Can I.... [Wireless Router Qry]

WrathOfAchilles · 15 Aug 2011 at 11:04

Hi All,

I have a wireless router upstairs in main house, which has internet, wired to a PC and has wireless. All is good here. I then have a net cable running from the router down into my annex, where i have a 4 port switch thing. I have my PC wired into the swich along with my media player. Again, all is fine with this.

Now my question - when the GF uses her laptop she has to use a network cable in my swicth as the wireless from main house doesnt reach. This makes lounge look a bit messy. Can i simply plug a wireless router into my switch, so have have another wireless "area" in annex?

And if so, will any router do?

Cheers,
Achilles

Sin_Chase · 15 Aug 2011 at 11:05

You COULD plug in another router, but you do not want to. If you want to use one which is lying around what you need to do depends on what it supports. It might support wireless bridging, and if it does you will need to disable DHCP and NAT/Firewalls etc. If not you can still configure the wireless and use that as normal, but again - disable DHCP etc.

What you need is a wireless access point!

Ben Cole · 15 Aug 2011 at 11:12

I have done almost exactly what you describe. I disagree with Sin Chase because my setup works perfectly and happened to have two routers to use and in the end they did the job. The only difference is that I don't have a cable linking thge two routers. I have used powerline/homeplug adapters to use the mains to connect.

I even asked on here about tips on how to set it up so it may be worth using the search.

IIRC all I did was turn DHCP off on the secondary router.

Now, depending on where I am I either connect to "(network name) Downstairs" or "(network name) Upstairs".

I tried wireless extenders, different antenna etc. but the house is just too big for that. This setup has been working very well for a long time now.

WrathOfAchilles · 15 Aug 2011 at 11:44

Sin_Chase said:
You COULD plug in another router, but you do not want to. If you want to use one which is lying around what you need to do depends on what it supports. It might support wireless bridging, and if it does you will need to disable DHCP and NAT/Firewalls etc. If not you can still configure the wireless and use that as normal, but again - disable DHCP etc.

What you need is a wireless access point!

This "wireles access point" would just connect to my switch thing by network cable, or it would replace my switch thing (link directly to my other wireless router)?

WrathOfAchilles · 15 Aug 2011 at 11:55

This: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-028-TP&groupid=46&catid=1837&subcat=
?

WrathOfAchilles · 15 Aug 2011 at 13:19

Actually... this will do?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-006-TP&groupid=46&catid=1837&subcat=

Tealc · 15 Aug 2011 at 14:21

If you already have a switch the access point would be better as it's designed for that function. The wireless repeater can act as a wireless access point as well as it does have a WAN port and is selectable as such with it's own SSID and channel to use. £2 more though. If you think it might be handy then maybe worth it.

Another option would be to share the internet connection coming to your machine and use a USB wireless device plugged in to act as a access point. The cheapest TP-Link (£7) has a feature called Soft AP which uses your PC to work as a access point. Useful if the GF just uses facebook and low bandwidth stuff.

Sin_Chase · 15 Aug 2011 at 14:56

Ben Cole said:
I have done almost exactly what you describe. I disagree with Sin Chase because my setup works perfectly

Dis-agree with what?

If he does not have a spare router then no, he does not want to buy one to do this, he wants an access point that connects to his switch via ethernet.

As indicated in my post if he does have one about, and he wants to make use of it - he COULD use it.

WrathOfAchilles · 15 Aug 2011 at 15:01

Sin_Chase said:
Dis-agree with what?

If he does not have a spare router then no, he does not want to buy one to do this, he wants an access point that connects to his switch via ethernet.

As indicated in my post if he does have one about, and he wants to make use of it - he COULD use it.

Yeah, i dont have a spare router about.

I dont think i would need the extra ports offered by the £2 more one - thinking the £19 jobby will be ideal.

Tealc · 15 Aug 2011 at 17:17

The £2 more one doesn't have extra ports. It just has the added ability to act as a repeater. I don't know what it takes away as a wireless access point from the other one.