12 Useful Ways to Reuse an Old Router (Don't Throw It Away!)

Old router cluttering up your drawers? Here's what to do with an old router and shop a few cash in preference to throwing it away!

Maybe your new Internet Service Provider (ISP) has sent one out, otherwise, you certainly fancy an upgrade. Either manner, you are confronted with a problem:

What should you do with the vintage router?

In the case of switching your ISP, you may regularly be requested to go back to the older device. But if you have one kicking across the place, right here are numerous uses for an old router.

What You Can Do With an Old Router

It might be in a field; it may be cluttering up a drawer or misplaced in the back of a wardrobe. Whatever the case, your antique router or modem/router combo unit can be reused.

We've diagnosed 12 makes use of for old routers:

1. Wireless repeater
2. Guest Wi-Fi connection
3. Cheap internet radio
4. Use the antique router as a community switch
5. Adapt it as a wi-fi bridge
6. Convert your router into a NAS
7. Use an antique router as an internet server
8. A DIY VPN router
9. Sell the router on eBay
10. Set up a separate network for IoT gadgets
11. Learn more about the domestic community
12. Donate it to a church or college

Let's test every one of these uses for old routers in extra elements.

1. Build a Wireless Repeater

What if your Wi-Fi network would not make bigger across the total variety of your own home? Although you would possibly choose powerline Ethernet adapters, adding a second router into the mix is a good alternative.

This approach connects the vintage router in your new wireless community, the use of the Wi-Fi sign. It can then percentage get entry to to the Wi-Fi network, giving greater insurance. Although there may be some latency troubles, this is a quick and easy manner to extend your wireless community.

It has diverse uses, from boosting your Wi-Fi signal around your own home to letting you move to video for your tablet whilst chilling in the garden.

2. Guest Wi-Fi Connection

If you've got humans regularly losing in and the use of your wi-fi internet, why not supply them their very own network?

This is like the wi-fi repeater undertaking, however with a twist. The router connects for your current, password-included network, however gives password-loose get entry to new devices. This will use the guest network function of your vintage router. By default, this prevents visitors from having access to different gadgets in your community.

If this degree of security isn't always sufficient, test the firewall settings on the primary router to regulate.

3. Cheap Internet Radio Streamer

Still, wondering what you could do with an old router?

Why now not revel in your favored radio stations on the net? Some routers may be configured to play net radio, in case you're organized to install OpenWrt or DD-WRT custom router firmware.

You'll want some different software, in addition to a USB sound card to output audio.

While not a smooth build, and masses of different internet radio options are to be had, this is still an exquisite mission. It offers you a perception of installing custom firmware, as well as an appreciation of how to move a song.

4. Use the Router as a Cheap Network Switch

Most routers do not have extra than six Ethernet ports. With the growth in the wi-fi era around the house, this parent would possibly even be as low as 4. But with a clear need for devices to be linked over Ethernet, you may run out of ports.

For instance, online gaming with a console or PC is extra reliable using Ethernet. Your TV decoder will provide higher streaming over Ethernet than wi-fi.

If you run out of Ethernet ports, you may upload more with a community transfer. It's basically the networking version of a mains power bar, with additional ports plugged into one port on the router.

Your old router normally has 4 or more ports, so connecting will right away boom the variety of ports to be had. You should disable wi-fi networking at the antique router, to avoid conflicts.

5. Turn Your Old Router Into a Wireless Bridge

What if your new router is wireless best? Perhaps the ISP would not provide a router with Ethernet ports, or perhaps you use a 4G or 5G internet issuer. Either way, in case you want to connect Ethernet gadgets to your own home network, a wi-fi bridge is the solution.

While cheaper, a vintage router may be adapted as a wireless bridge.

This works a bit like a wireless repeater, however, in preference to the percentage of the Wi-Fi connection, the wi-fi bridge gives Ethernet. The old router connects for your existing Wi-Fi community---honestly connect devices to the Ethernet ports.

6. Convert Your Router Into a NAS Drive

Looking for a manner to keep your information on an unmarried tool and get admission to it from everywhere in your own home? You need Network Attached Storage (NAS), which is essentially a difficult disk power attached to your community.

While NAS gadgets are low-cost sufficient, with an old router striking around, you could store money. Note that this is constrained to routers that could run custom firmware (like DD-WRT) and feature a USB port. You ought to additionally be capable of browsing the contents of any connected USB devices via the router.

(Without USB, there may be no way to attach the difficult disk drive or USB flash storage.)

Once set up, your custom-built NAS must provide you with instant get an entry of your documents from anywhere within the residence.

7. Use an Old Router as a Web Server

On the pinnacle of the whole lot else, your router also can host a simple net page.

This is probably a home-only website, meant to percentage vital information on your circle of relatives. Alternatively, it would also be a blog, as custom router firmware will help LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). This means that you may probably install WordPress.

Run an internet site and want an affordable staging place for checking out topics, plugins, and new code? Your old router is probably the low spec server you need.

8. Make Your Own VPN Router

Old routers supported through custom firmware may be set up with VPN software. This means that if you have a VPN account with, say, ExpressVPN (MakeUseOf readers can keep 49% on our pinnacle ranked VPN desire), it can be installed on your router.

Consequently, each tool for your network is protected by using the VPN. You do not need to put in-person client apps on your PC or cell devices while connecting to a VPN via your home network.

Note that a few antique routers have VPN provision, but this most effective works when they're set to modem-most effective mode.

Nine. Make Money From Your Old Router

If you don't fancy wasting time trying to set up your antique router with current hardware, why not promote it?

Various retailers will assist you to make a few greenbacks from vintage tech, maximum extensively eBay. Simply list the tool with the make and model range. Your purchaser will normally be all of us seeking out a cheap router, however networking fans, and retro-tech collectors may additionally be involved.

Generating cash for the old devices is a first-rate way to elevate the price range for brand new gadgets.

10. Set Up a Separate Network for IoT and Smart Home Devices

As noted earlier, maximum current routers will help you install a secondary network. It’s also a great concept if you use smart domestic tech and Internet of Things devices.

If your cutting-edge router doesn’t support an additional wi-fi community, set up your antique router as a community, particularly for smart domestic and IoT.

As with growing a wireless bridge, the router can be linked in your essential network, and then you definitely in reality connect your IoT gadgets to it. In the occasion of issues, you may effortlessly pull the plug, at the same time as the firewall at the router may be used to configure connections.

Eleven. Learn More About Home Networking

Routers are quite a plenty plug-and-play. They configure new connections mechanically, allowing you to get online speedy and without difficulty.

If you desired to study extra approximately your private home community, you'll look at the admin screen. But if you clicked the incorrect option, the whole thing could cross incorrect. The solution? Use an old router to research greater approximately domestic networking. Firewalls, DMZs, MAC filters, and extra can all be learned with arms-on revel in that doesn't knock your whole network offline.

Using a community hosted on an antique router, you do not need to rely on a factory reset if matters cross incorrect.

12. One More Thing You Can Do With an Old Router: Donate It!

Finally, why now not sincerely donate your vintage router to an awesome motive? Schools, kindergartens, church buildings, charities, and greater could use it.

Any agency that relies on goodwill can use your old router to increase their community, circulation internet radio, set up a visitor Wi-Fi network, or any of the alternatives that make use of listed right here.

You may not make any cash from the router, but you may recognize that it's miles getting used for an awesome cause.

Now You Know What to Do With an Old Router

It doesn’t be counted if you have a widespread router or one with a modem constructed in. If you’re looking for thoughts on what to do with an antique broadband router or a standalone router, these are all excellent methods to repurpose it.

Even if the tool misses key wi-fi features, you could still use it as a transfer, or a visitor network.