How to Set Up a Linksys Router As a Wireless Repeater
By Zyon Silket
Instead of throwing away or storing your old Linksys router, set it up as a switch, also known as a repeater. In doing so, you have the ability to hard-wire seven computers to your network and you effectively double the size of your wireless network. After making a few changes to the router's basic input/output system, or BIOS, settings via the graphical user interface, you'll be up and running with a very powerful network.
Master reset the Linksys router to avoid complications by any past BIOS setting changes like filtering, bridging or service set identifier, or SSID, broadcasting. To complete the reset, plug the router into a power source and place a pin into the reset hole located on the back of the router. Hold the pin in place until the lights flash. Not only does this reset the router BIOS, but it also resets the user interface administration user name and password.
Tether the router to your computer by plugging an Ethernet cable into the LAN port located on the back of the router. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port on the back of the computer.
Enter 192.168.1.1 into a Web browser's address bar and press "Enter" on your keyboard. When the authentication box pops up, enter "admin" into the username and password boxes and press "Enter" on the keyboard. If the default information does not work, omit the password and try again. Some Linksys routers use the default password and some do not.
Access the "Basic Setup" page and disable the dynamic host configuration protocol, or DHCP, server. This prevents the router from "routing" IP addresses to the equipment on the network. Because this task is left up to the main router on the network, turn it off on this router to avoid connection issues.
Change the local IP address to something other than the current address if the main router on your network is also a Linksys router or if it has the same IP address. For example, if both routers are Linksys, change the IP address from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.2. Every piece of equipment must have a unique IP address to avoid network conflicts.
Click on "Wireless" and change the SSID so it matches the network name on your main router. Therefore, if you named your network SSID on your main router to "eHow Rules" change the SSID on this router to "eHow Rules."
Click on "Wireless Security" and change the passphrase to match the passphrase used on the main router. If you do not secure your network, skip this step.
Click on "Update Settings" to save the BIOS changes to the router.
Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the router and the computer. Plug the Ethernet cable into LAN port number one that is located on the back of the main router. Plug the other end into the WAN port of the Linksys you converted into a repeater.
Writer Bio
Since 2006 Zyon Silket has been writing for companies such as SEOWhat, L&C Freelancing and T-Mobile Wireless. He has extensive experience working in supervisory roles within the wireless and Internet technologies fields. Silket is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in business management and network technologies at Lehigh Carbon Community College.