Hello! TP-Link has such popular router models as: TL-WR841ND and TL-WR741ND. They are really popular and are installed in many homes and even offices. Well, many people have a question about how to set them up as a repeater. Do TP-Link routers even know how to work as repeaters? Now we will try to figure it out, and I will tell you how to configure TP-Link TL-WR841ND (or another model) as a repeater.
I just took these two models as an example, as they are the most popular. In fact, almost all router models TP-Link do not know how to work as repeaters (I don't know how it is with new devices now). They simply do not have such an opportunity.
In some TP-Link routers (updated models) in the settings, it became possible to configure the router as a Wi-Fi signal amplifier. I wrote about this in more detail in this article: "Wi-Fi Signal Booster" operating mode on a TP-Link router. For example, this feature appeared on the TL-WR841N V14.
Only TP-Link APs support repeater mode. Now I mean working in real mode of a Wi-Fi network repeater. When another router simply extends the range of the Wi-Fi network, as, for example, Asus devices do (wrote about it here).
If you have a TP-Link TL-WR741N, or TL-WR841N, it doesn't matter, you won't be able to configure it as a wireless repeater. Rather, it will work, you just need to change the firmware to an alternative DD-WRT. And this is a loss of guarantee. And although TP-Link works fine on DD-WRT, it's even better than on native firmware, not many people dare to install it.
If you do not want to install DD-WRT on your router, but you just need to configure your TP-Link to increase the range of your Wi-Fi network, then you can use WDS mode (bridge mode). Unlike repeater mode, after setting up WDS, you will already have two Wi-Fi networks. And the speed will have to be divided by two. But, I've already checked everything, and everything works. You can easily use your TP-Link to strengthen your existing Wi-Fi network.
All the difference is that the repeater mode was originally created to increase the range of the network (read more about repeaters here), and the WDS mode (bridge mode) was created to connect two Wi-FI routers into one network over a wireless network. That's all the difference.
In the separate instructions, I already wrote about setting up WDS on TP-Link: Setting up a Tp-Link router in bridge mode (WDS). We connect two routers via Wi-Fi. Follow the link and customize. Everything is described in great detail there. Everything is checked, it works.
But, if you need to effectively, and without unnecessary setup problems, strengthen the signal of your Wi-Fi network, then I would advise you to buy a real repeater, and if you already have a TP-Link router (for example, TL-WR841ND), then flash it DD-WRT firmware and use in real repeater mode.
It is a pity that TP-Link has deprived its routers of this useful feature. On Asus and Zyxel routers, the network repeater mode works very well and is very easy to configure.
