How To Setup a TP-Link Wireless Router as a Repeater

Evan Gower May 31, 2019

Everyone is connected to the internet these days. Almost every router comes with a Wi-Fi antenna that allows you to connect to the internet from any device without a LAN cable. But what happens if your home is too large for a single Wi-Fi router to cover?

If that’s the case, you can always get another TP-Link Wi-Fi router and use it as a repeater. That means you will get to extend the coverage of your primary router, so it covers the entire house. You can find a detailed step by step guide on how to do that below.

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Connecting an Extra TP-Link Wi-Fi Router

You can connect another router to your existing one in a few different ways. You can use a LAN cable to extend the Wi-Fi connection to another router. However, that’s not always practical, especially if the location of the second router is far away from the first one. That’s why it’s best to connect the repeater to your original router via Wi-Fi. The process is the same for most TP-link Wireless routers. Here is what you have to do to extend your Wi-Fi range:

Connect your PC to your first router via Wi-Fi. (Enter “admin” as your User Name and Password).
Open http://tplinkwifi.net/ or access the TP-link router set up by entering 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into your browser’s search bar.
Find where it says “Wireless Settings” and check “Enable WDS.”
Name your Wi-Fi however you like by filling in the SSID bar on the top of the page.
Click “Search/Survey.” Find the SSID and channel of your root AP. Click “Connect”.
The SSID and BSSID (for Mac users) will fill in automatically. When that is done, input the wireless security settings and channel, so they match the root of the original AP. Hit “Save.”
Find the “Wireless Security” tab to secure the local network of the router. The encryption settings will be different than the ones on the screenshot.
Click “DHCP,” and then “DHCP Settings.” Look for the “DHCP Server” option and check “Disable.”
Hit the “Save” button.
Select the “Network” tab and click “LAN.”
Modify the LAN IP address of the router and hit “Save.” (You should enter the same IP Address used by your root network.)
Click “System Tools” and select “Reboot.”
Check for a connection. If you still don’t have one, restart the original Router and try again. If it’s still not working, your devices could be incompatible in WDS bridge mode.

Configuring a TP-Link N Router as an Access Point

You can also create an extra access point by connecting a TP-Link Router to your original router via LAN port. That won’t be a wireless connection because you have to connect the two routers with an Ethernet cable. Here is how you can do that:

With an Ethernet cable, connect your PC to the second LAN port on the TP-Link N router. Use the IP address located on the bottom of the router to log into the TP-Link web interface.
Click “Network,” and then “LAN.”
Change the IP Address and enter the address found on your TP-Link N router.
Reboot the router and use the new IP address to log in.
Click “Wireless,” and select “Wireless Settings” to configure the SSID. Hit “Save.”
Go back to “Wireless” and select “Wireless Security.” Use WPA/WPA2-Personal as it’s the safest option. Hit “Save.”
Go to “DHCP” and select “DHCP Settings.” Check “Disable,” where it says “DHCP Server.” Click “Save.”
Open “System Tools” and select “Reboot” to restart your device.
Connect the main router to your TP-Link N router using the Ethernet cable. The new router will now act as an extra access point for your devices. You can connect via Wi-Fi or cable.

Extend Your Wi-Fi Connection and Cover Every Inch of Your Home

The two methods we just covered will help you get full Wi-Fi coverage your home. You can connect multiple routers to extend the Wi-Fi network where you need it. The second method requires a cable connection between the routers, so it’s only available if you can connect the routers physically.

Now that you have learned how to provide the Wi-Fi connection anywhere you want (even your back yard), your guests, friends, and family can surf the internet, no matter how far they are from the main router.