Convert Router to Wireless for ONE COMPUTER ONLY HT?

I've got a WIRED router which I use for my home. I don't want to
change it. However, is there a way to convert ONE of the router ports
into a wireless port for occasional use by a laptop? Is there some
sort of device I can plug into the router that will make it send a
wireless signal for just one address? This way I can use a wireless
laptop, but disable the wireless feature when I don't want it
broadcasted.

Is there such a product out there?

Thanks

Rene,

Thank you. I've already started looking for them on NewEgg.

That should resolve my question, but if anyone has any specific models
to recommend, please post.

Thanks again!

Jim Rainfordson wrote:
> Rene,
>
> Thank you. I've already started looking for them on NewEgg.
>
> That should resolve my question, but if anyone has any specific models
> to recommend, please post.
>
> Thanks again!

I have a modem-router wired & wireless from linksys(Cisco) I really love
it.

So i can propose to you the: WRT54G ->

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-WRT54G.../dp/B00007KDVI

--------------------------

Don't choice the WAP54G ... because you will be not able to connect
computers to internet the WAP54G is a wireless acces point but without
the router facility.

This info came from:
http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-WAP54G...outThisProduct
were we can see the differences between:
"an access point and a router with access point"

Jim Rainfordson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:90ee59b2-dc6c-
453c-9219-(E-Mail Removed):

> Rene,
>
> Thank you. I've already started looking for them on NewEgg.
>
> That should resolve my question, but if anyone has any specific models
> to recommend, please post.
>
> Thanks again!

You can use just about ANY wireless rtr for an AP only.

If you look for an AP only...no rtr or WiFi, I'm sure you'll find them to
be more expensive than a common wireless rtr.

You simply connect a LAN port from the new rtr to an open LAN port on the
new rtr (a crossover cable MAY be required).

Jim Rainfordson wrote:
> I've got a WIRED router which I use for my home. I don't want to
> change it. However, is there a way to convert ONE of the router ports
> into a wireless port for occasional use by a laptop? Is there some
> sort of device I can plug into the router that will make it send a
> wireless signal for just one address? This way I can use a wireless
> laptop, but disable the wireless feature when I don't want it
> broadcasted.
>
> Is there such a product out there?
>
> Thanks

Check out the wireless access point at this rather long link.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...&CJPID=2189285

They are selling an AirCruiser GN-AP01G for $11.99, but for today (Saturday)
only. I don't know what they charge for shipping, if anything.

Hi everyone. Thanks for your posts. I've read them all several
times. I don't see my newest post, so I think I did a "reply to
author" by mistake. Anyway, sorry for the delay in responding. My PC
was down for a few days.

Sorry, but I may not have been clear in my OP. Basically, my wife
wants to use her laptop to go online to browse and stream video while
I am simultaneously using the main desktop computer. Internet access
for the laptop is my primary objective. What I really want is to be
able to quickly and easily allow or disable wireless internet access
to the laptop on an "as needed" basis. I don't want to have to
reboot anything. Meanwhile, I want to keep the main desktop computer
always online via the wired router. I want the peace of mind a wired
router offers. I don't want to have to worry about the neighborhood
kid hacking me or siphon my bandwidth. If necessary, I'd be willing
to pay more for hardware that allows me to quickly turn access on or
off via a button, as opposed to having to plug and unplug something.
(That said, I'm sure I could rewire my own switch into the power line
of whatever hardware I get.)

I have been assuming the only way to give the laptop wireless internet
access is via the router. However, if there is a way, perhaps by a
USB wireless receiver (much like my wireless keyboard/mouse) then
that's something to consider so long as it doesn't badly degrade the
desktop PC performance or badly limit the bandwidth for either. (I
realize even a router connection will mean available bandwidth is
shared.) All things being equal, I'd prefer to be able to network the
laptop and desktop together wirelessly, but as long as I can get
internet access to the laptop, then it's not critical for the laptop
to be able to talk with the desktop PC.

I've done home networking but I'm still a newbie. I think I'd like to
stay with the LINKSYS brand because it's mainstream and (in theory)
more reliable and more supported than an off brand. Also, my router
and modem are LINKSYS and, as much as I love NewEgg, I can buy LINKSYS
locally (walmart) so if it comes DOA it will be easier to return.

Rambo: Thanks for steering me clear of the WAP54G. I DO want
internet access so the WRT54G may be the way to go...

Dans, Bill Kearney: So it sounds like I should just use a stand-alone
wireless router but make it dependent on the wired router for its
connection by way of a Cat5 cable. That way the wired router is
always on, but then I can still turn the wireless router on or off on
an "as needed" basis. Am I understanding correctly?

GlowingBlueMist: Thanks for the tip, but for reasons listed above I
think I'll stay with a mainstream brand.

Peter Pan: I'm not sure which LINKSYS product you're referring to.
Many models seem to have the 54g tag.

Thanks everyone. I've always gotten good advice from newgroups over
the years and I'm always grateful to those who take the time to help.
Again, I'm sorry for my delayed response.

Jim

On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:01:06 -0700 (PDT), Jim Rainfordson
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Sorry, but I may not have been clear in my OP. Basically, my wife
>wants to use her laptop to go online to browse and stream video while
>I am simultaneously using the main desktop computer. Internet access
>for the laptop is my primary objective. What I really want is to be
>able to quickly and easily allow or disable wireless internet access
>to the laptop on an "as needed" basis. I don't want to have to
>reboot anything. Meanwhile, I want to keep the main desktop computer
>always online via the wired router. I want the peace of mind a wired
>router offers. I don't want to have to worry about the neighborhood
>kid hacking me or siphon my bandwidth. If necessary, I'd be willing
>to pay more for hardware that allows me to quickly turn access on or
>off via a button, as opposed to having to plug and unplug something.
>(That said, I'm sure I could rewire my own switch into the power line
>of whatever hardware I get.)

You've already gotten some great advice. One thing I would add,
especially considering your affinity for Linksys equipment, would be
to consider dd-wrt firmware (www.dd-wrt.com) for your Linksys router
(or router acting as Access point).

With dd-wrt firmware, you can schedule your radio to be on or off at
certain times of the day, so for example if you wanted it to
automatically turn on at 7 AM and off at 11 PM you could do that. I
haven't used the feature but I assume it works until proven otherwise.
Also, dd-wrt provides the capability to turn the front panel SES
switch into a radio on/off switch, so manual control of the radio is
also easily available.

If you're concerned about the neighbor kids hacking in, then a flavor
of WPA is recommended, but for super paranoia you can't do much better
than turning off the radio when it's not needed. Pretty hard to hack a
wireless system (via wireless) when the radio is off.

Jim Rainfordson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:813f5c15-8bc1-
4ffd-8bf7-(E-Mail Removed):

> Dans, Bill Kearney: So it sounds like I should just use a stand-alone
> wireless router but make it dependent on the wired router for its
> connection by way of a Cat5 cable. That way the wired router is
> always on, but then I can still turn the wireless router on or off on
> an "as needed" basis. Am I understanding correctly?

Well, yes. But you could just replace the existing rtr with a wireless one.

Of course, that depends on the location of it, and whether or not it can
service the area needed for the laptop.

A rtr with wireless will usually have either 1) a hard switch on it to turn
the wireless portion on or off, or 2) in the admin page on the rtr, a
checkbox to enable or disable the wireless portion.

Jim Rainfordson wrote:

> Sorry, but I may not have been clear in my OP. Basically, my wife
> wants to use her laptop to go online to browse and stream video while
> I am simultaneously using the main desktop computer. Internet access
> for the laptop is my primary objective. What I really want is to be
> able to quickly and easily allow or disable wireless internet access
> to the laptop on an "as needed" basis.

> Rambo: Thanks for steering me clear of the WAP54G. I DO want
> internet access so the WRT54G may be the way to go...
>

If you plug your new "WRT54G" into a wired slot of your existing wired
router, you can easely switch on/off by plugging/unplugging the wrt54g.
Isn't it ?

Thanks for the replies. All ideas were good so I had to weigh my
needs and knowledge.

PeterPan: On your advice I did basic research into Ad Hoc and the
other networks. After my last post I decided it would be preferable
to be able to use the laptop even at times when the desktop is off.
Also, the basic LAN stuff is more familiar to me, so I might pass on
the ad hoc afterall, at least for now. Thanks.

Char Jackson: Not sure radio is my thing, but I did a cut-paste-save
of your post so I'll have it when I need it. I'll start basic and
work my way up to this. Thanks.

>alexd wrote:
>Buy a wireless router/AP, disable DHCP on it, give it an IP address on your
>network and plug its LAN into your existing LAN. Switch it on when you want
>to allow wireless access. Switch it off when you don't.

What you (and rambo) describe is a good summary of what others said
earlier in the thread. I think this is the way to go. Simple and
offers the most options for the laptop. Networking. Internet. Can
be used when desktop is off. Doesn't use desktop resources.
Relatively easy on/off with no reboot, and it's actually a little
cheaper than the WAP.

DanS:
>Well, yes. But you could just replace the existing rtr with a wireless one.
>Of course, that depends on the location of it, and whether or not it can
>service the area needed for the laptop.
>A rtr with wireless will usually have either 1) a hard switch on it to turn
>the wireless portion on or off, or 2) in the admin page on the rtr, a
>checkbox to enable or disable the wireless portion.

Hmm.. This has all the perks of using a separate wireless router and
will use less power and less space. I didn't realize the wireless
router offered BOTH wired and wireless ports. If I have to turn
wireLESS on/off via the admin page, it's not worth it for me. The
hard switch would be fine, but I'm not seeing that on the wireless
routers models I've been looking at. Linksys's WRT54G doesn't even
have an on/off switch to power the entire router, let alone just
powering the wireless aspect.

Well, I guess it was a bit of a learning curve for me. I've basically
come full circle. I finally understand my options and I guess I'm
essentially doing what you guys originally said to do, only now I
better understand why. I appreciate your time. It's always great to
get so many options full of nuance from people who have the hands-on
experience.

I'll sleep on it, but I'm about 90% sure I'll go with the Linksys
WRT54G, plugging it into the existing wired router. Thanks everyone.
Much appreciated!

Jim