disabled if there are no security settings).
Then for virtual interface select the same security mode (preferably WPA2) and match the security key with the one on the main router. Then click Save.
STEP 7: Change the IP address of the repeater.
Go to network setup (via Setup -> Basic Setup) and change the IP address of the repeater to a different subnet. For example, if the main router has an IP address of 192.168.1.1, you can change the relay's IP address to 192.168.3.1. It is important to change the third number. Click Save.
STEP 8: This is an optional step, especially if you are concerned about security.
If you run into any problems, you should uncheck all the boxes in the Block WAN request (leave only the Multicast filter) and disable the SPI firewall. Click "Save" again.
STEP 9: Apply settings.
Double check each modification made and click "Apply Settings". After the reboot, you can use the newly configured DD-WRT wireless repeater. You did it! You have successfully taken an old and/or inexpensive router and expanded your wireless network.
