networking Geniuses.. question

[adamcbest]

I have 1 wireless router right now. I have 3 units that are not within cable range of the router, that don't have wireless capability. Is there anyway to use another wireless router, or a wireless switch or something so that i can have that unit accept the signal, then send it to those units through cables? I know that having the three on one router will make the signal weaker to each unit, but only one should ever be actively using the network at any given time. basically i'm hooking a computer, Xbox, and Wii to the internet, but don't have anyway to get a cable to them.. I don't want to buy the wirless device for XBOX or the computer and for some reason the Wii will not connect to the wireless router i have even though my laptop will.

I appreciate any insight you guys may have.

[jemsite]

if you can hardwire all 3 devices (i assume there in the same room) you only need a wireless bridge with 3 ports, such as the many examples here. this will give you full wifi access to your wireless router (which has your internet connection obviously) on the 3 devices without needing special wifi cards per device (xbox, wii, pc). you need 3 cat-5 cables also.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...ess-AP-Bridges

... glen

[Algiman]

Though about using something like this:
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...Specifications

or this (if your router has a spare ethernet port):
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...tAdapters.aspx

[adamcbest]

Originally Posted by jemsite

if you can hardwire all 3 devices (i assume there in the same room) you only need a wireless bridge with 3 ports, such as the many examples here. this will give you full wifi access to your wireless router (which has your internet connection obviously) on the 3 devices without needing special wifi cards per device (xbox, wii, pc). you need 3 cat-5 cables also.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...ess-AP-Bridges

... glen

basically these three devices are all in a tv stand in the living room. They will all be hard wired. I have have a cat5 crimper and cable and ends are pretty cheap so the short cables i'll need won't be an issue.. The router is in another room, so if these access points work pretty well, i'll probably get one of those. I rent an apartment so i can't start adding cabling in the walls. That might make them a little mad. Plus they want a freaking fortune to have someone come in to do it.

Thanks for the suggestions

[jaxadam]

Yup, just get a bridge with 3 ports, and clone the MAC address from your router into the bridge and you should be good to go.

[jb4674]

Why go through all that hassle instead of simply getting 3 usb wireless g adapters?

Seems like ya'll are trying to reinvent the wheel.

Jimmy

P.S.: Check that your encryption on the wireless router isn't set at 128-bit. I had that same problem with my ps3 and it wouldn't connect to my linksys router. In the end, I had to piggyback another wireless router to my linksys running 64-bit encryption so that it would connect (I'm lazy..).

[adamcbest]

so right now i have a belkin wireless N router that can be used as an acces point. It doens't have gigabit ports. I want to get a new router with gigabit ports anyway so that we could hook up a ReadyNAS Duo into my network for good storage/backup and quick access of our photography/other work from all computers. Seems to me i could just use my old router as the access point. thoughts.. Should the Belkin router be able to pickup wireless from any other brand of router?

[adamcbest]

Originally Posted by jb4674

Why go through all that hassle instead of simply getting 3 usb wireless g adapters?

Seems like ya'll are trying to reinvent the wheel.

Jimmy

P.S.: Check that your encryption on the wireless router isn't set at 128-bit. I had that same problem with my ps3 and it wouldn't connect to my linksys router. In the end, I had to piggyback another wireless router to my linksys running 64-bit encryption so that it would connect (I'm lazy..).

from what i have heard the Xbox360 requires the use of MS's wireless device at 100 dollars. not even sure if it's a wireless N device. I can do an access point and cabling for less than that and only have to configure one wireless connection then.

if i had it my way every device would be wired. When i buy a house, it will be.

[jb4674]

Originally Posted by adamcbest

from what i have heard the Xbox360 requires the use of MS's wireless device at 100 dollars. not even sure if it's a wireless N device. I can do an access point and cabling for less than that and only have to configure one wireless connection then.

if i had it my way every device would be wired. When i buy a house, it will be.

That's not entirely true. I have a friend who was able to connect her pos xbox to her wireless router using an $8.00 usb wireless adapter she bought at Micro Center.

Jimmy

[jemsite]

i don't have xbox but i don't see USB network card (with a generic driver) working very well, especially with security. I'd bet many people "connecting" with $8 adapters turn of WPA and run totally unprotected or WEP (also unprotected). That is not a solution imho.

The wifi router - to be a wifi bridge - needs to be able to work as a bridge. For example the D-Link DWL-2100AP has a bridge switch whereas many wifi routers won't necessarily be bridge-able (wifi to wifi). Other wifi routers can be a bridge simply by disabling DHCP on that device (using DHCP on the primary router to connect & obtain an IP).

download a user's guide & read/learn more
http://www.dlink.com/products/suppor...kInstallGuides

.. glen

[jaxadam]

I agree with what Glen is saying. There may be a way to get it working, but it may not be the "best" way to do it, and it could leave your connection wide open.

I use one of these, and I just clone the router's MAC address in and it works as a secure wireless bridge for connecting things via ethernet.



It's actually just a wireless gaming adapter, but it will serve the purpose.