Wireless Internet Setup

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2006-03-16 12:07am

I am trying to get a wireless internet setup at my house while still preserving the wired network at the same time.

Right now the Cable modem runs into the router which then sends the connection to the rest of the computers.

Is it possible to get a wireless router hooked into the network router, or do I need to get a wireless switch?

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2006-03-16 12:21am

Replace the wired router with a wireless router. My wireless router also has five regular wired ethernet ports (one for the cable modem, four for PC's). I have two computers connected via a direct wire and three wireless.

Executor32 · Post by **Executor32** » 2006-03-16 12:25am

Most wireless routers I've seen have Ethernet ports on them, so you could just replace the old router with a wireless one. Hell, I don't even use the wireless capability of my router, I just use it as a 4-port wired router.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-03-16 12:30am

Purchase a wireless access point. Such as the Linksys WAP54G. Just plug into your current router.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2006-03-16 12:45am

You could do a wireless bridge, but with wireless routers at ~$40 for Netgear/Linksys models, it's probably cheaper just to use a new router.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-03-16 01:10am

Most wireless routers can be added to your orignal configuration and it should work just fine, though it might take slightly more to setup it up.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2006-03-16 01:50pm

Just don't get the WRT54G router, unless you're absolutely sure its not a version 5 router. I'm stuck with one at the moment, and I absolutely hate the fucking thing! God damn thing locks up every few days, and the only way to reboot the damn thing is to powercycle it. The original firmware it came with would lock it up every fucking night! (running 1.00.6 atm)

Read this so you can see the difference. If you're curious about the internals, then click here.

Laird · Post by **Laird** » 2006-03-16 02:36pm

I'd go with the WAP idea, that's what I did at home.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2006-03-16 03:12pm

Vertigo1 wrote:Just don't get the WRT54G router, unless you're absolutely sure its not a version 5 router. I'm stuck with one at the moment, and I absolutely hate the fucking thing! God damn thing locks up every few days, and the only way to reboot the damn thing is to powercycle it. The original firmware it came with would lock it up every fucking night! (running 1.00.6 atm)

Read this so you can see the difference. If you're curious about the internals, then click here.

Get the WRT54GL

I got a WRT54Gv5, returned it and just got a WRT54Gv4

Internet keepsdropping out every so often anyway though, but maybe that's due to WPA-EAP enabled.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2006-03-16 03:45pm

I just plugged one of those massively overpriced Apple APs into my switch. All one big happy net-sharing network. WEP2, even.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2006-03-16 10:59pm

Can someone recomend a good wireless network router that also has atleast 3 network ports for wired connections?

Executor32 · Post by **Executor32** » 2006-03-16 11:33pm

I've got a D-Link DI-524, which has 4 network ports (5 if you include the WAN port). I've had no problems with it whatsoever, and it's just like using my old DI-604 with wireless settings added to the configuration page. Mine came in the DWL-922 Wireless G Network Starter Kit, which also includes a DWL-G122 Wireless G USB Adapter. The kit effectively cost me $29.99 at Best Buy ($69.99 with a $40 mail-in rebate).

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2006-03-17 09:15pm

Well I bought a linksys router like Laird suggested and I have it all setup and opperating. Simple WPA protection with a nice randomized password. Also given the distance (only two houses in range), I think this is nice and secure.

Laird · Post by **Laird** » 2006-03-18 12:34pm

Alyeska wrote:Well I bought a linksys router like Laird suggested and I have it all setup and opperating. Simple WPA protection with a nice randomized password. Also given the distance (only two houses in range), I think this is nice and secure.

Hooray.