"Neil - Salem, MA USA" <Neil@Salem.Massachusetts.USA> hath wroth:

>Can anyone suggest an Access Point or Bridge that will do what I want.
>Essentially, I want a "AccessPoint/Bridge" that can bridge LANs and can also
>simultaneously behave like an Access Point.

That's the exact description of a WDS (wireless distribution service)
bridge. It can simultaneously act as an access point for client
connections, and a bridge for a backhaul to the main router. See:
| http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2004/0...to_wds_bridge/
(10 pages) for how it's setup and how it works.

You will need to buy two identical units that support WDS or do some
experimentation with compatibility between different manufacturers
implimentations of WDS. I can't tell if you current own or are
planning on purchasing a Netgear WG-302, but it should work as it
supports WDS. I kinda like WRT54G/GS with DD-WRT v23 replacement
firmware which supports WDS.

The WG-302 is an access point:
| http://www.netgear.com/Products/Brid...nts/WG302.aspx
and will therefore plug into your existing system using your existing
unspecified router. However, if you elect to use a wireless router
for this application, you can replace your existing unspecified router
with the the new wireless router, and configure the 2nd wireless
router as an access point. Whatever works.

Of course, you will need to verify that you can get a decent wireless
signal between the two WDS bridge boxes between floors to the
basement. That's not a simple as it sounds as you may need to make
some compromises in antenna location between coverage across a floor,
versus coverage between floors. Reading between the lines, you might
be trying to go between multiple floors which might be difficult.

If you can't get a signal between floors, then you can use existing
power line networking, CATV coax, or phone line networking as a
backhaul instead of WDS. For example:
| http://www.netgear.com/Products/Brid...Extenders.aspx
| http://www.multilet.com
| http://www.homepna.org
| http://www.homeplug.org
etc...

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558