What to do with all these routers?

sam1970

Over the years, I moved my ISP provider from one company to another. Every one of them supplied me with a new router which I have never even got out of the box as I stuck with my trusted Netgear router for more than 12 years. My question is...Can I make use of these routers? Can they be used to extend the wifi signal or something like that? Putting them on Ebay is pointless as they dont fetch much. Any advice please?

esuhl

Most routers can't be linked wirelessly (although some can). But you can always run an Ethernet cable to them to use as a switch or additional wireless access point.

kwikbreaks

I have loads too. They are currently adding slightly to the loft insulation and will likely continue to do so until inherited by my children who will probably (hopefully) be sensible enough to scrap them.

TadleyBaggie

esuhl wrote: »

Most routers can't be linked wirelessly (although some can). But you can always run an Ethernet cable to them to use as a switch or additional wireless access point.

Indeed, however you will need to turn off the DCHP, else it will conflict with the actual main router.

SouthUKMan

As you say, they're not really worth anything on Ebay. And like you I've chopped and changed broadband supplier every year or two to get the best deals. I've always put my old routers on Freegle as there's usually someone who's appreciative if they believe their existing router is faulty. The only other thing I can think of is recycling them at your local rubbish tip. The problem is that the world is awash with used, cheaply made, Sky / TalkTalk / Orange, etc branded devices that few people actually want.

mgfvvc

I would say a 12 year old Netgear is a security risk. If one of your collection is fairly new or has a recent firmware update, replace the Netgear with that, keep another recent one as a spare and bin the rest.

Strider590

Bin the routers, sell the power supplies on eBay.

kwikbreaks

Post is the killer now for low value items on eBay. By the time you've factored in eBay and PayPal charges it's hard to justify an individual advert for something that's unlikely to fetch more than a couple of quid or so including post.

It's true you can usually force some old ADSL router to function as a switch or maybe a wireless AP but it may be a bit of a struggle and how many APs/Switches do you need anyway? OK I've got 3 unmanaged switches and one additional AP but they are all purpose built units. The switches are 8 port gigabit and most old routers will only be 4 port 100mbps. Even my low end AP is better than most old ISP provided routers would be. It's only my hoarding tendencies that have led to me keeping the things rather than binning them.

Strider590

kwikbreaks wrote: »

Post is the killer now for low value items on eBay. By the time you've factored in eBay and PayPal charges it's hard to justify an individual advert for something that's unlikely to fetch more than a couple of quid or so including post.

Yeah, i'd love to know how some UK sellers can sell and post items for less than it'd cost me in postage, but it seems to be this big secret.

esuhl

Strider590 wrote: »

Yeah, i'd love to know how some UK sellers can sell and post items for less than it'd cost me in postage, but it seems to be this big secret.

I know -- I bought a bell for my bike on eBay, sent via international post from China, and supplied in a good quality Jiffy bag. It cost 99p with free postage.

eBay charge 35p for the listing.
PayPal charge 20p for the transaction.
Even domestic UK postage would cost more than 44p...

How do they do it?!

Three years later, the bell still works perfectly. For 99p, it's well made.

stator

gumtree? freecycle?