Two Access Points - help please

I would appreciate some advice.

Currently have 2 PCs wired to a non-wireless ADSL Modem/Router. In
addition, I have a D-Link DWL900+ AP in my loft. This is also wired
to the Modem/Router.

In another house, 100 metres away, I have another DWL-900+ set up as a
client to the AP in my house. This is wired to 1 PC.

This all works fine and the internet is available on any of the 3
networked PCs.

However, I wish to connect a laptop in the other house using a PCMCIA
card. Can the laptop connect wirelessly to the existing DWL-900+?
Should the AP be configured as a repeater? Or do I need to buy a
wireless router (e.g. Linksys BEFW11S4-UK or D-Link DI-514) to connect
between the wired PC and the AP and then obtain a wireless connection
between the laptop and the wireless router?

I would appreciate any advice.

If you are using the AP as a client, then no, a new wireless device will not
beable to connect. I would suggest ad-hoc mode, but am unsure if the AP can
be configured fo it.


"Kevin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I would appreciate some advice.
>
> Currently have 2 PCs wired to a non-wireless ADSL Modem/Router. In
> addition, I have a D-Link DWL900+ AP in my loft. This is also wired
> to the Modem/Router.
>
> In another house, 100 metres away, I have another DWL-900+ set up as a
> client to the AP in my house. This is wired to 1 PC.
>
> This all works fine and the internet is available on any of the 3
> networked PCs.
>
> However, I wish to connect a laptop in the other house using a PCMCIA
> card. Can the laptop connect wirelessly to the existing DWL-900+?
> Should the AP be configured as a repeater? Or do I need to buy a
> wireless router (e.g. Linksys BEFW11S4-UK or D-Link DI-514) to connect
> between the wired PC and the AP and then obtain a wireless connection
> between the laptop and the wireless router?
>
> I would appreciate any advice.

"Robert Jacobs" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:KZKLd.1900$bF4.350@trnddc04...
> If you are using the AP as a client, then no, a new wireless device
will not
> beable to connect. I would suggest ad-hoc mode, but am unsure if the
AP can
> be configured fo it.
>
>
> "Kevin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I would appreciate some advice.
> >
> > Currently have 2 PCs wired to a non-wireless ADSL Modem/Router.
In
> > addition, I have a D-Link DWL900+ AP in my loft. This is also
wired
> > to the Modem/Router.
> >
> > In another house, 100 metres away, I have another DWL-900+ set up
as a
> > client to the AP in my house. This is wired to 1 PC.
> >
> > This all works fine and the internet is available on any of the 3
> > networked PCs.
> >
> > However, I wish to connect a laptop in the other house using a
PCMCIA
> > card. Can the laptop connect wirelessly to the existing DWL-900+?
> > Should the AP be configured as a repeater? Or do I need to buy a
> > wireless router (e.g. Linksys BEFW11S4-UK or D-Link DI-514) to
connect
> > between the wired PC and the AP and then obtain a wireless
connection
> > between the laptop and the wireless router?
> >
> > I would appreciate any advice.

You will need an AP running in AP mode and a switch or a wireless
router. The router would probably
be the cheapest way to go.

Kevin <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> Currently have 2 PCs wired to a non-wireless ADSL Modem/Router.
> In addition, I have a D-Link DWL900+ AP in my loft. This is also
> wired to the Modem/Router.
>
> In another house, 100 metres away, I have another DWL-900+ set up
> as a client to the AP in my house. This is wired to 1 PC.
>
> This all works fine and the internet is available on any of the 3
> networked PCs.
>
> However, I wish to connect a laptop in the other house using a
> PCMCIA card. Can the laptop connect wirelessly to the existing
> DWL-900+? Should the AP be configured as a repeater? Or do I need
> to buy a wireless router (e.g. Linksys BEFW11S4-UK or D-Link
> DI-514) to connect between the wired PC and the AP and then obtain
> a wireless connection between the laptop and the wireless router?

1. The laptop cannot connect wirelessly to the existing DWL-900AP+
when it is configured in Wireless Client mode

2. Don't configure it in Repeater mode. You will suffer a speed drop
of 50%. This is because it only has a single radio and must first
listen then retransmit. You also can't use the Ethernet connection
when it's in Repeater mode, as the device becomes entirely
transparent.

3. Suggest you pick up an Ethernet switch and another DWL-900AP+ on
eBay. Configure the 'new' DWL-900AP+ in Access Point mode. Connect
the Client and AP devices to the switch, and away you go. Both wired
and wireless devices can now connect. You will not suffer the same
drop in throughput as with a repeater, since there are now two radios
- but there will be some reduction.

As you suggest, you could always buy a wireless router. If you're not
using the routing function, connect the DWL-900AP+ client to one of
the LAN ports, give the device a static IP address in the same subnet
as your router, turn off DHCP and away you go. You will just be using
it as a switch + AP.

Or (if it doesn't have a built-in ADSL modem) you could connect to
the WAN port, and use 'double NAT' to give a different local network
with its own DHCP server - things can become complex, though.

Personally I like the DWL-900AP+ and would go with the first of these
suggestions. Should cost around £30 in total (DWL-900AP+ @ £25,
switch @ £5 say).

Hope this helps

--

Richard Perkin
To email me, change the AT in the address below
richard.perkinATmyrealbox.com

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