Do you have some old routers lying around that you’re not using? You can actually put them to good use by creating a mesh network! In this post, I’ll guide you through the process of setting up a mesh network using two routers, one of which is an old TP-Link router with 2.4 GHz frequency and the other is a 5 GHz main router.
To get started, you’ll need to reset your old router. Then, go to your router setup page and access the wireless settings. Here, you’ll need to disable the WPS and DHCP. Disabling DHCP means that the main router will give IP addresses to all devices, including the old router that you’re using as a mesh.
Next, go to the quick setup and click on “range extender”. If your old router is a 2.4 GHz frequency, you don’t have to do anything further. But if it’s a 5 GHz frequency, enter the name of your main router’s 5 GHz frequency as the name of the old router’s Wi-Fi. For instance, if your main router’s 5 GHz frequency is named “heat”, name the old router’s Wi-Fi “heat s5g”. Enter the password of your main router’s 2.4 GHz frequency.
Click on “finish” and let the old router reboot. Congratulations, you have now set up a mesh network!
To check if it’s working, walk around with your phone and see if the Wi-Fi frequency automatically switches from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz and vice versa without disconnecting. This is the beauty of a mesh network; you get seamless Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. You can even download files or play games on your phone while walking around without any interruption.
In conclusion, creating a mesh network with old routers is a smart way to extend your Wi-Fi coverage without spending extra money on new equipment. So, if you have some old routers lying around, why not put them to good use?