Your old router can serve as a free Wi‑Fi extender and more.

An old Wi‑Fi router can be repurposed instead of discarded; the article lists five practical reuses such as a network switch, guest network, access point, IoT-segment, or wireless extender.

Many people replace home routers and then put the old unit in a drawer. The article describes several ways to reuse an old Wi‑Fi router rather than dispose of it. It lists five common options and notes other possibilities like running a VPN server or using the device for storage via USB. The author writes from a background in tech reporting and product testing. Key options: - Convert into a network switch by disabling DHCP and Wi‑Fi and using the router's Ethernet ports for wired devices. - Create an isolated guest network by connecting the old router to the main network and configuring a separate SSID and password. - Use as a wireless access point by plugging the router into Ethernet to extend Wi‑Fi coverage under the same network name. - Put IoT devices on a separate network to limit their access to the primary network, noting the article reports IoT gear can be a weak security link. - Configure as a Wi‑Fi extender (repeater) when no Ethernet drop is available, with the caveat that repeated signals often have lower throughput than the main node. Summary: Repurposing an old router can provide extra network ports, separate networks for guests or IoT, and extended wireless coverage without buying new hardware. Undetermined at this time.