Is it possible to turn off wi-fi waves?

Soldato
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19 Apr 2003
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I realise that this is a strange question but...

Is it possible, when you’re not using the wi-fi on a wi-fi/modem/router, to turn off the wi-fi (i.e. the waves emitted from the router) & just use it as a router?

I realise that it makes no odds to the effectiveness of the router it’s just the person who wants me to install a wi-fi system only wants the wi-fi signal to be running when she’s using her laptop. When she’s using her desktop (which will be hardwired to the router) she would like to be able to turn off the wi-fi signal as she’s not happy at the thought of the constant wi-fi waves circulating around her house & kids when she has no need for it (I also no there’s no proof of them being harmful – but she wont use mobile phones for the same reason so I’m not going to try and persuade her otherwise – plus it’s her choice).

Basically, is there a wireless modem/router on the market that can have the wi-fi side of things turned off when just using it as a BB modem hard wired to the desktop - & then the wi-fi side of things re-activated when she wants to use her laptop?

(If there isn’t would uscrewing the aerials have pretty much the same affect – such as on the D-Links?)

Told you it was a strange question – but would appreciate any advice as I’ve only set up a couple of networks & haven’t come across this option – or at least have not noticed it.

Cheers.

Plec
 
Vast majority will let you disable the wireless through the web interface - but won't do it automatically, if that's what you're after.
You could do it yourself with some of the routers that'll run some form of *nix in the background.
 
As far as I know, most will let you disable the built in wireless AP, yes. It's almost always enabled by default but Linksys and Netgear ones definitely have the option to disable it so I would imagine all the other consumer-grade routers will do, too.
 
most do

but will require a bit of fiddling about in the web access panel

should be fairly easy depending how computer literate they are.
 
Phemo said:
As far as I know, most will let you disable the built in wireless AP, yes. It's almost always enabled by default but Linksys and Netgear ones definitely have the option to disable it so I would imagine all the other consumer-grade routers will do, too.

The new WAGs don't :( but the DG834G does.
 
Great - thanks for all the replies guys.

Does the Netgear DG834PN have this capability? Or alternatively can someone recommend another make of a similar spec that does?

Thanks again.

Plec
 
Personally for this kind of setup id suggest the use of a "normal" router and seperate wireless access point - you dont want the wireless on, you turn off the AP.
 
Mercutio said:
Personally for this kind of setup id suggest the use of a "normal" router and seperate wireless access point - you dont want the wireless on, you turn off the AP.


Good idea. I would do that instead
 
That is a great idea but wont be suitbable in this particular case - if there's a work around.

She likes the idea of just the all-in-one unit, as it's less clutter in an already small area - plus i mentioned the 'hardware firewall' that are built into some routers & she's very set on that idea.

Thanks for the replies all the same - would have been the easiest option.
 
I have the DG834PN and I can confirm you can turn the wireless off :)


...good router too
 
Plec said:
i mentioned the 'hardware firewall' that are built into some routers & she's very set on that idea.
A non-wireless router is just as capable and likely of having a hardware firewall (though with basic NAT you don't even need a firewall really). I think Mercutio's idea is easily the best :)
 
Again, thanks for the replies - all very useful info.

I think i have enough info & options to propose possible solutions that will suite her best.

Thanks guys.

Plec
 
The linksys ones are definatly stackable and also pretty small. You could just buy a 0.5m patch cable to link the two together. This solution has the advantage that 1 switch will turn of the wireless, as an Access Point doesn't touch the traffic in terms of routing there is no problems with it being turned on and off. Access Points genrally just have an IP for web management and the IP can even be static so that it doesn't have to bother the router everytime it's turned on.
 
It's probably easier to just tell her it turns off when she's not using it. Probably the wrong thing to do, but it's easier, and if its safe not much of a problem.
 
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