If you have just renewed your router or your internet service provider has sent you a new one, you are probably wondering what you can do with your old router (beyond getting rid of it). Give it a second life with these thirteen uses for an old router: Some are simpler than others, but all will allow you to continue getting the most out of it.
More ports please
Most routers on the market They only have two or four Ethernet ports at most.but if you want to connect devices such as a computer or console and you need more, you can expand it thanks to your old router.
It’s as simple as use your old router as a network switch: Simply connect both devices with a Fermet cable to expand the number of available ports. Of course, you will have to first disable the wireless network on the old one to avoid conflicts.
Turn it into a repeater
Does your current Wi-Fi network coverage not reach your entire home? One way to solve it without spending a single euro is to use your old router as a repeater. The process involves finding a good place for your old router, so that it receives the signal from the current one well and at the same time, is located close to the area where you have problems.
Then you will have to connect both routers by pulling the Ethernet cable so that you can then connect devices at the new created Wi-Fi address or by cable to your old router, now a new repeater.
Create a Wi-Fi network for your visitors
Although your new router may already have this option, if not, you can always choose to use your old device for this mission. Again You will need an Ethernet cable to connect both routers and configure the old one in bridge mode because in reality, it is a twist from the previous use.
Thus, the router connects to the existing network protected with your password, but you give it a new name and a different password. Once done, you can create the network for your visitswhich will be the one you will provide to those who come to see you, thus protecting your home’s Wi-Fi. What do you need extra protection? Take a look at your main router’s firewall settings to limit options.
A network with child protection
The parental protection It is present in the most modern routers, but perhaps not in yours. No problem: take advantage of your old router so that it has the same functions.
As in the previous case, you will have to create a different Wi-Fi network. The key is in set limits access to different pages and services on the website, as well as hours of use or availability periods.
Create your own VPN router
Older routers supported by custom software can be configured with VPN softwarewhich means that if, for example, you have an account with a specific VPN service, you can run it for your router.
That is instead of having to install VPN on all the devices you want to browse onyou just have to connect through this router to enjoy its privacy, security and other advantages of the VPN.
Create a network for your clients
If instead of creating a network for your visits you are looking for something more open, for example because you have a cafeteria and want provide a Wi-Fi hotspot.
In this case the router will have to allow you to install software such as OpenWrt either DD-WRT to create a hotspot point for your business and from there offer completely open or paid free internet, even with ads. In this sense you will also need your old router to support firmware such as HotspotSystem and one last note, take a look at the GPDR and make sure you comply with it.
An internet radio streamer
If you like listening to the radiosome routers can be configured so that they can play radio over the Internet thanks to an interesting DIY project.
Among other things, you will have to carry out the installation of firmwares such as OpenWrt either DD-WRT and you will need a USB card to output audio.
Turn it into a wireless bridge
Let’s imagine that our new router only has wireless connectionit may be because it is the one offered by your internet service provider or simply because you use a 4G or 5G routerfor example for holiday homes.
If in that scenario you want to connect wired devices via Ethernet, use your old router as a wireless bridge. The operation is similar to acting as a repeater, but instead of sharing the Wi-Fi connection, we will choose to use the Ethernet sockets.
Create your own network for the IoT
As we have already seen previously, with your old router you can create a secondary network for different uses. If you are setting up a smart home and you have more and more connected devicesit is a good idea to have a specific network for them.
As with the wireless bridge, the old router has to be linked to the main network and then connect the IoT devices to it and configure the firewall according to your needs.
Turn it into a hub for your smart home
With the right router it is possible to expand the possibilities beyond having a specific network for your IoT. Thus, there are several automation tools with OpenWrt either DD-WRT. For example, you could use the tool Crelay through OpenWRT to control relays with USB and thus activate or deactivate connected devices.
Create your own home cloud or NAS
Do you want to save your data on a single device and access it from anywhere in your home? So what you need is a NASwhich is basically a hard drive connected to the network.
Although there are quite affordable NAS drives on the market, you can also choose to use your old router. Of course, it will only help you if you can run updated firmware like DD-WRT and they have a USB port to connect a hard drive.
Once assembled and configured, your DIY NAS drive will give you Immediate access to your files as long as Wi-Fi reaches you.
Bonus: give connectivity to any printer using the USB port of your old router, which will allow you to devices connected to the WiFi network can print without any additional configuration. This way, you can print from your mobile phone without going through your computer.
As a web server
Your old router too can host a web pageas long as the router supports Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, which will allow you to install WordPress.
If you prefer the trust of a typical server, you will always have use it as a test bank for your website where to install themes, add-ons and plugins without problems on your real website.
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