Wireless configuration question (Roger?)
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I have a wired gigabyte lan connecting my machines at home. The router's WAN input is connected to a wireless antenna that provides the main connection to our ISP. Nothing out of the ordinary. We're moving to a facility that provides wireless networking. I want to maintain the independence/security/speed of my own wired network, rather than having each of our machines tied directly to their network. Ideally, I want to replace the wireless antenna on the WAN side of my router with some device capable of performing the same function in a standard wireless G environment (yeah, they're still using 'G'). An antenna terminating in an ethernet RJ45 connector, capable of interfacing the router to a wireless network. I'm really pretty clueless about this sort of thing. Is what I'm describing a standard item/component? What would it be called? :confused:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
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I have a wired gigabyte lan connecting my machines at home. The router's WAN input is connected to a wireless antenna that provides the main connection to our ISP. Nothing out of the ordinary. We're moving to a facility that provides wireless networking. I want to maintain the independence/security/speed of my own wired network, rather than having each of our machines tied directly to their network. Ideally, I want to replace the wireless antenna on the WAN side of my router with some device capable of performing the same function in a standard wireless G environment (yeah, they're still using 'G'). An antenna terminating in an ethernet RJ45 connector, capable of interfacing the router to a wireless network. I'm really pretty clueless about this sort of thing. Is what I'm describing a standard item/component? What would it be called? :confused:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
It's commonly known as a "wireless range extender". Google gave me over half a megahit, so you should find something local/suitable. Also, there are a number of sites where you can reflash a wireless router to do this job. Don;t know off the top of my head what the magic google incantation is for that, but I found some when I was looking for router firmware upgrades. HTH Peter
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994.
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I have a wired gigabyte lan connecting my machines at home. The router's WAN input is connected to a wireless antenna that provides the main connection to our ISP. Nothing out of the ordinary. We're moving to a facility that provides wireless networking. I want to maintain the independence/security/speed of my own wired network, rather than having each of our machines tied directly to their network. Ideally, I want to replace the wireless antenna on the WAN side of my router with some device capable of performing the same function in a standard wireless G environment (yeah, they're still using 'G'). An antenna terminating in an ethernet RJ45 connector, capable of interfacing the router to a wireless network. I'm really pretty clueless about this sort of thing. Is what I'm describing a standard item/component? What would it be called? :confused:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
LunaticFringe wrote:
The router's WAN input is connected to a wireless antenna that provides the main connection to our ISP
Antennas don't plug into WAN inputs on routers; you have a wireless wireless client adapter with an attached antenna plugged into your router. The new place sounds like it includes wireless coverage for all, so it must have access points (APs) scattered around. If your existing wireless adapter is one of the multiband types that supports 802.11g networking, it should work fine in the new place. If not, you'll have to buy a new one that is 'g' compatible, and plug it in to your router WAN port. Stick with reputable companies - Linksys, D-Link are two - and avoid the cheapo units from Belkin, et al. At the new location you'll still enjoy the same speed internally as before, but connections to the Internet will be limited to the speed available via the host 'g' network.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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It's commonly known as a "wireless range extender". Google gave me over half a megahit, so you should find something local/suitable. Also, there are a number of sites where you can reflash a wireless router to do this job. Don;t know off the top of my head what the magic google incantation is for that, but I found some when I was looking for router firmware upgrades. HTH Peter
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994.
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LunaticFringe wrote:
The router's WAN input is connected to a wireless antenna that provides the main connection to our ISP
Antennas don't plug into WAN inputs on routers; you have a wireless wireless client adapter with an attached antenna plugged into your router. The new place sounds like it includes wireless coverage for all, so it must have access points (APs) scattered around. If your existing wireless adapter is one of the multiband types that supports 802.11g networking, it should work fine in the new place. If not, you'll have to buy a new one that is 'g' compatible, and plug it in to your router WAN port. Stick with reputable companies - Linksys, D-Link are two - and avoid the cheapo units from Belkin, et al. At the new location you'll still enjoy the same speed internally as before, but connections to the Internet will be limited to the speed available via the host 'g' network.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Roger Wright wrote:
Antennas don't plug into WAN inputs on routers; you have a wireless wireless client adapter with an attached antenna plugged into your router.
Correct. (You pedant, you.)
Roger Wright wrote:
The new place sounds like it includes wireless coverage for all, so it must have access points (APs) scattered around.
So I assume.
Roger Wright wrote:
If your existing wireless adapter is one of the multiband types that supports 802.11g networking, it should work fine in the new place. If not, you'll have to buy a new one that is 'g' compatible, and plug it in to your router WAN port. Stick with reputable companies - Linksys, D-Link are two - and avoid the cheapo units from Belkin, et al.
The existing adapter belongs to the ISP, I believe. We don't own that bit of equipment. And so, yes; what I need is an adapter that plugs into a router WAN port. Trouble is I'm not seeing anything that meets that description. Plenty of PCI adapters, USB adapters, yada yada, but nothing that looks like an stand-alone unit with an ethernet interface. I've found something that looks close, (this[^]), but if you look at the block diagram under the 'networking solution' tab, their little block diagram doesn't really match the setup I'm describing. Still, I wonder if it'd work... :confused:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
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It's commonly known as a "wireless range extender". Google gave me over half a megahit, so you should find something local/suitable. Also, there are a number of sites where you can reflash a wireless router to do this job. Don;t know off the top of my head what the magic google incantation is for that, but I found some when I was looking for router firmware upgrades. HTH Peter
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994.
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I have a wired gigabyte lan connecting my machines at home. The router's WAN input is connected to a wireless antenna that provides the main connection to our ISP. Nothing out of the ordinary. We're moving to a facility that provides wireless networking. I want to maintain the independence/security/speed of my own wired network, rather than having each of our machines tied directly to their network. Ideally, I want to replace the wireless antenna on the WAN side of my router with some device capable of performing the same function in a standard wireless G environment (yeah, they're still using 'G'). An antenna terminating in an ethernet RJ45 connector, capable of interfacing the router to a wireless network. I'm really pretty clueless about this sort of thing. Is what I'm describing a standard item/component? What would it be called? :confused:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
How about a wireless bridge? Something like a linksys WET610N. Have the bridge connect to your new ISP over G, then plug it in to your network like you do your current modem. [isp]--> WiFi)))) (((Bridge--->[local network ie. your switch connecting your comps.]
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How about a wireless bridge? Something like a linksys WET610N. Have the bridge connect to your new ISP over G, then plug it in to your network like you do your current modem. [isp]--> WiFi)))) (((Bridge--->[local network ie. your switch connecting your comps.]
Yeah, see, that sounds like what I want. The access point (TrendNet) that I posted a link to in my response to Roger says something about operating in 'WDS Bridge' mode; that's why I'd thought it might work, if configured properly. That particular one isn't forward compatible to 'n', though - I suppose I should find one that is. I'll check out the LinkSys one you mentioned. And thanks... :)
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
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I have a wired gigabyte lan connecting my machines at home. The router's WAN input is connected to a wireless antenna that provides the main connection to our ISP. Nothing out of the ordinary. We're moving to a facility that provides wireless networking. I want to maintain the independence/security/speed of my own wired network, rather than having each of our machines tied directly to their network. Ideally, I want to replace the wireless antenna on the WAN side of my router with some device capable of performing the same function in a standard wireless G environment (yeah, they're still using 'G'). An antenna terminating in an ethernet RJ45 connector, capable of interfacing the router to a wireless network. I'm really pretty clueless about this sort of thing. Is what I'm describing a standard item/component? What would it be called? :confused:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
If I understand correctly, what you want is to have your own local wired network, but also have connectivity to the internet via their wireless G network? You can either use a hardware wireless bridge, or you can connect one of the computers to both networks and set up a software bridge + ICS to share the internet connection with everyone else. The former is more expensive but is dedicated, and the latter is effectively free but requires the computer that is doing the bridging to be running all the time.
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This may not be exactly what you meant, but it might be worth a try... unidirectional range extender[^] :-D
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
So that's why my networking hardware winds up in the bottom kitchen drawer! :laugh:
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994.
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If I understand correctly, what you want is to have your own local wired network, but also have connectivity to the internet via their wireless G network? You can either use a hardware wireless bridge, or you can connect one of the computers to both networks and set up a software bridge + ICS to share the internet connection with everyone else. The former is more expensive but is dedicated, and the latter is effectively free but requires the computer that is doing the bridging to be running all the time.
You understand correctly. I know I can dedicate a wireless adapter on one of the boxes and use ICS, but I'd just as soon keep the hardware firewall and NAT of the router between my LAN and the outside world. Unnecessary, probably, (particularly as this wireless network I'm connecting to is itself sitting behind no fewer than 3 firewalls...), but it makes me feel better. :-D So yup, I guess I want something that I can configure as a bridge, and then plug that into the WAN port of the router. Right?
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
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So that's why my networking hardware winds up in the bottom kitchen drawer! :laugh:
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994.
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I have a wired gigabyte lan connecting my machines at home. The router's WAN input is connected to a wireless antenna that provides the main connection to our ISP. Nothing out of the ordinary. We're moving to a facility that provides wireless networking. I want to maintain the independence/security/speed of my own wired network, rather than having each of our machines tied directly to their network. Ideally, I want to replace the wireless antenna on the WAN side of my router with some device capable of performing the same function in a standard wireless G environment (yeah, they're still using 'G'). An antenna terminating in an ethernet RJ45 connector, capable of interfacing the router to a wireless network. I'm really pretty clueless about this sort of thing. Is what I'm describing a standard item/component? What would it be called? :confused:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
Locate the access point nearest your router, unplug it from the network, and plug the cable into your router's WAN port instead. :cool: And hide the evidence.
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Locate the access point nearest your router, unplug it from the network, and plug the cable into your router's WAN port instead. :cool: And hide the evidence.
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I have a wired gigabyte lan connecting my machines at home. The router's WAN input is connected to a wireless antenna that provides the main connection to our ISP. Nothing out of the ordinary. We're moving to a facility that provides wireless networking. I want to maintain the independence/security/speed of my own wired network, rather than having each of our machines tied directly to their network. Ideally, I want to replace the wireless antenna on the WAN side of my router with some device capable of performing the same function in a standard wireless G environment (yeah, they're still using 'G'). An antenna terminating in an ethernet RJ45 connector, capable of interfacing the router to a wireless network. I'm really pretty clueless about this sort of thing. Is what I'm describing a standard item/component? What would it be called? :confused:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
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Roger Wright wrote:
Antennas don't plug into WAN inputs on routers; you have a wireless wireless client adapter with an attached antenna plugged into your router.
Correct. (You pedant, you.)
Roger Wright wrote:
The new place sounds like it includes wireless coverage for all, so it must have access points (APs) scattered around.
So I assume.
Roger Wright wrote:
If your existing wireless adapter is one of the multiband types that supports 802.11g networking, it should work fine in the new place. If not, you'll have to buy a new one that is 'g' compatible, and plug it in to your router WAN port. Stick with reputable companies - Linksys, D-Link are two - and avoid the cheapo units from Belkin, et al.
The existing adapter belongs to the ISP, I believe. We don't own that bit of equipment. And so, yes; what I need is an adapter that plugs into a router WAN port. Trouble is I'm not seeing anything that meets that description. Plenty of PCI adapters, USB adapters, yada yada, but nothing that looks like an stand-alone unit with an ethernet interface. I've found something that looks close, (this[^]), but if you look at the block diagram under the 'networking solution' tab, their little block diagram doesn't really match the setup I'm describing. Still, I wonder if it'd work... :confused:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
That model is meant to collect signals from wireless PCs and act as a router - an AP, actually. But it supports bridging and repeating modes, so it should be possible to make it work. What you really need is a wireless adapter that connects to your router via RJ-45 cable, something I haven't been able to locate myself. I think the unit you found can be made to work, though. Before buying it, I'd email the Support folks there and describe the setup you're trying to use. Ask them if this is a workable solution.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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It's a wireless adapter! It's a steamer! New, from Ronco... :laugh:
L u n a t i c F r i n g e
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: