How to Use Adsl Router as WiFi Repeater

You've probably got an old ADSL router lying around and wonder if it can still be of use. Well, you can indeed repurpose it as a WiFi repeater to extend your home network coverage.

First, check if your router supports repeater mode or has WDS (Wireless Distribution System) capabilities. This feature is essential as it allows the router to connect and extend your existing network without the need for physical cables.

To get started, you'll need to access the router's settings via its IP address—usually found at the back or in the manual. I'll guide you through this process step by step, and you'll be surprised at the potential benefits you'll uncover along the way.

Preparing Your ADSL Router

Before you start transforming your ADSL router into a Wi-Fi repeater, make sure it supports repeater mode or WDS bridging. If it doesn't, you'll be unable to extend your Wi-Fi network using this method.

Once you've confirmed compatibility, the next essential step is to update your router firmware. This update is vital as it ensures your router operates with the latest security patches and performance enhancements, which are essential for maintaining a robust and efficient Wi-Fi repeater setup.

To check if your firmware is up to date, you'll typically need to visit the router manufacturer's website and navigate to the support section for your router model. Download the latest firmware version if it's available and follow the manufacturer's instructions for updating.

Accessing Router Settings

To begin configuring your ADSL router as a WiFi repeater, you'll first need to access the router's settings by entering its IP address, typically something like 192.168.1.1, into your web browser's address bar.

Once you've reached the login page, enter the administrative credentials; if you haven't set a custom username and password, the defaults are often 'admin' for both.

After successfully logging in, you can navigate to the Wireless Settings or Advanced Settings to adjust configurations for repeater mode.

Locate IP Address

Check your ADSL router's user manual or the manufacturer's website to locate its IP address. This IP address is important for accessing router settings and is typically found in the network configuration section of the manual.

Commonly, routers use IP addresses like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.

Once you've identified the IP address, open a web browser on a device connected to your network. Type the IP address into the browser's address bar and press Enter. This action directs you to the login page of your router's settings interface.

Here, you'll begin the process of configuring your router to function as a WiFi repeater, but first, make sure you've correctly noted the IP address.

Enter Admin Credentials

Enter the default IP address, such as 192.168.1.1, into your web browser to access the router's admin interface. You'll be prompted for admin credentials. Typically, both the username and password are set to 'admin' by default.

If you've previously changed these and forgotten them, you'll need to reset your router to factory settings to restore the defaults.

Once logged in, navigate to the wireless settings section. Here, you'll adjust configurations to set up your ADSL router as a Wi-Fi repeater. It's important to save any changes you make during this process to guarantee that the modifications are applied.

This step is vital for the successful deployment of your router in repeater mode.

Configuring IP Addresses

Make sure your ADSL router's IP address differs from the main router's to avoid conflicts. This is important when setting up your device as a WiFi repeater.

Here's how to configure the IP addresses:

1. Access the Configuration Page: Log into your ADSL router's admin panel and navigate to the IP address settings.
2. Assign a Unique IP Address: Within the same subnet as your main router, select an IP that doesn't clash with other devices on the network.
3. Save and Verify: After setting the IP address, make sure you save these changes. Confirm that both routers are on the same subnet to maintain seamless communication.

Setting Up WDS Bridging

To effectively set up WDS Bridging, you'll first need to verify that your devices are compatible; not all ADSL routers support this feature.

Next, configure your primary router to enable WDS functionality, carefully noting its SSID and security settings.

Identify Compatible Devices

Before setting up your ADSL router as a Wi-Fi repeater, verify that it supports Wireless Distribution System (WDS) bridging. This feature is important for extending your wireless network without the hassle of wires.

Here's how you can confirm compatibility:

1. Check Router Specifications: Look for WDS bridging in the product documentation or specifications list of your ADSL router.
2. Access Admin Interface: Log into your router's admin interface and search for WDS settings to confirm if the feature is available.
3. Confirm Main Router Compatibility: Make sure that your main router also supports WDS bridging to facilitate a seamless connection between the two devices.

These steps will help you identify if your devices are compatible for setting up a Wi-Fi repeater.

Configure Primary Router

After confirming that both your primary and ADSL routers support WDS bridging, you'll need to configure the primary router's settings to establish a successful wireless extension.

Start by accessing the admin settings of your primary router. Look for the WDS section, where you'll typically find a Survey function. Use this tool to scan for and select the network you wish to bridge with your secondary router. Then, input the password of your primary router to authenticate the connection.

Make sure that the settings, including the SSID and channel, match on both routers to facilitate seamless communication. Finally, save these configurations on your primary router to solidify the bridge setup.

This step is important for extending your Wi-Fi coverage effectively.

Secure Network Connection

Enable WDS Bridging in your ADSL router settings to securely connect and extend your WiFi network. This precise method helps in setting up a secure connection, ensuring your extended network is as protected as the main one.

To successfully set up WDS Bridging, follow these steps:

1. Access Router Settings: Log into your ADSL router's web interface. Navigate to the wireless settings and locate the WDS option.
2. Scan and Select Network: Perform a scan for available WiFi networks, then select your main router's network to establish a bridge.
3. Enter Password: Input the WiFi password of the main router to authenticate and secure the connection.

Once done, save your settings and reboot the ADSL router to activate the changes.

Disabling DHCP Server

To successfully integrate your old ADSL router into your existing network as a Wi-Fi repeater, you'll need to disable its DHCP Server. This step is important to prevent IP conflicts between your old router and the main router.

By disabling the DHCP Server on the old router, you guarantee that it won't assign IP addresses anymore. Instead, your main router will remain the sole authority for this task, maintaining a centralized control over IP distribution within your network. This configuration eliminates potential network issues and supports a stable, uninterrupted connection.

To disable DHCP, access the router's settings through its IP address, navigate to the DHCP settings, and select the disable option. Save the changes to finalize the setup.

Testing the Connection

Once you've configured your ADSL router as a Wi-Fi repeater, connect a device to the extended network to test the internet connection.

Here's how to confirm the setup enhances your Wi-Fi range effectively:

1. Verify Stability and Strength:

Check that the connection remains stable and delivers strong signal strength in areas that previously had poor coverage. This confirms the extended Wi-Fi range is functioning as intended.

1. Conduct Speed Tests:

Perform speed tests to assess whether the internet connection maintains its speed across the extended network. This helps detect any significant loss that might need addressing.

1. Identify Interference Issues:

Look for and resolve any interference or connectivity problems that could degrade the performance of your Wi-Fi repeater setup.