How to use my old wireless router as a switch?

Question

OK, I have recently had a new home built, and I had all rooms hard-wired with CAT5.

In my office I want to have more than one computer, but there is only one jack. I have learned that I need to use a "switch" to basically expand the office jack into multiple jacks.

Question: I have an old D-link wireless router.

Can I use this as a switch, and, as a side benefit, gain a WAP (wireless access point) on my network? I think what I would need to do is run an ethernet cable from my wall jack to a normal port on the back of the router (NOT the LAN jack), and then fan out from the remaining 3 ports to other computers in my office.

In addition, I think I need to turn off DHCP on the wireless router (my main router just downstream of my cable modem should be handling handing out IP addresses).

I think also I may need to change the subnet of the wireless router to match that of my main router downstream from my cable modem.

Is this all correct? Any other pointers?

Colinc:

Why can the router not function as a bridge and WAP simultaneously?

Answer 1

You are on the right track.

You probably can do this. You may need to assign a static address to the dlink so that it isn't auto assigned by your other router. (Don't use an address in the DHCP range of the primary router!) Be sure to turn off DHCP and if the router allows, just set it as a bridge! You may find you need to set whatever address you assign it, say 192.168.1.10 using the same subnet and pointing to your primary router as the gateway, as a DMZ on your MAIN router! Some of this depends on the routers involved and how they work etc. You actually may find you want to connect from your main router to the WAN port a lot depends on how the two routers talk to each other.

You can also setup another complete network using another router. In this case YOU DO USE THE WAN/INTERNET port for the connection. Just set it to use a totally different IP range for your office machines! If your primary system uses 192.168.1.x then you could use 192.168.10.x for the LAN range for your office LAN range and leave the DHCP running. It would isolate that network from your other machines! If you do it this way be sure to use a different SSID for each router so you know which is which wirelessly. (Use channels on opposite ends of the available ones!)
I have three setup in my house/office this way. Have three different networks all connected back to ONE main router!

Added:
I am using THREE routers all in the same place.all hooked back to the Primary router!

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How to use my old wireless router as a switch?
OK, I have recently had a new home built, and I had all rooms hard-wired with CAT5.

In my office I want to have more than one computer, but there is only one jack. I have learned that I need to use a "switch" to basically expand the office jack into multiple jacks.

Question: I...

Answer 3

You can not use 2 routers on the same connection, they will conflict. This causes speed, reliability and even loss of connection problems. You need to buy a wireless access point if you want wireless, ans a switch if you want multiple machines, unless you run them all wireless. In this case just the AP and wireless cards for each machine. Cheapest option is the switch, these are very cheap.