Use old router as WiFi Extender

jrwagh333

jrwagh333

jrwagh333

Soldato
Joined
20 Aug 2008
Posts
6,956
My WiFi signal is poor downstairs as my router is upstairs.

I have an old router (RTN56U) that I'd like to place downstairs to extend the WiFi signal.

Now, I've followed a guide online and I've ended up having the 56U showing the SSID but not able to hand out IP addresses.

I can't figure out where I have gone wrong. Both routers are on the same SSID and both on the same channel.

Main router: Asus RTN66U
Old Router: Asus RTN56U
 
I think it unlikely you'd want both routers on the same wireless channel, and you're only going to want one of them handing out DHCP addresses. Without knowing the guide you read though it's difficult to advise further as bremen says.
 
What's the router? You might get best results using the N56U upstairs instead of the WiFi from the router (turn it off). The N56U is a good bit of kit and should cover an average house if positioned upstairs centrally (run a cable if needed).

Failing that you should run a wire downstairs between the two boxes.

And failing that, you can use it as a wireless repeater, but in my experience it's the worst option. Only really makes sense if there are locations in the house where you can't see the main router at all (so you can minimise overlap). As above, make sure DHCP is off on the Asus and choose spaced out channels.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the N56U have an Access point/repeater mode? Have you tried that? Both my old RT-N53 and current RT-AC68U offer this option.

Just use any of those two modes and it will allow the main router to deal with IPs so everything will be on the same network. You'll be needing to connect the N56U to the main router via its WAN port.

Ideally while both are on the same SSIDs you'll want them to be on different channels so they won't interfere/overlap with each other, eg one on channel 1 and the other on channel 6.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom