Wireless Access Point to Wireless Router?

Question

For some reason, I am super confused right now. So lets say I purchase an Access Point (just say the D-Link 54mbps access point) and the linksys 5 port Switch (autosensing one), will it work? The access point would be connecting WIRELESSLY to a 2wire Wireless router. And the access point will be connecting WIRED to the switch. And the switch will go to all the computers close to it WIRED. I really do not want to purchase the wrong hardware :( plz help thanks

Answer 1

It would not work the way you want it to. You are trying to have the access point connect a a few wired computers to a wireless router.


The access point is made to be a wireless extension of a wired router or a way to increase the range of a wireless network, If the AP has a range extender mode.

What you want to purchase is a Wireless bridge and then you can connect it the way you want..

Just a warning though, its not going to be aplug and play setup. It will yake some experience to set this up.

Why not just make all the computers wireless and access your wireless router?

Answer 2

Here's the sequence on how things are connected.

A. DSL modem or Cable modem

B. then to a broadband router, which acts as a firewall and NAT (network address translation) to allow you to connect more than one computer to the Internet.

C. to an Ethernet switch to allow your more than one computer to be plugged in,

D. to a Wireless Access Point (Wi-Fi) to allow your more than one computer to be connected wirelessly.

Of course modern times have integrated the above 4 different boxes into one (1) box or two (2) different boxes (in various combinations) and it can be bewildering on what the vendors have invent new names to call them, i.e. integrated boxes of anything from 2 to all 4 of these different boxes. They can be called "Wireless Routers" (without or without the Ethernet Switch), "Broadband Router", etc. Similar thing have happened to TV + tuner, VCR, DVD. You can buy a box that have TV + tuner, VCR, DVD all in one box, or a DVD player with LCD display which is really a TV without a tuner + DVD.

Here's a hint on how to tell what you have.
1. if the box has 2 jacks, and one of them is an RJ11 (thinner with 2 or 4 wires for contacts), and the other is an RJ45 (thicker with 8 wires for contacts), and if the box is relatively new, then it is a good bet that it is a DSL modem + a router. This is case A + B, from the list above. Older box may mean that it is only A.

2. if the box has 2 jacks, and both jacks are RJ45, then it is a broadband router only, i.e. no modem included. One of the jack is labeled WAN and then other labeled LAN. This is case B only.

3. if the box has 5 jacks, one of them is separated from the other bunch and is an RJ11 and the other 4 (or more) are RJ45, then the box is A + B + C.

4. if the box is almost like #3 but instead of an RJ11, you have RJ45 alone and then 4 RJ45, then it is B + C.

5. if the box is just like #3 but also have an antenna, then it is A + B + C + D.

Answer 3

You need a wireless bridge!
Some access points can be used in bridge mode but not many. Dlink makes a bridge and that will work for this purpose, so will the Linksys, netgear, etc. BRIDGE.