Turning a repeater back into a router?
May 4, 2014 7:25 AM Subscribe
So I am thinking about setting up my Linksys E3200 router as a wireless repeater to extend the range of my home wifi connection, since I'm chained to Comcast's abysmal modem/router combo until September. Once I have turned the router into a repeater, will I be able to turn it back into a regular router?
Thankfully, I won't have to deal with Comcast forever. I just want to make sure that before I start this process, it can be reversed. Google is failing me, as searching for "turn repeater back into router" returns a slew of hits about turning a router into a repeater. This suggests it is possible to reverse the process, but I'm not finding any detailed info.
Thankfully, I won't have to deal with Comcast forever. I just want to make sure that before I start this process, it can be reversed. Google is failing me, as searching for "turn repeater back into router" returns a slew of hits about turning a router into a repeater. This suggests it is possible to reverse the process, but I'm not finding any detailed info.
Yes you can reverse the process. You may not even need to flash the firmware; some of the info I've found suggests the Linksys firmware has its own repeater mode. If you do flash to DD-WRT or Tomato (Shibby) firmware, you can flash back to stock firmware later. Or just use the new better firmware as a router.
BTW, a point of terminology; a "repeater" is a node that is wireless only and does not have a wired ethernet connection. An "access point" is wired and provides wifi to other computers. The wired access point works way better than a wireless repeater and you should use it if it's at all possible to have a wire.
posted by Nelson at 8:27 AM on May 4, 2014
BTW, a point of terminology; a "repeater" is a node that is wireless only and does not have a wired ethernet connection. An "access point" is wired and provides wifi to other computers. The wired access point works way better than a wireless repeater and you should use it if it's at all possible to have a wire.
posted by Nelson at 8:27 AM on May 4, 2014
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The DD-WRT install page for your router is here.
Download and install the E3200 official firmware here. (click the download tab)
I don't know that particular router, but DD-WRT is made and released to make routers more flexible and give the user more options than the stock firmwares it replaces, so you might not want to go back to Linksys firmware. I presume DD-WRT's default mode is "wireless router," so resetting the router with a pencil in the back will probably do the reversal you're talking about (as long as you don't mind sticking with DD-WRT).
posted by Sunburnt at 8:18 AM on May 4, 2014