People often throw away old routers, but they can still be helpful. You don’t have to throw them away; you can find clever new uses. They can make the Wi-Fi range bigger, make it safer, or even use it as storage. You can still use an old router for essential things in current networking, whether for personal use, business needs, or learning.
Build A Wireless Repeater
A wireless extender helps make Wi-Fi work in more parts of a house. A lot of routers come with a rebroadcast feature that is already built in. An old router can be set up to link to the central Wi-Fi network. In weak spots, this setting makes the signal stronger. Repeating Wi-Fi is helpful for big houses or outside areas.
When used as repeaters, some routers cause signal delays. You should put the old router somewhere to connect to the current network. A booster doesn’t speed up the internet. It only makes the network’s reach bigger. You can find detailed directions on how to set up the router in its manual. The software needs to be updated to use rebroadcast mode on some routers.
Most of the time, this means turning off DHCP and changing the router’s IP address. If you want to make more changes, you can also use third-party software. A repeater helps eliminate places where the internet isn’t strong or “dead zones.” This is an easy and inexpensive way to improve your home Wi-Fi.
Create A Guest Wi-Fi Network
A guest Wi-Fi network keeps your guests’ devices away from your main ones. An old router can be used to make one. This method makes things safer by keeping guests away from personal files. There is a choice for a guest network built into some routers. The old router needs to be linked to your leading network.
People who aren’t invited can use the internet without seeing private data. A guest network doesn’t need a password if you don’t set one up. You can also control speed to keep links from being too slow. It’s easy to set up an old router for a guest network. You need to change the SSID and stop using shared devices.
You can set some routers to turn off Wi-Fi at certain times. A guest network keeps people from getting into smart home gadgets without permission. With this setup, you’ll have more control over who uses your internet.
Stream Internet Radio
You can watch internet radio on an old computer with the right tools. Some routers let you add extra features by running special software. To play music, you need a USB sound card. Streaming links let a lot of online radio programs work. If you set up your computer correctly, it can stream music to speakers constantly. This setup works well for home theatre systems.
You need to find a router that works with it to update software. Many modified software choices offer better viewing. This setting makes it easier to enjoy music without a computer or a phone. When you stream internet radio through a router instead of a laptop, you use less energy. This choice works well in coffee shops, small businesses, and at home.
Turn Your Old Router Into A Wireless Bridge
A wireless bridge lets connected devices link to a Wi-Fi network. A lot of ISPs give switches that don’t have Ethernet ports. A wireless bridge lets gadgets that aren’t Wi-Fi join. For old computers or printers, this setup works well. The router needs to be set up to bridge mode. For this to work on some routers, you need software from a third party.
With a wireless bridge, you can connect more devices to the internet without running new wires. This setup makes the home network more flexible. A bridge in the right place gets rid of dead zones. For better operation, some routers offer dual-band connections. A wireless bridge gives essential gadgets a safe way to connect to the internet via wires.
Convert Your Router Into A NAS Drive
A NAS drive lets you store and share files over a network. Outside drives can connect to some routers via USB ports. File-sharing tools can be added to custom software. A NAS drive gives you a central place to store your files. You can watch movies or back up your files with this setup.
You need to set up the computer so that it can see remote files. Some routers come with FTP or SMB services that are already set up. A NAS drive lets more than one device view the duplicate files. This setting makes it easier to keep track of data at home or in a small office. You don’t have to pay as much for cloud storage with a NAS drive.
Use An Old Router As A Web Server
A web server is where small or local websites are stored. Some routers let you run simple server software. An old computer can be used to check out websites. Sharing private files is possible with a home web server. For changeable pages, some routers let you use PHP and MySQL.
If you want to learn how to build websites, a private web server can help. To use this feature, you need modified software. A small amount of storage space is built into some routers for storage. A web server on a router can be used for cheap hosting. This setup works great for both personal projects and business tests.
Conclusion
An old router can be used for many things. When you reuse a router, you save money and reduce waste. You can improve your home networking with the new use of an old router. Giving or selling a router helps other people. Learning to use new router features enables you to learn more about technology. A router that is set up correctly makes using the internet better. The earth should recycle old routers.