Wireless extender, wireless access point, or a bridge Needed?

I have 3 wired devices that are connected to a network switch. I'm
looking to connect each device (or the switch) to a wireless device
that can connect to my existing wireless network (A netgear WPA2-AES
encrypted wireless router).

I'm not sure if I need a wireless extender, or a wireless access
point, or a bridge, but I'm looking for *SOMETHING* that connect the
wired devices (or the switch) via RJ45 port(s) to connect to the
wireless network?

"benn" <benn686@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:79e54915-ba9d-4aad-8dc6-d9897c636b4d@d1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>I have 3 wired devices that are connected to a network switch. I'm
> looking to connect each device (or the switch) to a wireless device
> that can connect to my existing wireless network (A netgear WPA2-AES
> encrypted wireless router).
>
> I'm not sure if I need a wireless extender, or a wireless access
> point, or a bridge, but I'm looking for *SOMETHING* that connect the
> wired devices (or the switch) via RJ45 port(s) to connect to the
> wireless network?

If you're looking to connect all three wired devices at once then consider
using a router with a 3rd party firmware like DD-WRT on it. That will let
the router run as a wireless client. The router makes the wifi connection
to your existing network and provides a wired connection on it's four switch
ports. Works great. In your case you'd trade out the existing switch for
this router. That's about the simplest option. They do make wired to wifi
adapters (often called 'gaming adapters') but they're usually only intended
to allow one device at a time on the wired port. You'd have to use three of
them, one for each of your devices.

-Bill Kearney

On Jul 14, 7:39*pm, benn <benn...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have 3 wired devices that are connected to a network switch. * I'm
> looking to connect each device (or the switch) to a wireless device
> that can connect to my existing wireless network (A netgear WPA2-AES
> encrypted wireless router).
>
> I'm not sure if I need a wireless extender, or a wireless access
> point, or a bridge, but I'm looking for *SOMETHING* that connect the
> wired devices (or the switch) via RJ45 port(s) to connect to the
> wireless network?


What Bill said, with one comment. You can buy client adapters and
they are not all limited to one client such that you would need
three. They are also called wireless ethernet adapters, or ethernet
bridges. Check on Newegg for reviews. Typically they are sold as AP/
Client adapters and will do both.

Going back to Bill's recommendation- really that is the simplest
approach. Get a Linksys WRT54GL (there are others, check the DD-WRT
supported routers list), which will flash to linux most easily and put
DD-WRT (linux) on it. Select client mode in the interface. Follow a
few more instructions at the DD_WRT wiki and you can then plug all
three pcs into it. If you need more, plug your switch into one of
it's ports and then into the switch.

On Jul 15, 7:30*am, seaweedsl <seaweedst...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jul 14, 7:39*pm, benn <benn...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I have 3 wired devices that are connected to a network switch. * I'm
> > looking to connect each device (or the switch) to a wireless device
> > that can connect to my existing wireless network (A netgear WPA2-AES
> > encrypted wireless router).
>
> > I'm not sure if I need a wireless extender, or a wireless access
> > point, or a bridge, but I'm looking for *SOMETHING* that connect the
> > wired devices (or the switch) via RJ45 port(s) to connect to the
> > wireless network?
>
> What Bill said, with one comment. *You can buy client adapters and
> they are not all limited to one client such that you would need
> three. *They are also called wireless ethernet adapters, or ethernet
> bridges. * Check on Newegg for reviews. *Typically they are sold as AP/
> Client adapters and will do both.
>
> Going back to Bill's recommendation- really that is the simplest
> approach. *Get a Linksys WRT54GL (there are others, check the DD-WRT
> supported routers list), which will flash to linux most easily and put
> DD-WRT (linux) on it. *Select client mode in the interface. Follow a
> few more instructions at the DD_WRT wiki and you can then plug all
> three pcs into it. *If you need more, plug your switch into one of
> it's ports and then into the switch.

I wouldn't mind flashing DDR-WRT (I've also heard Tomato (
http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato) is pretty good), but the Linksys
WRT54GL is more expensive than I was hoping to spend...

For example, a Belkin Wireless G Universal Range Extender (F5D7132)
costs less than $40 on ebay, but the WRT54GL is about double!

If a "Range Extender" is what I need, does anyone know if the Belkin
Range Extender's 1 RJ45 port can be connected to a swich?

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=278082

They can be had rather cheaply off eBay. I've laid in a couple of spares in
the event mine die. I can't recall which revs are the best for dd-wrt, I
managed to get several rev 1 and 2 units. I think it was rev 5 and up that
were problematic. No idea if the latest ones shipping retail are any 'less
worse' or not.

Personally, I find the Belkin stuff to be utter garbage. Nothing I've ever
had from them was anywhere near as reliable as their competition. Hubs,
network devices, cards, feh even their CABLES suck.

-Bill Kearney

> but the Linksys WRT54GL is more expensive than I was hoping to spend...