Old routers can be repurposed as Wi-Fi repeaters or network switches

Old Wi-Fi routers do not need to end up in landfills when users upgrade their home networks, as networking fundamentals have remained largely unchanged for decades.

Turning Old Hardware Into a Wi-Fi Repeater or Mesh Node

When a primary router struggles to reach dead zones in a home, an old router can serve as a dedicated access point without requiring the purchase of a single-purpose wireless extender. Users can choose between a wired or wireless approach for this setup. A wired connection yields fast speeds and stable connectivity, though it requires running an Ethernet line back to the primary router, which may involve pulling cables through walls.

Broadcasting two Wi-Fi signals in close proximity causes wireless interference and performance drops. To combat congestion, specific frequencies can be disabled on both devices. A recommended method involves configuring the old router to broadcast solely on the 2.4GHz band while disabling that frequency on the newer router, since 2.4GHz signals penetrate walls more effectively than higher frequencies like 5GHz and 6GHz.

Many devices support wireless repeater or bridge functionality, often labeled under WDS bridging within administrative sub-menus. However, this wireless approach forces the router to use part of its limited capacity to communicate with the primary device, resulting in slower real-world speeds. A small subset of routers can also function as mesh Wi-Fi nodes, such as Asus devices utilizing AiMesh, which allows users to combine different models into a single unified network.

Using LAN Ports as a Cost-Effective Network Switch

Households lacking sufficient LAN ports on their primary router for high-bandwidth equipment like gaming consoles, smart TVs, and computers can utilize an old router as a basic network switch. Purchasing a standalone switch typically costs between $10 and $20, making repurposing an old device an economical alternative.

Configuration requires running an Ethernet cable from the primary router to a LAN port on the old router, keeping the old router’s WAN port empty, and plugging remaining devices into the remaining LAN ports. Users must enable Access Point or Switch modes inside the administrative settings panel. If those specific modes are unavailable, the old router’s DHCP server, firewall, and NAT routing options must be manually disabled. Wireless functionality should also be turned off entirely if the user only requires the onboard Ethernet ports.

Creating Basic File and Print Servers

Many routers feature an overlooked USB port capable of hosting storage drives or printers. Connecting a legacy printer lacking native Wi-Fi support allows users to execute print jobs wirelessly from any connected network device.

Similarly, plugging in a thumb drive or external hard drive turns the router into a basic storage server, enabling read and write access across the network. While dedicated network-attached storage (NAS) machines and specialized drives involve a higher financial investment, a repurposed router offers an inexpensive entry point. Routers lack the built-in reliability features and backup redundancies found in dedicated NAS hardware, and onboard USB ports generally feature limited data transfer speeds.