Can wireless routers be access points?

[jmaninpgh]

I currently have a typical home wired network. I have a broadband cable modem connected to a Linksys 4 port router. The router is connected to a switch which then connects to 3 Windows computers and an XBox. Everything works fine.

My question is this. I have a laptop that I want to connect using wireless. I know I could use an access point but wireless G routers are so much more prevalent, especially the super G's. If I don't want to disturb my current wired network, can I connect a wireless G router in some way so that the laptop can connect to the Internet?

Thanks for any help in advance!!

[Greenstead]

Yes.

You connect the two routers by their LAN ports. Disable DHCP service in the new router. Set the new router default LAN address to a fixed one in the network subnet (say 192.168.1.254)

Thats about it.

[cszeto]

The Microsoft model allows you to disable the router functions through its built-in configuration.

http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/ms_broadband_networking_g.asp

[jmaninpgh]

Thanks for the info. I am assuming that all models enable you to disable DHCP service through some configuration.

I would assume that I should connect the wireless up directly to a computer first and do the disabling and then connect it to my wired network.

[Greenstead]

Correct.

[JackMDS]

Link to: Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point] (http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html)

.

[alan278]

Thank you for the link. That page indicates that a "crossover" cable should to used to connect the 2 routers (when connecting 2 regular ports i.e. there's no "uplink" port). Is that what should be used, rather than a regular CAT-5 cable?

[JackMDS]

Yep!

The general Rules of Cable connection are:

NIC to NIC - Crossover Cable. (Computer directly to second computer).
NIC to Hub/Switch - Straight Cable. (Computer to Hub/Switch).
NIC to Uplink - Crossover Cable. (Computer to Uplink on a HUB/Switch).

Hub/Switch (regular) to Hub/Switch (regular) - Crossover Cable.
Hub/Switch (regular) to Hub/Switch Uplink - Straight Cable.
Hub/Switch Uplink to Hub/Switch Uplink - Crossover Cable.

Cable/DSL Router WAN Side is an Uplink jack.

[alan278]

Thanks.

Since the WAN port on a router is an "uplink" port, why not just use a regular patch cable from a regular jack on the primary router to the WAN port on the second router? (rather than a cross-over cable between 2 regular jacks?)
(maybe the WAN port is controlled by software/firmware in the router and doesn't function like a basic "uplink" port in a switch?)

I forgot to mention.... my actual setup is the primary router into an uplink jack on a switch... into a new router which i'll be getting next week. So I think I need to figure out:
- crossover cable between two regular jacks or
- regular cable between a regular jack on the switch and the WAN jack on the router?
(The connection will be through an existing regular cable (in the wall) through a cable joining adapter.. i assume that one crossover cable in the chain will keep as crossed-over through a connecting adapter into a regular cable..) the connecting adapter is just rje-45 jack on both sides...

I hope this is making sense!


By the way I appreciate all the support you and others provide on this forum...
Thank you!