How to set up your extra router as a WiFi repeater

A WiFi repeater, extender, or booster extends the wireless signal range from the main router to areas where the WiFi signal may be weaker or nonexistent. The main router will provide the signal to the repeater. Thereafter, the signal rebroadcasts across a wider area.

Below we will discuss:

1. How to turn your extra D-LINK router into a WiFi repeater
2. How to turn your extra HUAWEI router into a WiFi repeater

If you have a second router you can turn it into a WiFi repeater to boost your internet WiFi signal in the home or office. It is best to place it not too far from the main router.

• Plug in the power supply adapter to the router and plug it into an electrical power point.

• Using a pin, reset the second router to factory settings, press and hold the ‘RESET’ button located underneath the second router for approximately 15 seconds to reset it to factory settings.
  
• Wait until the lights on the device stabilise.

Connect to the second router via WiFi or directly via LAN cable.

Connecting via WiFi:

• Connect your computer to the router's WiFi network.
  You can look for the default WiFi name on the sticker at the bottom of the router.

• Open the WiFi Network Settings on your device (desktop or laptop) and select the appropriate WiFi name to connect to.

Connecting via ethernet/ LAN cable:

• Using an extra ethernet cable, plug one point of the ethernet cable into the network port on your computer and the other end of the ethernet cable into any of the LAN ports on the fibre router.

Once a connection has been established:

• Log in to the router’s web-based interface configuration page.
• Open your internet browser and enter the devices IP address to access the router.
• Enter 192.168.0.1 in the browser search bar.

• Log into the router with the device's username and password:

• Username: ‘admin’
• Password: Enter the default password displayed on the sticker under the router.

• Click ‘Start’ to start the ‘Internet Connection Setup Wizard’.
• Select ‘Continue’ to configure via the Setup Wizard.

• In the Connection method drop-down menu, select ‘Wi-Fi’.
• In the Work mode drop-down menu, select ‘Repeater’.
• Click ‘Next’.

• On the LAN page, tick ‘Automatic obtainment of IPV4 address ‘.
• Click ‘Next’.

• On the Wi-Fi Client page, select ‘Wireless networks’ at the bottom of the page.

• Select the Network Name (SSID) you want to repeat.
  You may be required to enter the password.
• Click ‘Next’ to create the Wi-Fi Repeater profile.

• The new network name will be the original name with _EXT added to the end.
• Create the password for the repeater. You can also select ‘USE’ to copy the same access details from the main router.
• Click ‘Next’.
• Follow the same procedure for the 5GHz wireless network set up.
• Click ‘Next’.

• For security purposes, you will be requested to update the router login details on the Change web-based interface password page.
• Click ‘Next’.

• A summary of your changes will appear, Click ‘Apply’ to save these settings.

• Power up the router. Plug in the power supply adapter to the router and plug it in to an electrical power point.

• Reset the second router to factory settings. Using a pin, reset the second router to factory settings, press and hold the ‘RESET’ button located underneath the second router for approximately 15 seconds to reset it to factory settings.
• The router will restart, the light indicator will turn red, and the router will be restored to the factory settings.

Connect to the second router via WiFi or directly via LAN cable.

Connecting via WiFi

• Connect your computer to the router's WiFi network.
  You can look for the WiFi name on the sticker at the bottom of the router.
• Open the WiFi settings on your computer device (desktop or laptop) and select the appropriate WiFi name to connect to.

Connecting via ethernet

• Using an extra ethernet cable, plug one point of the ethernet cable into the network port on your computer and the other end of the ethernet cable into any of the LAN ports on the fibre router.

Once connection has been established:

• Log into the router’s web-based interface configuration page.
• Open your Internet browser and enter the devices IP address to access the router.
• Enter 192.168.3.1 in the browser search bar.

• A welcome screen will appear.
• Tick the box to accept the End User License Agreement.
• Tick the box to allow the Automatic Updates.
• Select ‘Let’s get started'.

• Select ‘Wi-Fi repeater’ to extend the coverage.

• Select a WiFi network that you wish to repeat/extend from the list of available WiFi networks.
• You will be prompted to enter the ‘WiFi network password’. Enter the WiFi password of the WiFi network that you are repeating/extending.
• Select ‘Next’.

• Enter your desired Admin password. This is the admin password used to access the router’s user interface (UI) configuration page.
• Select ‘Next’.

The configuration is now complete!

• At this stage, the front light indicator should be steady green which indicates that the router is now connected to the internet and working in ‘Repeater mode’.
• Select ‘Next’.
• If you are connected via WiFi you will need to reconnect to the router's WiFi network to access the internet.