Wi-Fi extender: Everyone knows that Wi-Fi could be patchy on occasions and is not precisely the most dependable factor. Fortunately, there are a couple of methods to mediate this problem: adding a Wi-Fi extender or repurposing old hardware. You most likely come with an old router relaxing in your closet somewhere, even though you can trash it, you could utilize it as being a Wi-Fi extender rather. It’ll help you save a few dollars and provide better performance than the usual Wi-Fi extender, too.
Regardless of the simplistic setup for any Wi-Fi extender, its simplicity comes at a price-performance. A method to mediate the problem is by reduction of latency and adding another router to the network.
What Is the Benefit of Connecting Two Routers?
Although adding a Wi-Fi extender is usually simpler, the outcomes from adding another router speak on their own. Performance-wise, adding another router for an existing one is preferable to any Wi-Fi extender, as it is hardwired with an Ethernet connection.
While Wi-Fi extenders receive packets out of your router and retransmit them right into a signal your devices may use, the performance of wired over wireless is unmatched, further justifying this straightforward trick. An effective install will contain recycling old electronics and increasing your Wi-Fi signal, and here is how you’re doing so.
Parts and Tools Required
To accomplish this installation, you may need a couple of parts and use of a couple of things. Fortunately, you most likely own many of these things inside your household. Otherwise, almost any mall may have these available.
- Primary router
- A second router
- Ethernet cable (to the length desired)
- Access to a computer
- Internet connection
Ethernet cables are only effective up to a certain distance and can only provide up to certain speeds. This is dependent on the Ethernet cable’s length and what type of cable it is, ranging from Cat 1 to Cat 8.
How to Access Your Primary Router
Most of your router is how the majority of the setup happens and enables the secondary router to get a web connection in the primary one. Whatever the type or make of router you’ve, you have to sign in for your router setup page.
Input your router’s Ip inside your browser address bar and press Enter. Unsure what your router Ip is? Learn to find your router Ip, then mind to this short article. Whatever the operating system, your router Ip will stay the same as the Isp issues the Ip.
For example, to find your router IP address on Windows:
- Input Network Status in the Start menu search bar and select the Best Match.
- Next, select View hardware and connection properties.
- Locate the Default Gateway, alongside which you’ll find your router’s IP address.
The choice is to sign on to your service provider’s website and switch your settings by doing this. Typing the default gateway Ip to your browser also brings out you to definitely your merchandise provider’s website, where one can attain the same things. No matter your configuration, several things have to be set up with this system to operate correctly.
Setting up the Primary Router
For the secondary router to do something being an extender, you have to generate a couple of things in your primary router to really make it work. After keying in the default gateway IP to your browser, a screen will prompt you to definitely enter your username and password. Typically, this stays defaulted, and signing in is often as simple as keying in “admin” for that password prompt. Whether or not here’s your very first time signing in, the default router information is available online or perhaps in the user guide.
As pointed out, keying in the default gateway Ip will frequently get you to your service provider’s Services page, enabling you to accomplish exactly the same things. You will not be signing in with default information, as you’ve something set up already by having an existing company.
Following this, click on the DHCP Server checkbox in your primary router, though this will default on. This completes the cellular phone around the primary router aspect. Route the Ethernet cable as necessary behind furniture, underneath carpeting, or with the drywall towards the preferred location of the secondary router, but don’t connect the 2, yet.
Setting up the Secondary Router
The very first 1 / 2 of the cellular phone is finished, departing you using the other half. However, before being able to access the web in your secondary router, you have to connect with the secondary router to create some misconceptions accordingly. Like the steps before, this can be done by plugging one finish of the Ethernet cable to your computer and something into the secondary router. Then, following the same steps because the primary router, locate where it states DHCP Server within the router settings. This should be disabled around the secondary router to avoid Ip issues.
After deselecting the DCHP Server checkbox in your secondary router, disconnect the Ethernet cable towards the secondary router out of your computer and execute a system restart on systems. Begin by connecting most of your network first, and verify that it’s fully operational.
Locate the Ethernet cable in the primary router, then put the secondary router within the preferred location. Ideally, this ought to be placed in which the internet is patchy or there is not just as much signal. The Ethernet cable in the primary router should plug into an Ethernet port around the secondary router, letting it get a web connection out of your primary router.
Testing Your Internet Connection
At this time within the installation, you will be able to connect with both routers as separate entities, both wirelessly and through the WLAN ports. This ought to be far more effective than utilizing a Wi-Fi extender, as latency is decreased and also the simple dominance of wired connections versus its counterpart.
When the secondary router is not working, double-look at your settings and execute a system restart. This can be done by disconnecting the ability towards the appliances for roughly thirty seconds. When fully operational, both routers will emit a Wi-Fi signal even just in the patchiest spots from before!
