Wireless Question 2

[Frank4d]

I currently have an old Netgear RT314 gateway router connected to my cable modem. Three XP PCs are plugged in, file and printer sharing is enabled on all, and the router assigns IPs. It also runs Linklogger (traffic logger).

Can I plug a WAP into the router and add two more wireless PCs to the network? Any special problems I will encounter?

I could replace my RT314 with a wireless router w/ four wired ports but I'd rather not as I would have to buy Linklogger again.

 

[softbatch]

It will work. Just configure the WAP with a Gateway of the Netgear and plug it in to one of the ports on the Netgear. Should work like a beauty.

 

[bcastner]

Buy a second router and treat it as an AP. Not only in most cases is this cheaper to purchase, but it offers you a backup.

http://www4.tomshardware.com/network/20030716/index.html

 

[Frank4d]

Thanks for the 2nd router suggestion Bill. I arrived home with a DLink DI-784 108Mbps wireless router and DWL-AG530 108Mbps PCI card with external antenna.

It looks like I will need to be very careful configuring IP addys and subnets if I want Windows file and printer sharing to work with two routers. If all else fails I'll disconnect my trusty old Netgear and just use the DLink.

It's kind of late in the day so I'll install the PCI adapter and leech off a neighbor's Internet connection until morning.

 

[bcastner]

Let use know.
Using a router as an AP is not that difficult.
Disable DHCP on the second router, set a fixed IP that does not conflict with router #1 but in the same subnet, and connect LAN port to LAN port. For some routers a cross-over cable is required.

Set the ESSID/SSID to match router #1, match any WEP/WAP settings, or anything else fancy.

Done.

But let the Forum know of any issues.

 

[Frank4d]

Success! I found two unsecured wireless networks in the neighborhood so I can surf tonight for free. Tomorrow I'll hook up the router. If I didn't need file and printer sharing, I could just cancel my internet service and be a leech.

 

[bcastner]

Unless you want an angry neighbor.

 

[Frank4d]

I figure a N00b who buys a wireless router and connects it without enabling any security... is probably too N00b to know I am using it to connect to the Internet anyway. Whatever, I'll configure the two routers tomorrow.

 

[Frank4d]

I wanted to add a wireless PC that is about 50 feet from my cable modem and wired router so this is what I did following much of what was described by Bill's Tomshardware.com link:

* I disconnected my bedroom PC (also 50 feet in the same direction) from the wired router and installed the wireless router there.
* Temporarily assigned a static IP to the bedroom PC and connected it to a LAN port on the wireless router.
* Set the wireless router IP address to an IP address on the same subnet as the wired router, and not conflicting with the DHCP server address range.
* Assigned a new SSID and password to the wireless router; and enabled WEP and WPA.
* Connected the wired and wireless routers together (LAN port to LAN port... using a straight cable since the wireless router handles that).
* Restored the wired PC to get an IP automatically, and did a Ipconfig release and renew.
* Set up the wireless PC to get an IP address from the wired router, configured WEP, WPA, and SSID, enabled file and printer sharing, and mapped drives.

Result is that all computers can surf, see each other on the network, and share printers.

Now my daughter is complaing that her brother has a PC in his room, why can't she have one in her bedroom? Tomorrow I have to install a wireless PC in her bedroom.

 

[bcastner]

Frank4d,

My sympathies. I have been there and had to do that.

Best regards,
Bill Castner

 

[Frank4d]

Frank4d,

My sympathies. I have been there and had to do that.

Best regards,
Bill Castner

OK... I got my daughter set up. Next my 10 y-o son?