I thought I needed a new router, but turning my old one into an access point fixed more than I expected

Repurposing an old router as a wired access point can solve Wi-Fi dead zones without buying expensive mesh systems. By factory resetting the old router, assigning it a static IP outside the main router's DHCP range, matching SSIDs, and connecting it via Ethernet (LAN-to-LAN), you get full wireless bandwidth with no backhaul overhead. Unexpected bonuses include free Ethernet ports, a dedicated IoT network on the 2.4 GHz band, and a guest network shield — all for free in about 10 minutes.