If you have an old mobile phone that you don’t use, you could use it as a Wi-Fi repeater. It’s an option to extend the connection to other areas of the home, if they are further away from the router or you have to connect devices with a weaker network card. In this article I’ll tell you about a test I did with an old phone. I simply wanted to find out if it can really be useful, checking the speed it offers.
Logically, depending on the mobile you use, you may have better or worse results. There are phones that have Wi-Fi 6, for example, as well as greater speed or coverage. An older device will work worse than a more recent one. But could it still be useful for connecting other devices?
Old mobile as a Wi-Fi repeater
The aim of this test was to see if I can really give a second life to a mobile phone that, due to its characteristics, would have little use today. The truth is that I can. I have tested it as a wireless repeater and I have done a speed test, at a safe distance from the router, to see how it responds.
The results have been better than I expected. This is a phone that is already 10 years old. It does not even have Wi-Fi 6. By placing it far from the router, in addition to several rooms in between, I have connected another phone to that network, acting as a repeater, and the speed I have obtained is 63.7 Mbps download and 50.3 Mbps upload, as well as a latency of 25.
I have a fibre optic connection with a higher speed than what I mentioned, but there are several things to keep in mind: it is an old mobile phone that does not use the latest Wi-Fi protocols, and I have also placed it far from the router, in an area where I could easily connect other home automation devices, a television, etc.
The conclusion I draw is that an old mobile phone, even if you think it is useless, can actually be useful as a wireless repeater. Keep in mind that, for example, to watch streaming content in 4K, it is recommended to have at least 25 Mbps. In my case, I got more than 60 Mbps when using this old mobile phone.
Use it correctly
If you’re going to use a mobile phone as a wireless repeater, it’s important to use it correctly, just like you would any other device. For example, try to place it in an area where the wireless signal can reach better. Don’t put it next to a large wall, metal objects, and similar objects that could have an impact.
You should also reduce interference, both on the mobile phone itself that will act as a repeater, and on the devices you are going to connect. Avoid having other devices nearby that could cause conflicts, such as Bluetooth devices, a microwave or a cordless phone.
In short, an old mobile phone could work as a repeater and be useful too. You could have more than enough speed to connect other devices, especially if they are home automation devices, which hardly need speed. You will be able to place it in areas where there are problems. You could also use an old router as a repeater and have excellent results.
