What type hardware do I ->really need?

I'm trying to figure out if I need an Access Point, or if a wireless
router can be used in my application. For some reason, even though
APs have fewer capabilities, at the moment they cost more than
routers.

I have DSL with a routed connection, using a Cisco 675 router. The
675 is my router, DHCP server and NAT box, to which I have connected
a 4-port wired switch.

I appears that what I really need is an Access Point, which I would
just plug into a port on my switch, and then I could access the
internet and the other hard-wired hosts on my "network".

It also appears that I could buy a wireless router, many of which
include 4-port switches. I would then have added another hop in my
network, but I could get rid of my current switch. I presume I'd
still be able to access the internet and my existing network from a
wirelessly connected PC.

Some have suggested that by connecting my 675 to the wireless router
by way of the wireless router's "uplink" port, I could bypass the
wireless router function and use it as an access point. Since many
wireless routers are cheaper than access points at the moment, this
is attractive, if it actually works. Does it?

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN | (E-Mail Removed)

Here's a link to the Linksys KB article that tells how to do it. The
process should be very similar for any other brand.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?M1C451E75

Bob

"Steve" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:XuzXa.66359$YN5.49897@sccrnsc01...
> I had essentially the same questions. I wrote to Linksys (since I
> was considering their products). Find below my message to them
> followed by their reply. Steve
>
> ############### My message to Lynksis ##################
>
> I am thinking of buying your BEFW11S4 (wireless router) which
> would
> at that time be the only router in my network.
>
> There is some possibility that in the future that I would need to
> have a router (maybe the BEFSR41) which would go "in front" of the
> wireless router (modem -> BEFSR41 router -> other wired computers
> and the BEFW11S4 with its wired and non-wired computers). It is
> my understanding that in order to do this, I would need to disable
> DHCP on the wireless router. Can the BEFW11S4 have DHCP disabled?
> Are there any other concerns that I should have?
>
> ############ Their reply ################################
> Yes, it is possible. You need to configure the 2nd router to only
> function
> as a switch.
>
> In connecting BEFSR41 to BEFW11S4, you will need to designate
> which router
> will function as a gateway. Connect your ethernet modem into the
> WAN port
> of the said router. Set its working mode into gateway. Launch the
> router's
> web-based utility. Open any web-browser that you might have. On
> the
> address open-type box, type the IP address of the router. The
> default is
> 192.168.1.1. Click on the advanced tab button. Select Dynamic
> routing. In
> the upper portion of the said page, click on the gateway mode.
>
> In connecting the second router, make sure to use the right cable
> for your
> connection. If you are going to use the uplink port, just plug
> one end of
> the rj45 connector into the uplink port and the other end in the
> LAN port of
> the other router using a straight through cable. Make sure that
> the DHCP
> function of the router is only enabled on a single router.
>
> In this set-up, you will have 6 wired ports. Two of the ports is
> being used
> by the connection of the two routers
>
> If you have further questions, please contact us at (800) 326-7114
> or send
> us an email at (E-Mail Removed) so that we may further assist
> you.
> Please use this phone number given as reference for future support
> calls.
>
> ###################### END ################################
>
>
> "Bert Hyman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I'm trying to figure out if I need an Access Point, or if a
> wireless
> > router can be used in my application. For some reason, even
> though
> > APs have fewer capabilities, at the moment they cost more than
> > routers.
> >
> > I have DSL with a routed connection, using a Cisco 675 router.
> The
> > 675 is my router, DHCP server and NAT box, to which I have
> connected
> > a 4-port wired switch.
> >
> > I appears that what I really need is an Access Point, which I
> would
> > just plug into a port on my switch, and then I could access the
> > internet and the other hard-wired hosts on my "network".
> >
> > It also appears that I could buy a wireless router, many of
> which
> > include 4-port switches. I would then have added another hop in
> my
> > network, but I could get rid of my current switch. I presume I'd
> > still be able to access the internet and my existing network
> from a
> > wirelessly connected PC.
> >
> > Some have suggested that by connecting my 675 to the wireless
> router
> > by way of the wireless router's "uplink" port, I could bypass
> the
> > wireless router function and use it as an access point. Since
> many
> > wireless routers are cheaper than access points at the moment,
> this
> > is attractive, if it actually works. Does it?
> >
> > --
> > Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN | (E-Mail Removed)
>
>