Wireless Router with Hardware On/Off Switch for Wireless?

Is there a reputable wireless router available with an easily-
accessible hardware on/off switch on it for enabling/disabling the
wireless component? I would like to have the wired switch/router
combination working all of the time, but be able to very easily enable
the wireless only at those times I want to use it and disable it at
all other times, without have to log into the router on a wired
connection in order to enable the wireless.

On 11 Mar 2007 07:57:11 -0700, kc_cmc@hotmail.com wrote in
<1173625031.194391.74670@q40g2000cwq.googlegroups. com>:

>Is there a reputable wireless router available with an easily-
>accessible hardware on/off switch on it for enabling/disabling the
>wireless component? I would like to have the wired switch/router
>combination working all of the time, but be able to very easily enable
>the wireless only at those times I want to use it and disable it at
>all other times, without have to log into the router on a wired
>connection in order to enable the wireless.

I personally don't know of any wireless router with a hardware switch
that will turn the radio on and off -- they rely on web browser or other
network interface.

Why do you want a hardware radio switch? If security is your concern,
WPA with a strong passphrase will ensure that. (If you're really
paranoid, go for WPA2.)

Otherwise, as has already been suggested here, you could use a wired
router, with a separate wireless access point (or wireless router
configured as an access point) that you could turn on and off at will.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

kc_cmc@hotmail.com wrote:
> Is there a reputable wireless router available with an easily-
> accessible hardware on/off switch on it for enabling/disabling the
> wireless component? I would like to have the wired switch/router
> combination working all of the time, but be able to very easily enable
> the wireless only at those times I want to use it and disable it at
> all other times, without have to log into the router on a wired
> connection in order to enable the wireless.
>


SMCWBR14-N
http://www.smc.com/files/AJ%5CDS_WBR14-N.pdf
If you look closely at the picture of the rear side you can see the
switch, I had to use the zoom.

kev wrote:
> kc_cmc@hotmail.com wrote:
>> Is there a reputable wireless router available with an easily-
>> accessible hardware on/off switch on it for enabling/disabling the
>> wireless component? I would like to have the wired switch/router
>> combination working all of the time, but be able to very easily enable
>> the wireless only at those times I want to use it and disable it at
>> all other times, without have to log into the router on a wired
>> connection in order to enable the wireless.
>>
>
>
> SMCWBR14-N
> http://www.smc.com/files/AJ%5CDS_WBR14-N.pdf
> If you look closely at the picture of the rear side you can see the
> switch, I had to use the zoom.
a couple of the billion I think as well.

kc_cmc@hotmail.com hath wroth:

>Is there a reputable wireless router available with an easily-
>accessible hardware on/off switch on it for enabling/disabling the
>wireless component? I would like to have the wired switch/router
>combination working all of the time, but be able to very easily enable
>the wireless only at those times I want to use it and disable it at
>all other times, without have to log into the router on a wired
>connection in order to enable the wireless.

Yes. It's called an access point. You seperate the router from the
radio (access point) in two seperate boxes. The router section stays
on all the time. However, the wireless box gets powered on and off as
needed. I use this system in a local bar, that has free wi-fi during
the light daytime hours, but wants the laptops and table hogs out of
the place after 5PM.

There's no need to buy a new box that's only an access point. Any
wireless router can be used if the router section is ignored and the
DHCP server is disarmed. The wireles access point connects to the
router via CAT5 to one of the LAN ports.

If this is unacceptable, I once found a patch to DD-WRT to use the
front panel push botton on the later WRT54G/GS boxes as a radio on-off
switch. However, I can't find it in my settings or with Google. Maybe
later.

--
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

<kc_cmc@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1173625031.194391.74670@q40g2000cwq.googlegro ups.com...
> Is there a reputable wireless router available with an easily-
> accessible hardware on/off switch on it for enabling/disabling the
> wireless component?

Hi,

This is pretty much just echoing what Jeff already said, but the open WAP
going through my captive portal can be turned on and off with just a wall
switch.

> I would like to have the wired switch/router
> combination working all of the time, but be able to very easily enable
> the wireless only at those times I want to use it and disable it at
> all other times, without have to log into the router on a wired
> connection in order to enable the wireless.

Well, you have your own reasons for not wanting to radiate anything at all
during certain times, so....

I'm sure there are animals out there that will do specifically that,
although the same thing could be done with any WAP by just using a lamp
timer. Cheap and simple, but it'll work...

I'm with Jeff on the notion of breaking routing and wireless off into two
seperate devices. It gives you much more flexibility...

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us> hath wroth:

>If this is unacceptable, I once found a patch to DD-WRT to use the
>front panel push botton on the later WRT54G/GS boxes as a radio on-off
>switch. However, I can't find it in my settings or with Google. Maybe
>later.

Foundit. Under DD-WRT v23 SP1 -> Administration -> Services
is the setting:
Use SES for turning off radio [ ]Enable [x]Disable

SES is "secure easy setup" which means punch the button and the router
is allegedly setup.

It should work for any of the multitude of routers that run DD-WRT:
<http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices>

--
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