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Using an old router as a Wireless Access Point

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:00 pm
by evilmonkey
Hello,

I just bough a brand spanking new linksys router to replace my old Netgear one. However, I have a device on the second floor of my house that may require a wired LAN connection (it's not a computer, so getting a wireless card is not an option). The router is on the first floor. Cables from the first to the second floor are not an option either (neither is moving the router). My question is, is there any way to use my old wireless router to catch a wireless signal, and then connect it with a LAN cable to the device? (In essence, instead of sending the signal, the router would be receiving it). I don't see why it would be impossible hardware-wise, but firmware might not allow it. My old router is a Netgear. I can get the exact model number if necessary.

Thanks for the help!

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:07 pm
by John Cartwright
I typed in google "netgear router as access point" and got many good results.

Try giving them a try first. (assuming you havn't already)

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:09 pm
by evilmonkey
Jcart wrote:I typed in google "netgear router as access point" and got many good results.

Try giving them a try first.
The problem is, most of those sites describe how to set it up assuming you have a wire from another router to connect to it. I already know how to disable the DHCP server and all that, I'm interested in having it catch a wireless connection.

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:49 pm
by Kieran Huggins
If you were smart/lucky and bought a linksys WRT54GL you could poke around http://wrtrouters.com - there's many a firmware there with features similar to that which you describe.

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:15 pm
by evilmonkey
I have the WRT54G. Which firmware do you recommend? DD-WRT? OpenWRT? HyperWRT?... I have looked at OpenWRT and thought about installing it, but do you know if it does what I need? Thanks for the point in the right direction. :)

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:14 am
by evilmonkey
I found the answer! http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge

I hope this helps someone. :D:D

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:17 pm
by Kieran Huggins
@evilmonkey: double check your hardware version BEFORE you try loading the firmware!!!

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:37 pm
by evilmonkey
Kieran Huggins wrote:@evilmonkey: double check your hardware version BEFORE you try loading the firmware!!!
Way ahead of you. I actually bought the wrong version initially :banghead:. I returned it yesterday, and I'm getting the open source Linux version today (it's even cheaper by a freak accident).

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:19 pm
by Kieran Huggins
Canada Computers has it for $60 after a MIR - my roommate bought one yesterday for work.

Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:38 pm
by evilmonkey
Kieran Huggins wrote:Canada Computers has it for $60 after a MIR - my roommate bought one yesterday for work.
Yup yup...that's exactly where I'm going. Tigerdirect wanted $93 ($78 after MIR) plus S&H for it. They didn't have it in thier Markham store. :?