I currently have my wireless network setup through a TP-Link AC1900 router. I also have a Netgear WNDR4000 router that currently isn't being used.
My current home network setup is as follows:
Modem is connected to the TP-Link router which has a couple connections wired to it as well as being connected to an 8 port switch that is connected to various ethernet wall ports in my house.
What I'd like to do is turn my Netgear router into a bridge (or is it repeater?) which I would plug into one of my Ethernet wall ports in a different location of the house and then have it repeat the same network at full strength from that location.
My question is, first, is this even possible having 2 different company routers? and second, if it is, how would I go about setting up the Netgear router to achieve the result I'm looking for?
I've tried numerous times from various google search results but nothing has really helped/worked.
I'm on a Mac if that matters at all
32 Answers
What you are asking the Netgear to do is to become an access point. Just transmit the same network name as your current network on the TP-LINK. Luckily, the netgear has an Access Point mode.
The instructions to enable access point mode are here
If you follow those instructions and enable the dhcp client on the access point, as long as you change the SSID (transmitted name) and WPA/WPA2 settings from the TP-LINK you should be good to go.
You are getting all your terminology wrong and could be very confusing - Please make sure you understand what a bridge/repeater is and does - If you have been searching with those terms you will not find any relevant information.
5The router already acts as a bridge:
Internally, the four "LAN" ports all belong to the same Ethernet switch and traffic between them is not routed. (It probably doesn't even reach the OS.)
The built-in Wi-Fi access point is also bridged (usually at OS level) to the built-in "LAN" switch.
The Netgear website has documentation on configuring the device for "AP mode", which disables all routing features and leaves only the Ethernet switch & Wi-Fi AP.
If that doesn't work, the alternative method would be to simply turn off DHCP and UPnP, and connect everything to "LAN" ports only.
