I am thinking about extending WiFi coverage at home.

The current configuration has only one wireless router to broadcast signal in a two-story condo. The signal degrades badly after going through only one wall.

There are two solutions I am thinkin’

  • Using old wireless routers as AP by cable-connecting to the main router.
  • Wirelessly using the repeater bridge, but I am not sure if I have any of those at home.

So, first reset the device

  • AP: need long cables and routing around the house
    • look up the IP address ip1 of the primary router R1
    • disconnect Internet and connect the old router R2 to computer by cable directly (LAN only)
    • switch to AP mode, probably it was already
    • change the IP of R2 to any other unoccupied IP (1~254)
    • change the gateway of R2 to ip1
    • DISABLE DHCP of R2 - cuz R1 is running as DHCP already!
    • restart…should be good
  • Repeater Bridge: retains the same SSID as R1, while AP solution could differ
    • Some product can automate the setup process
    • For mine, I guess it won’t automate
    • switch to Repeater…Bridge…mode? Haven’t tried, we will see (TODO: yk!!! Update this later)
    • should be pretty much the same…

Considering the thickness of the wall, I feel I will do the cable-AP way…at least for the kitchen…