8 ways to use your old router

1. Signal amplifier

If you do not have a very good signal Wi-Fi in some rooms and you want to improve it, not necessarily to buy fashionable amplifiers: old router will work just as well. There are two ways to amplify the signal.

Option one: Set the old router to the back room and connect it to the new with a long LAN-cable. Then move to Access Point router mode or "wireless access point".

Option two: move your old router in Repeater mode, and it is connected via Wi-Fi to the main router. Use this method if you do not want to pull the wires. Just remember that, if the routers between the many obstacles, the link will not be very good. Therefore, at long range it's better to use the LAN-cable.

How to translate router in Access Point or Repeater mode, described on the websites of manufacturers manuals - for different devices interface is a bit different. If your router does not support these modes, try setting it third-party firmware like DD-WRT, OpenWRT or Tomato.

2. Guest Wi-Fi

Do you often have guests who are asked to connect to your home Wi-Fi? Why not provide them with their own network? To do this, connect your old router to the main router by wire or Wi-Fi.

Then adjust it to handing out a signal - it is possible not to assign a password or make a simple password for guests. If desired, it can also limit the speed, so friends do not abuse your channel.

3. NAS Network Drive

Buy a separate NAS or Time Capsule expensive. If the old router has a USB-port and you have lying around the external hard disk that you rarely use, you can make this your own budget NAS.

Some routers have a built-in NAS mode. Others may need to install the firmware DD-WRT or Tomato. On such a network drive can post pictures, music and videos, which will be accessible from any device in your home network, or make backups there.

4. VPN-connection

Firmware DD-WRT or Tomato allow routers to connect to the VPN-services. Internet access on any device through a router, you will pass all traffic through the VPN - no longer have to install extensions in browsers and smart phone applications. Learn more about how to connect the router to the VPN, you can, for example, here.

5. network switch

Most routers have a no more than six Ethernet-ports. And even less, given the growing popularity of wireless technologies. However, such a number to connect all home appliances are often not enough.

home appliance monitoring devices, TV decoders with Smart TV functionality, game consoles may not have a wireless interface - they need a connection for the LAN-cable. And even if all your Gadgets equipped with Wi-Fi, it is still sometimes advantageous to connect them through a wire: the speed will be higher and more stable connection.

Therefore, if you run out of Ethernet-ports, you can splurge and buy network switch. Or used as such, your old router. Simply connect the old router to one of the LAN ports on your main router, and then turn on the old device, DHCP and Wi-Fi, and it will turn into a makeshift switch.

6. wireless bridge

For example, you have a computer that you want to connect to Wi-Fi, but it does not have a wireless communication module. Connect it to the old router through a short LAN-cable, and then connect the router to the main Wi-Fi network.

So you do not have to pull the long cable through the apartment. And still, this trick will come in handy if your new router does not have an Ethernet port. To implement the ideas you might want to install on the old router is a third-party firmware DD-WRT.

7. Internet radio station

You want to listen to your favorite Internet radio stations where there is no computer? Some routers can be converted into low-cost music player. To do this, you will need to install a router firmware OpenWRT or DD-WRT. In addition, you will need a sound card, connected via USB, and speaker - all of this you can build your own radio, which uses the Wi-Fi.

8. Hub for smart home

Old router can also be used as the control center smart home. To do this, the device must be equipped with a USB-connector. In the end, connecting to the router from a computer or smartphone and sending him to the team, you can turn on and off the light in the house or start watering plants in the garden.

It is difficult, but interesting. The router is old, it is not a pity, so why not experiment? An example of using the router as a lighting control system can be seen at Instructables.com.