I want to setup a wireless network. According to THIS Amazon article if U already have router or switch U just need an access point. But how can an access point access an already wirednetwork? Or am I reading it wrong.

And what is THIS?

It is a bridge. But how can that work with an existing wired network? Or is that like a router and with access point I can be wirelss?

ivnj, a bridge is basically like a switch in that it has some IP capability improvements over a hub but not as smart as a router. That is the easiest way I know of explaining it. Anyway, to answer your question, if you already have a wired router you can hook the wireless access point into it using a cable and then your other wireless peripherals access the router through the WAP. Routers are the best way to go here and you should keep the one you have vice getting a bridge that has fewer capabilities. Here is a diagram: Wired backbone.

Formal explanation of bridge, switch and routers:


A hub does NOT route, “signal splitter” or “socket expander”, simple architecture.
Bridges: 2-port switch
Switch: (Level 2 switch), MAC address switch, requires high-speed back plane
Router: (Level 3 switch) (IP routing) need a router at T1 or T3 line going to the internet backbone

Good luck!

So I have a DI-704P and a DCM-200 cable moem (D-Link) already. Can I buy THIS and hook it into my wired hub. And then use access points in each computer It says hub in the discription. Or instead of into my wired hub use that as a hub and make everything wireless. And thanks for the spedy reply KWLL.

Sounds like you already have a hub to wire in your existing computers and connect them to your cable modem. If you bought the WAP it would allow wireless through your hub and into your modem. However, for all of the computers you currently have hooked in, you will need to have wireless Network Interface Cards (NICs) installed to be able to connect to your WAP. Also, since you are using a hub and not a router, if you are trying to use two computers at once you may have "collision" problems since a hub will not control the traffic flowing between peripherals. So what you will need is a wireless NIC for your computers (desktop and laptop are different, just make sure they are 802.11 compliant for your machine) The "bridge" in your link should work and have some anti collision capability and you can't lose for $10.

I have a cable modem and 1 wire (CAT5) form that to my router. Then one cross over wire form my router to mmy hub. Then my hub splits the wires into all my computers.

So will my 10 dolar link plug into my hub and be wireless for all that need be?
And then the other wires out of the hub will let the comuters attach to it be wired? So I can be both wired and wireless?

Or Modem to router 1 wire (CAT5)? Router has four ports on it Ethernet and +1 which might be uplink. Then from router plug in 10 dollar link and be wireless? Get rid of extra hub? Just modem to router and then 10 dollar link? Then form extra ports on router connect wies to a few PCs? So half wired and helf Wireless essentially?

Or 1 at a time? Modem to router Then router to 10 dollar link? And then can't use the other ports on router so just wireless?

Access points for others are fine but can it be half and half like above or all wireless only

ivnj


[This message was edited by ivnj on 12-01-03 at 05:08 PM.]

ivnj, you can do this with several variations, just depends what you want. First, since you have the router wired, I would keep that. You should not need the hub unless you need to hook up more than 4 ports. You can then hook your WAP hub into the router and make as many or as few computers as you want wireless. You may also have some wired to your router and others wireless at the same time.

THIS page is for Cablefree II bridge not I. But essentially the same thing just a tad faster than I.

The diagram there explains essentially the same thing. Half wired and half wireless. And if U click on the picture of the Cablefree II bridge U'll see the back.

So looks good. I already ordered a Cable Free I bridge. 21 some dollars with 3day select shipping. I just hope the stuff I buy is backwards compadible and I don't need Cablfree access points only for all the PCs now.

I will let U know by the end of the week how it went.

P.S. I read somewhere 10 users is the limit for the Cablefree I bridge, but more than plenty for now.

ivnj

Just make sure that the NICs you get for your computers are multi-mode or IEEE 802.11b standard compliant so they can connect to your WAP.

But the WAP Bdridge is 802.11 compliant. Not 802.11b. So as long as its 802.11 and not 802.9 or 10 or whatever my access points 802.11b should backwards to 802.11 right?

I just got THIS. Since it's 802.11b it should backwards to 802.11 to connect to the WAP Bridge right?

ivnj

That 10 dollar bridge was garbadge. At CompUSA they had a WRC-1000 Toshiba wireless router for 30 dollars only. No rebates needed. One call to tech support and bam I'm wireless now.

But thanks for all your help anyway!!

ivnj

sorry I didn't see your question from the other day. The letters next to the 802.11 standard have nothing to do with backwards compatibility or any type of series numbers as you get in software versioning. They are specific standards that are set forth by the IEEE for a communications design. So 802.11b is a different communications standard than 802.11a and not compatible. Sorry about the hub being no good but I suspected it might not be since it was so cheap. There is a lot to it, but here is one of the best to the point tutorials on the 802.11 standard: 802.11 tutorial