A Wifi Booster Question

[mntleo2]

I heard that I could use my old router (Cisco WR120N) to become a booster for the rest of my home since the Comcast WIFI sucks for distance. I was going to just buy a booster, but then a techie friend told me I could just use my old wifi router to be one. How would I set something like that up? Does it have to remain attached to my laptop after programming it? I do have a relatively central place for it in our hallway and it would sure be nice if it would send that signal a little further. Thanks so much for any and all help about this!

Cat in Seattle

[Go Vols]

1. dd wrt

http://lifehacker.com/5563196/turn-your-old-router-into-a-range-boosting-wi-fi-repeater

http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index

my current router doesn't support it,but quite a few do.

[earthshine]

2. To use two routers, they would have to be “daisy chained” via Ethernet cable.

Last edited Tue Jul 5, 2016, 04:59 PM - Edit history (1)

The second router is not going to boost the wireless signal of the first, as such.

Modem -> Ethernet cable -> first router -> Ethernet cable -> second router -> wireless -> receiving devices

Alternatively you could get a wireless signal booster.

As a final option, there's powerline networking. I recently purchased the following devices and they have allowed me to extend my network throughout my house.

https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-Extender-Powerline-Wireless-TL-WPA4220KIT/dp/B00HSQAIQU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1467322148&sr=8-4&keywords=tp-link+powerline

Good luck.

[Sentath]

3. Caution

From my experience they need fairly new wiring and even then cannot bridge between breakers.

[earthshine]

4. Mine do go through breakers.

Supposedly, it just potentially diminishes the signal. Works for me. Thanks.

[mntleo2]

5. I am hoping this is not too silly of a questions but ...

Do you mean the HOUSE breakers as in a breaker box or something in the router? It has been awhile since I have done much networking and so the terminology is all different sometimes, ya know? Plus I live in a place with some OLD wiring and so if it is a breaker box fuhgettaboutit

Thanks so much and even if it would not work I learned something today 'cause you guys RAWK!

Cat

[Egnever]

7. I haven't tried it but I don't think that is true

There is a link in the first response that lays out how to accomplish it.

[mntleo2]

6. Wow thanks so much for the input

...so quickly! I suspected they would have to be ethernetted together and the modem only has one rj45 port so I am not sure that would work.

Oh well, ya live and ya learn, right Peeps? I will still hope for some miraculous solution but something tells me this thread is going to sink into oblivion ~ but thanks so much for the info so far.

Cat

[borisdavenport]

8. Wifi

I once use a parabolic reflector at the back side of the router antenna and it worked. I came to know that my router is having an omnidirectional antenna and around 60% of the transition was on undesired direction.