When to use an access point?

I have a wired Linksys BEFsr4100 (4 ports) with which I've been very
happy for several years. I've no desire to replace it. I use it for my
desktop.

At the moment, I plug in a second cat 5 cable when I want to use my
portable, which is pretty rare. But - this keeps me tethered to the
router.

I will be having guests, bringing their own portable and I would like to
be able to set them up in an adjoing room, rather than having them in
close proximity to me because they are wired to the router.

I've no desire to "network" machines - prefer not to have printer and
file sharing, or anything else, other than a second internet connection.

Would an access point plugged into the router do what I want?

I looked at the Linksys site and they talk about installing their
software to network computers. I just want to make a second internet
connection available.

What do I want to do and what is the correct terminology? Do I want to
"network" machines even though I don't want them to share anyhting?

TIA

Louise

On Tue, 31 May 2005 04:15:33 GMT, Louise <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have a wired Linksys BEFsr4100 (4 ports) with which I've been very
>happy for several years. I've no desire to replace it. I use it for my
>desktop.
>
>At the moment, I plug in a second cat 5 cable when I want to use my
>portable, which is pretty rare. But - this keeps me tethered to the
>router.
>
>I will be having guests, bringing their own portable and I would like to
>be able to set them up in an adjoing room, rather than having them in
>close proximity to me because they are wired to the router.
>
>I've no desire to "network" machines - prefer not to have printer and
>file sharing, or anything else, other than a second internet connection.
>
>Would an access point plugged into the router do what I want?

Yes.

>I looked at the Linksys site and they talk about installing their
>software to network computers. I just want to make a second internet
>connection available.

I'm not sure where you're looking, but there's no software required
specifically to use a Linksys wireless access point or router. There
are drivers for wireless cards and devices that plug into your laptop,
but nothing unique to talk to the router.

>What do I want to do and what is the correct terminology? Do I want to
>"network" machines even though I don't want them to share anyhting?

The terminology isn't perfect, but good enough.

You have three choices:

Plan A. A wireless access point such as a WAP54G. A CAT5 cable goes
between the WAP54G and your BEFSR41 router. Configure the router with
an SSID and encryption key, and you're done with the access point. Of
course, you have to setup some kind of wireless device on your laptop
and give it the same SSID and encryption key.

Plan B. You can purchase a wireless router and *REPLACE* your BEFSR41
router. A good choice would be a WRT54G. The configuration of the
wireless router is very similar to the BEFSR41. I believe that all
the features of the BEFSR41 are also in the WRT54G. Cost of the
WRT54G wireless router is about the same as the WAP54G access point.

Plan C. If you insist that you retain your BEFSR41, then you can also
use a WRT54G wireless router as an access point by simply ignoring the
router section. You will need to:

1. Setup the IP address of the WRT54G so that it doesn't duplicate
your BEFSR41. For example, if your BEFSR41 is at 192.168.1.1, then
the WRT54G should be configured to 192.168.1.2.
2. Disable the LAN side DHCP server. The DHCP server in the BEFSR41
will take care of assigning IP addresses.
3. The WAN port of the WRT54G goes nowhere. This effectively
disables the router section of the WRT54G.
4. Run a CAT5 cable between a LAN port on the BEFSR41 and a LAN port
on the WRT54G. Be sure to use the cross-over connector on one end.

Personally, I would suggest you purchase a wireless router such as a
WRT54G and select either Plan B for simplicity, or Plan C to preserve
your existing router.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Tue, 31 May 2005 04:15:33 GMT, Louise <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have a wired Linksys BEFsr4100 (4 ports) with which I've been very
>happy for several years. I've no desire to replace it. I use it for my
>desktop.
>
>At the moment, I plug in a second cat 5 cable when I want to use my
>portable, which is pretty rare. But - this keeps me tethered to the
>router.
>
>I will be having guests, bringing their own portable and I would like to
>be able to set them up in an adjoing room, rather than having them in
>close proximity to me because they are wired to the router.
>
>I've no desire to "network" machines - prefer not to have printer and
>file sharing, or anything else, other than a second internet connection.
>
>Would an access point plugged into the router do what I want?
>
>I looked at the Linksys site and they talk about installing their
>software to network computers. I just want to make a second internet
>connection available.
>
>What do I want to do and what is the correct terminology? Do I want to
>"network" machines even though I don't want them to share anyhting?

Run a network cable to the other room.

>
>TIA
>
>Louise

Barry
=====
Home page
http://members.iinet.net.au/~barry.og

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...
> On Tue, 31 May 2005 04:15:33 GMT, Louise <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >I have a wired Linksys BEFsr4100 (4 ports) with which I've been very
> >happy for several years. I've no desire to replace it. I use it for my
> >desktop.
> >
> >At the moment, I plug in a second cat 5 cable when I want to use my
> >portable, which is pretty rare. But - this keeps me tethered to the
> >router.
> >
> >I will be having guests, bringing their own portable and I would like to
> >be able to set them up in an adjoing room, rather than having them in
> >close proximity to me because they are wired to the router.
> >
> >I've no desire to "network" machines - prefer not to have printer and
> >file sharing, or anything else, other than a second internet connection.
> >
> >Would an access point plugged into the router do what I want?
>
> Yes.
>
> >I looked at the Linksys site and they talk about installing their
> >software to network computers. I just want to make a second internet
> >connection available.
>
> I'm not sure where you're looking, but there's no software required
> specifically to use a Linksys wireless access point or router. There
> are drivers for wireless cards and devices that plug into your laptop,
> but nothing unique to talk to the router.
>
> >What do I want to do and what is the correct terminology? Do I want to
> >"network" machines even though I don't want them to share anyhting?
>
> The terminology isn't perfect, but good enough.
>
> You have three choices:
>
> Plan A. A wireless access point such as a WAP54G. A CAT5 cable goes
> between the WAP54G and your BEFSR41 router. Configure the router with
> an SSID and encryption key, and you're done with the access point. Of
> course, you have to setup some kind of wireless device on your laptop
> and give it the same SSID and encryption key.
>
> Plan B. You can purchase a wireless router and *REPLACE* your BEFSR41
> router. A good choice would be a WRT54G. The configuration of the
> wireless router is very similar to the BEFSR41. I believe that all
> the features of the BEFSR41 are also in the WRT54G. Cost of the
> WRT54G wireless router is about the same as the WAP54G access point.
>
> Plan C. If you insist that you retain your BEFSR41, then you can also

thanks for the detailed instructions. I'm not sure which plan I will
choose, but your outlines will no doubt be extremely helpful.

Louise

Jeff, I have been struggling with the same issue. Plan C seems to fit my
situation exactly. I note the suggestion of a crossover cable. Would I be
able to use a straight through cable but use the WAN port on the WRT54G
(access point only). I will setup the WRT54G as a router and not as a
gateway in the advanced settings of the setup tab.
I have a wireless Belkin router setup as my router with one computer wired
to it. The Linksys will be a wireless access point (same SSID on both, one
with channel 1 and the other channel 11, both with the same WEP keys) and it
has one computer hard wired as well as a VOIP adapter. 3rd and 4th
computers will connect wirelessly.
btw, your responses to many are very helpful to this viewer.


"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 31 May 2005 04:15:33 GMT, Louise <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I have a wired Linksys BEFsr4100 (4 ports) with which I've been very
>>happy for several years. I've no desire to replace it. I use it for my
>>desktop.
>>
>>At the moment, I plug in a second cat 5 cable when I want to use my
>>portable, which is pretty rare. But - this keeps me tethered to the
>>router.
>>
>>I will be having guests, bringing their own portable and I would like to
>>be able to set them up in an adjoing room, rather than having them in
>>close proximity to me because they are wired to the router.
>>
>>I've no desire to "network" machines - prefer not to have printer and
>>file sharing, or anything else, other than a second internet connection.
>>
>>Would an access point plugged into the router do what I want?
>
> Yes.
>
>>I looked at the Linksys site and they talk about installing their
>>software to network computers. I just want to make a second internet
>>connection available.
>
> I'm not sure where you're looking, but there's no software required
> specifically to use a Linksys wireless access point or router. There
> are drivers for wireless cards and devices that plug into your laptop,
> but nothing unique to talk to the router.
>
>>What do I want to do and what is the correct terminology? Do I want to
>>"network" machines even though I don't want them to share anyhting?
>
> The terminology isn't perfect, but good enough.
>
> You have three choices:
>
> Plan A. A wireless access point such as a WAP54G. A CAT5 cable goes
> between the WAP54G and your BEFSR41 router. Configure the router with
> an SSID and encryption key, and you're done with the access point. Of
> course, you have to setup some kind of wireless device on your laptop
> and give it the same SSID and encryption key.
>
> Plan B. You can purchase a wireless router and *REPLACE* your BEFSR41
> router. A good choice would be a WRT54G. The configuration of the
> wireless router is very similar to the BEFSR41. I believe that all
> the features of the BEFSR41 are also in the WRT54G. Cost of the
> WRT54G wireless router is about the same as the WAP54G access point.
>
> Plan C. If you insist that you retain your BEFSR41, then you can also
> use a WRT54G wireless router as an access point by simply ignoring the
> router section. You will need to:
>
> 1. Setup the IP address of the WRT54G so that it doesn't duplicate
> your BEFSR41. For example, if your BEFSR41 is at 192.168.1.1, then
> the WRT54G should be configured to 192.168.1.2.
> 2. Disable the LAN side DHCP server. The DHCP server in the BEFSR41
> will take care of assigning IP addresses.
> 3. The WAN port of the WRT54G goes nowhere. This effectively
> disables the router section of the WRT54G.
> 4. Run a CAT5 cable between a LAN port on the BEFSR41 and a LAN port
> on the WRT54G. Be sure to use the cross-over connector on one end.
>
> Personally, I would suggest you purchase a wireless router such as a
> WRT54G and select either Plan B for simplicity, or Plan C to preserve
> your existing router.
>
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
> 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060 AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Thu, 2 Jun 2005 07:02:24 -0400, "Alan White"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Jeff, I have been struggling with the same issue. Plan C seems to fit my
>situation exactly. I note the suggestion of a crossover cable. Would I be
>able to use a straight through cable but use the WAN port on the WRT54G
>(access point only).

I think that will work. Most wireless routers have an MDI/MDXI
connector or switch to deal with the crossover. However, most wirless
access points only have one connector and no switch. I just included
the note on the crossover cable just in case the MDXI port is already
in use, or missing.

>I will setup the WRT54G as a router and not as a
>gateway in the advanced settings of the setup tab.

Nope. If you're using the WRT54G as an access point, you can set the
router configuration to literally any settings you find interesting.
As long as the WAN port is not used, the entire router section is
effectively disabled. It doesn't matter if it's a router or gateway.

>I have a wireless Belkin router setup as my router with one computer wired
>to it. The Linksys will be a wireless access point (same SSID on both, one
>with channel 1 and the other channel 11, both with the same WEP keys) and it
>has one computer hard wired as well as a VOIP adapter. 3rd and 4th
>computers will connect wirelessly.

That will work. Different channels are probably a must to prevent
mutual interference. Everything else (SSID, WEP) should be the same.
If you run into a problem "roaming", where a moving client seems to
remain glued to one or the other access point, and refuses to switch
by itself, you might want to use different SSID's. That will give you
some manual control over which access point you're using. Roaming
will not be automatic, but that's a small price to pay for control.

>btw, your responses to many are very helpful to this viewer.

Thanks.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 AE6KS 831-336-2558