How to Turn an Old Router Into a Wireless Bridge

you could turn an old router into a wireless bridge and solve your problem.

What Is a Wireless Bridge?

Wireless bridge devices can be pretty expensive.

router on table showing rear lan ports

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Take note that routers often have different versions using slightly different hardware.

check that to download the proper firmware of your router and its specific version.

OpenWrt supports thousands of devices from different manufacturers.

Illustration on how a wireless bridge works

If your router is supported by OpenWrt, a guide will be provided on its website.

Tinkering with your gear’s bootloader may brick your router or put it into a bootloop.

This ensures that the software is properly installed and available when needed later.

Hardware set up illustration

You now have a wireless bridge.

Installing luci-proto-relay software

Set up LAN interface

Set IP address as static

Select and join to your Wi-Fi network

Enter your Wi-Fi password

Configure Wi-Fi interface

Create wireless bridge interface

Create wireless bridge

Connect LAN to the Wi-Fi interface

Add both Lan and Wi-Fi in the same firewall zone