Actually, it's not outdated, but it is the technology being used to make a router as a repeater or as a WiFi range extender. WEP ill ensure more bandwidth. Setting a router as a wireless extender and repeater is old technology, and rarely used nowadays, yet it isn't outdated, or being phased out, as it's still being used.
Apr 05, 2020 Extend Wi-Fi Network Using Old Router as Repeater Jun 11, 2015 How to Configure Routers for Network Extender
Use an Old WiFi Router as Repeater, Wifi Extender, Access
How to turn a router into a range extender | TechRadar Any router that DD-WRT can be installed on can be turned into a wireless repeater and bridge. A wireless repeater takes the signals from your main wireless network repeats them on another. It's
Probedude - Thanks for your response! I know I can configure it to act the equivilant of a wireless switch/wired WAP (did tha recently for a friend's hybrid LAN), but I was curious if it was possible to configure it like a wireless range extender/repeater where the signal it handles is passed on to a WAP or router.
Once you are inside the dashboard of the TP-link router, you will find a few options in the left-hand side. The third option would be operation mode, clicking on which will give you options you want to use your TP link wireless router. Select the last one which is Range Extender, and follow the instructions.