Almost every modern Wi-Fi router can work in repeater mode. Zyxel routers are no exception. All Zyxel Keenetic routers can be used to expand the coverage area of an existing network. You just need to make some settings. Thanks to Alexey, who, in the comments to this article, told me how and how, I figured out everything, tested it, and now I'll tell you how to set up the "Amplifier" operating mode on Zyxel devices.
The article is suitable for all devices starting with NDMS V2.05 firmware. In any case, if during the setup process, you see that you cannot select the desired operating mode, you can update the firmware of your Zyxel Keenetic.
A bit of theory:
What is Repeater Mode? This is when the router strengthens the already existing Wi-Fi network. It's better to use an example: you already have one Wi-Fi router installed. It doesn't matter which one. It can be Zyxel, Tp-Link, Asus, D-Link, etc. But, wireless coverage may not be throughout the house or apartment. Simply put, due to a weak router, Wi-Fi does not catch you in all rooms. Or catches, but not stable. There are such special devices called repeaters (repeaters). They take the Internet via Wi-Fi from the first router, and pass it on. That is, they amplify the signal. The exact same function is available in Zyxel routers. It is called "Amplifier".
Our Zyxel Keenetic router will connect to the existing network and will strengthen it. At the same time, there will be one Wi-Fi network (with one name), throughout the house and, of course, with one password. Devices will automatically switch from one router to another (where the network is stronger). You won't even notice it. But the range of your Wi-Fi network will increase significantly.
Very often the question is asked: "Is there internet via cable, in repeater mode?" I checked that the Internet works via cable on Zyxel Keenetic Start.
I will show the setup process using the example of an Asus router, it will be the main one for us. And Zyxel Keenetic Start, which we recently configured, will be our repeater. As I wrote above, I tested everything, no problems arose.
Your main router must be configured, it must distribute the Internet over a Wi-Fi network. You do not need to perform any special settings on the main router.
Setting up Zyxel as a repeater. Operating mode - "Amplifier"
We go into the settings of our router (which we will use to strengthen the Wi-Fi network signal). Go to the address 192.168.1.1 and specify the username and password. The default is admin and admin. If you changed this data, then indicate it. Or see the article on entering settings on Zyxel routers.
First, you need to change the operating mode of our Zyxel to "Amplifier". This can be done in the control panel of the router. And only if you have a Keenetic Lite III model, then you need to change the operating mode with a special switch on the back of the device. Select the "Booster" mode, and skip the mode selection in the control panel. If you do not have Keenetiс Lite III, then things like this:
In the settings, go to the tab System (bottom). And select the tab on top Mode... We put the switch near the mode Booster - Wi-Fi zone extension, and click on the button Apply.
A window will appear prompting you to restart the router. Click the button "Now".
What if there is no Mode tab and the ability to select an operating mode?
Initially, I did not have the opportunity to choose the mode of operation of the Zyxel router. There was simply no "Mode" tab. What I've done:
Opened a tab in the settings System - Components... I checked the boxes next to three components: Amplifier mode, Access point modeand Adapter mode... Then I pressed the button Refresh... The router downloaded the necessary updates, installed it, and after rebooting, everything worked for me. The "Mode" tab has appeared.
You may need the router to be connected to the Internet. If this does not work for you, then see if the components are enabled on the System - Update tab. Or, just install the latest firmware for your model.
After turning on the "Amplifier" mode, you will no longer be able to enter the settings of your router at the usual address 192.168.1.1. This is normal. At the end of the article, I'll show you how to access the settings.
Zyxel: establishing a connection to expand the range of a Wi-Fi network
The most important thing remains is to establish a connection with the main router, with the network, which we will strengthen.
For this, you need to simultaneously press the Wi-Fi button on both routers (in my case, ASUS and Zyxel Keenetic Start). It is also the WPS activation button... On Zyxel Keenetic Start, it looks like this:
On the main router (whose Wi-Fi network we will be strengthening), this button may look different. For an example on Asus, which was the main one in my case:
And this is how the button on the Tp-Link TL-MR3220 router looks like:
On D-Link, the WPS button looks like this:
I don't know what your main router is, but I think you will find such a button.
So, press the Wi-Fi button on the Zyxel Keenetic Start (which is already enabled in the "Amplifier" mode) and on the main router. It is not necessary to press at the same time, straight to the nearest second. I first went, pressed this button on the main router (the Wi-Fi indicator immediately blinked there), then pressed the button on the Zyxel Keenetic (the power and Wi-Fi indicator also started blinking actively). You don't need to hold the button, just press it.
I waited a little, and everything connected. How did I get it? And on Zyxel Keenetic Start, the Internet (WAN) indicator lit up.
I opened the list of available networks, and only one of my networks was displayed there, and with a 100% signal. Although, the main router is far from me. This means that our repeater has copied the information about the wireless network from the main router, and simply amplifies it. Everything is working!
Took a tablet, walk around the house (from router to router), and the internet worked great. It turns out that the device is connected to a more stable network. The range of my Wi-Fi network has certainly increased considerably.
After turning off one of the routers (or both), the connection is automatically established and Zyxel continues to relay the network.
How to enter the Zyxel "repeater" settings if 192.168.1.1 is not suitable?
After the connection between the routers is established, go to the Zyxel settings at the usual address for us 192.168.1.1 (or my.keenetic.net) - it won't work. The page will simply be unavailable. Even when connected via a network cable.
This is because the main router automatically issues an IP to our repeater, and we simply do not know it. Therefore, we need to go to the settings of the main router (at its usual address), and look there the IP of our router, which works as an amplifier. See the instructions for entering the settings of different routers - How to enter the settings of the router? Detailed instructions for all models.
On the main router settings page, look for the section where you can see all connected devices. Something like "Client List". On my old Asus it looks like this:
Our "repeater" will be in the list of devices. For some reason, his IP address was even active. I followed it and immediately got into the settings of my Zyxel Keenetic Start. If you don't know what IP you need, then you can use the poke method :)
There you can see all the necessary information: operating mode, IP-addresses, list of clients, Wi-Fi network status, etc. The menu in the "Amplifier" mode will be truncated compared to the standard "Internet Center" mode.
How to return the Zyxel Keenetic router to standard operation mode?
If you want to use your router in normal mode, for the usual distribution of Wi-Fi when connecting to the Internet via cable, then we just need to change the operating mode to the main one. This can be done from the settings, as I showed above. Just open the tab System (bottom), then top tab Mode, select the modeInternet Center - Basic Mode and reboot the router.
Alternatively, you can use a method that works 100% - do a factory reset.
After that, the settings page will be available at 192.168.1.1.
Conclusion
Everything is set up very easily if you figure it out. And everything really works stably. My Zyxel router cloned the main Asus router network without any problems, and strengthened it. The range of the network turned out to be very large. By the way, it is very important to install the repeater correctly, in the right place. That would be as useful as possible from him. The main thing is that there is a stable signal from the main router.
And what is very convenient is that the network remains alone, and the devices automatically switch between routers. Well, all connected devices are on the same network. Which is very important, for example, for watching movies via DLNA, or setting up a local network.
Share your experience in the comments. And if you can't customize something, then ask questions. Good luck!
