

See if the router can use open-source firmware (like DD-WRT). If the router doesn't support running as a repeater or an extender using the manufacturer's firmware, there's another way.
WIFI REPEATER SETUP MANUAL
If you have an old router sitting around, check with the manual to make sure the device can be converted into an extender or a repeater, and get specific instructions. If you don't have one or something similar (like an R6700 or R6900), you can get a used one for about $20 online. Wi-fi does not require IP to "work." However, it's worth the hassle of setting up you AP with the IP information as most of them use a "web" type interface to control their admin functions, and web needs IP.The general process for other routers is similar but not exactly the same. The "Wi-fi Interference" FAQ here discusses such things in detail.īTW - The IP addresing stuff in your AP is only there to allow you to connect to the device for admin purposes. If you go that way, ensure that both your wi-fi devices use different radio channels so the two coverage areas interfere with each other as little as possible.

Repeaters (at least) half your wi-fi bandwidth because of the way they work. If you have an ethernet cable in the location you propose for you new AP, by far the best solution is to use it as a regular Access Point instead of as a repeater. If a B/G/N Access Point (AP) talks to a G client, the AP will have to talk "G" which will be no different to any other G AP. Hence the "increased range" claims.Įven then, you only get the benefits of N if your clients are also N capable.

Wi-fi N uses some tricks to improve the performance at any given distance which can have the effect that a bearly usable (say) 2mbps at some location might become a more useful (say) 10mbps. Wi-fi "N" signals are not any "stronger" than any other - wi-fi transmit power is limited in law and most kit is already at or near the permitted max. That's how it should be according to my understanding, at least! that it is not acting as a server for those - your original router will do that (DNS resolves network names into IP addresses, and DHCP gives out IP addresses to computers that connect to your network). You need to make sure that DNS and DHCP are disabled on the repeater, i.e. I would set the repeater's address to something like 192.168.1.100 - it doesn't matter what it is as long as it doesn't take the same as an existing IP address (you're unlikely to have 100 IP addresses taken at home!). The most likely value for the default gateway (your first router) is 192.168.1.1. This gives you a command line session where you can run the IPCONFIG command (doesn't have to be in capitals!).
WIFI REPEATER SETUP HOW TO
If you don't know how to do that, press Windows + R (the key with the start logo on it next to the CTRL key), and then type CMD or COMMAND (same thing) in the Run dialog box.

To add to what mickevh said, in order to run the IPCONFIG command you need to get a command prompt. If your router's DHCP server is offering out all the available IP range, you may need to bump the range down a bit so that you can "free up" and available IP address. (Sorry - there's no easy way around this.) Then pick a "Y" for your repeater that's outside the DHCP range in use, not already used by anything else (duplicate IP addresses are not allowed on IP LAN's) and not 0 or 255. Then you need to get into your routers admin screen and see what range of IP addresses it's DHCP Server is offering out. Without getting terribly boring about how IP addressing works, if you use "subnet mask" (that's your "something else" value) 255.255.255.0 on your LAN, (most SOHO kit seems to by default,) and IP addresses of the format .Y keep "X" the same on everything and make sure "Y" is unique, outside your routers DHCP range and not "0" or "255."Īs already mentioned, your routers IP address will almost certainly be what everything in your LAN calls its "default gateway." So (on a Windows PC) run an "IPCONFIG" command and see what's reported back as the "default gateway" - that'll be your routers IP address. On an IP LAN, every device must have a unique IP address.
