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Forum Discussion
Using old router as WiFi extender
I recently purchased the Nighthawk AC2400 router but I am still not reaching a dead spot in my guest room that I want to turn into an office/game room. I have an old Belkin AC1750 router and was wondering if I could use it somehow as a WiFi extender where I could use the lan ports and if it was even possible using it with a NETGEAR router.
3 Replies
Generally routers won't work as extenders. Some have a basic repeater mode, but often that won't work with encrypted wifi networks.
If you can get ethernet to the office/game room where you want to put the old belkin, you should be able to set it up as an Access Point. Most routers now have an AP mode. Even if it doesn't, you can generally assign it a static IP address that is compatible with your main router, and connect a LAN port of the Belkin to a LAN port of the Nighthawk.
An alternative to running an ethernet cable would be to use powerline networking. But it's probably simpler just to get an extender.
- So would the Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi Mesh Extender work since I have the Nighthawk AC 24000 expands and be a good fit since it expands the WiFi in there and allows me to us the LAN ports?
The EX7000 would work well, but I'd suggest getting a tri-band model if you can afford it. That lets you dedicate one radio to the router->extender link.
There are issues with 1.0.1.78 firmware on the EX7000, so if you get that model you might start with the older 1.0.0.66 (and watch here to make sure the firmware issues are resolved before upgrading). There have been some folks struggling with the 1.0.1.186 firmware on the EX8000 also, but not as many.
