Router TP-Link TL-WR841ND and TL-WR741ND AS A Repiter (Wi-Fi Network Repeater)

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 how to configure them as a repeater. Are TP-Link routers able to work as repeaters at all? Now we’ll try to figure it out, and I’ll tell you how to set up 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 TP-Link router models can’t work as repeaters (I don’t know how it is with newer devices now). They just don’t have that capability.

In some TP-Link routers (updated models) there is an option in the settings to configure the router as a Wi-Fi signal booster. I wrote more about it in this article: Wi-Fi signal booster mode on TP-Link router. For example, such a feature appeared on the TL-WR841N V14.

Only TP-Link access points support the repeater mode. Now I mean working in true Wi-Fi network repeater mode. When another router simply extends the range of the Wi-Fi network, like Asus devices do.

If you have a TP-Link TL-WR741N or TL-WR841N, it doesn’t matter, you won’t be able to set it up as a wireless network repeater. Or rather, it will work, but you need to change the firmware to an alternative DD-WRT. And this is already a loss of warranty. And although TP-Links work perfectly well on DD-WRT, even better than on the native firmware, not many people dare to install it.

If you don’t want to install DD-WRT on your router, but you just need to customize your TP-Link to increase the range of Wi-Fi network, you can use WDS mode (bridge mode). Unlike the 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 have already checked everything and everything works. You can easily use your TP-Link to strengthen your existing Wi-Fi network.

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 wirelessly. That’s all the differences.

In a separate instruction I have already written about setting up WDS on TP-Link: Setting up Tp-Link router in bridge mode (WDS). Connect two routers via wi-fi. Go to the link, and configure. There everything is described in great detail. Everything is tested, it works.

But, if you need to effectively, and without unnecessary problems with the configuration to strengthen the signal of your Wi-Fi network, 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 with firmware DD-WRT and use it in a real repeater mode.

It’s a pity that TP-Link has deprived its routers of this useful feature. Repeater mode works very well on Asus and Zyxel routers and is very easy to configure.