How to Expand Your Wireless Range Using an Old Router

Check out this video to learn how to configure an old router to expand the wireless in your home, garage, pole barn, or greenhouse. I have used this process for many years both professionally and in my own home. This is a great use for that older router that you may have replaced with a new one or picked up from a garage sale or resale shop. Routers have become almost disposable after a few years so they come cheap. The newer routers will offer a better wireless extension and also better security so if you can find one that is at least 2007 or newer that is preferred.

Using an old router to expand your network is a cheap and easy way to at least double the wireless range in your home. It is also a great way to get wireless to outbuildings or other areas that are outside of your home's wireless signal. This method does require that you have an Ethernet cable run from your main wireless router in your home to the location where you would like to setup the second router (access point). In our home I have one wireless access point configured on each floor and staggered from one end of the home to the other. This means that no matter where I ma in the house I can always connect to a nearby access point and have full signal strength. No buffering, no lag, and in most cases speeds as fast as a wired Ethernet connection.

Here are the basic steps to follow but I would recommend watching the accompanying video to fully understand the process.

1. Reset router to factory default settings
2. Take note of your current network configuration (192.168.1.X
3. Create a new ip address for the access point 192.168.1.220 (example)
4. plug a computer into the newly reset router
5. log into the router using the default ip - normally 192.168.1.1
6. Configure the wireless network name and security
7. Turn off DHCP (take away the router's ability to assign ip addresses)
8. Configure the router to the previously picked ip address - 192.168.1.220 (example)
9. Connect the router to an Ethernet cable coming from your main router.

Tip - Do not use the "WAN" port at all on this new access point.

Now I know that someone is going to say it so I will answer this question up front. Yes, you can just plug the router into your existing setup using the WAN port on the second router without changing any settings on the router. This will work in most cases however you are setting yourself up for problems down the road as this is not the correct way to configure a second wireless router on an existing network. This is what is called double NAT or network address translation and is like having a double firewall. This will not allow any computers connected to the secondary router to communicate with wireless printers, other computers, will block many gaming sites, vpn's and other connections. Although it is easier and may work for basic internet browsing it will be slower and will cause other issues down the road.

[ericbertoldo]

I've been researching how to do this, and all other videos seemed so complicated. I told my wife, Just like Michael Scott from the office, I need someone to talk to me like I'm 5 years old. LOL. And then I stumbled onto your channel. And you indeed talked to me like I was 5. Thank you so much for your patience. And the scripture at the PERFECT.
Thanks brother.

[jorgebranco]

Some people just don't know how to explain.Your explanation is simple and clear.Very well done my friend.

[rustyrobinson]

FINALLY!...there is someone who knows what he is talking about AND knows how to effectively communicate! Very easy to understand and follow the steps. Nice job Sir!

[SadaSardjono]

YouTube video posted 6 years ago, worked well when I used it as my reference to extend wifi for the rooms at the back house last year. And just now, I see it again to extend wifi for the rooms at the front part of the house. Thanks for the video, bro. Really appreciate it. Good job.

[irishhandyman]

Thank you very much. I recently upgraded from cable internet to fiber. That in itself was great. 100 times faster. I have a 140 yo brick home, 2 story. Needed more coverage. Prior to upgrading I purchased a Netgear Nighthawk dual band hoping to improve the old ISP. Thanks to you I have coverage from top to bottom. Even in the basement. The interface has changed in the netgear, but playing and pausing your video I found the correct settings to change. Hooked up, worked first time no problems. I watched other videos, yours was the most straight forward, explained in detail without dragging me into the weeds. Very happy person. In fact sending this via my new connection point.

[zebcokid]

SSLFamilyDad, I am so very excited this morning. Although I'm 53, I feel like a little kid at Christmas. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that I have attempted to configure my old router to work as a range extender at least 10 times over the years. I have never made it work. Fortunately, I'm stubborn, determined, a refuse to be "beaten" by the system. So there my router sat in a basket in the living room for years...just waiting for another try. This morning I came across your tutorial on YouTube. It seemed so simple, and the explanation was as clear as day. So, I gave it another try, and to my complete delight, it worked! I now have wi-fi blanketing my entire house, from front to back, and indoor to outdoor. Thank you so very much!

[isrocks]

AT&T was charging me $50 for tech help and wanted access to my pc! You're video easily explained step by step and it works! Where would we be without thoughtful people and YouTube. Thank you!

[billnelson]

Dear Family Dad,
I too am one of your success stories having just yesterday followed your clear step by step instructions to Expand my WIFI signal in my home.
I have an AT&T router in the basement with weak signals upstairs. I bought a used Netgear 1750 R6350 that needed to be reconfigured. I sent your Youtube to a friend in Texas while I was here in Wisconsin on my screen. He is a systems guy for a health care system so his help was good for me to have as we walked through your process. I am a Home Schooler and I am sure that my 5 kids (now all grown & out on their own) would be proud of their GEEZER Dad getting this done. My friend had never done this but understood what you were showing us.
Thank you for a great result>
Bill In Wisconsin

[Largeone]

I can't thank you enough for this information. I've tried many other channels in my attempts to get two access points in my home but none have talked me through it in a way to actually make it work. The talking direct to the router business is where I was falling down. This has gone on for over a year now. I'd try for a few hours, give up and swear to get an expert in. I've done it now and it's excellent.
Thank you.

[svizac]

6 years old video with great advice that saved me money right now when I'm in a really tight spot. Thank You Sir.

[davidryan]

A big thank you for your tutorial. All last year I read computer magazines, manuals and watched youtube geeks, none of whom could explain in simple terms what to do when faced with router control panels, and acronyms that I did not understand. I would spend hours trying to follow instructions, and then either get lost in the detail or too cautious to change settings I neither understood nor knew what the outcomes would be. A month or two would go by, and I would gird my loins and give it another attempt before meeting failure again. Your presentation was put in layman's terms, slowly took us on a journey, explained in simple terms what the next step was going to achieve, gave the direction required, double checked the understanding, and encouraged progress towards the next step. So I approached it with cynicism, and intrepeditation, and slowly followed your instructions fully expecting to hit a brick wall. Imagine my sense of achievement, when I got to the end of the video, hooked into an ethernet cable, and wow I now have wif fi signal in a building 85 metres from my house. So on 2 points, you are an oracle, first in your tutorial style, and secondly in the way you empower people to achieve. I hope you feel as good at this feedback as I do now at achieving a long-awaited ambition now fulfilled. So I now know I don't have a router, I have an access point, and the difference is now as clear as daylight. So the geeks concentrated on displaying their prowess, you concentrated on giving knowledge and empowerment, what a difference! Thank you once again.

[uu]

I dig ur style....u r an excellent teacher!
Clear, concise and zero extraneous nonsense.
From one educator to another tyvm!
Keep up ur gr8ness.
Tyvm 4 schoolin' us.

[brendamckay]

Your video was the calmest, sit down in my living room and I will explain, down to earth without the endless words that nobody understands ever. Thank you for setting it out for anyone to understand not just do.

[kllimbrick]

Outstanding presentation. I am over 70 and have been trying to extend my network into a small workshop for about 10 years. If there were a YouTube hall of fame, you have my vote times 1000. Ain't victory sweet!
Regards,
Ken L

[cliff]

Took me 2 tries but I got it to work. Now I can stream TV to my phone & tablet in the garage, and the farthest corner of my basement.
Thanks Man

[WBuj-dbwx]

After hours and hours of trying and watching videos, this one actually help me to successfully setup my router. Thanks!!!

[davemorgan]

I wanted to set up a wireless bridge to our barn 300 feet from the house. I got the KuWfi bridge set up but was having a devil of a time getting my remote router converted to an access point. I watched several videos before yours and got more confused with each one. You boiled it down to the essentials and stepped me through it. Thanks for eliminating a LOT of frustration!

[skullsbreath]

Family Dad, you are an absolute star, God bless you for posting this extremely helpful video. Thanks again, Skullsbreath.

[IMurshedRolin]

Thanks, man. I saw your video just 5 years later & it's still felt very simple and easy to setup. appreciate it

[Dzika]

5 years later and it works!!! Thank you so much for keeping these videos up!!