Yes, an old router can mimic a computer Wi-Fi dongle by connecting to the same network and using its built-in settings.
Yes, an old router can mimic a computer Wi-Fi dongle by connecting to the same network and using its built-in settings.
This approach works well with older wireless routers, which used a method known as a wireless distribution system (WDS). Many came with built-in support for this feature via their firmware, though it often needed matching hardware to activate. When I set up DD-WRT on my Linksys WRT54G and a Motorola device, I successfully enabled WDS unexpectedly. It appears that such networks relied heavily on firmware capabilities and compatibility between devices at both ends.
Even when using DD-WRT or OpenWRT, it's advised to stick with the same hardware. Since this firmware is common across various models, it offers broader compatibility because the hardware of different versions can be very similar. This largely depends on how well the manufacturers support their products. Not every device runs on the exact same kernel or drivers, but with custom firmware you can guarantee it does.
Back then, I used a similar setup. Both devices were WRT54G, but they came from a different router version. It wasn’t the most refined approach.