Wireless/Wired Router Networking Questions

[CosmicDebris]

In my home I currently have a wired network with a 4 port router. Really only our two desktops (one currently in a closet) need wires. No I don't need nor want to add a wireless card. My daughters and my wifes laptops can be wireless not to mention our Wii.

I strolled to best buy to check out what they had and all the wireless+wired routers were 4 ports. I want my desktop and our spare desktop to be wired thus taking up two wired ports on the back of the wireless wired router. That leaves three wirless devices that at one point or another will be acessing the router/internet at the same time.

My question is, in using the wireless part of the router does each wireless device take up a port in the 4port part of the router? So if I have my wired pc (1 used port) and three other wirless devices using the wireless part (3 ports) would another laptop like a friends of my daughters not be able to acces the router/internet because all 4ports were in use?

Whatever happened to two cups and a string?

[RAI6]

There shouldn't be a limit to how many items can access the wi-fi....
It's simply a signal that's being accessed.

[jemsite]

like Rai6 said, 4-ports is 4 wired ports. there is no real limit for wireless connections so you're good to go.

if you need more physical ports (w/ cat5 cable) just connect any 5 or 8-port switch to the wifi router. you'll lose one port connnecting the new switch but will gain 4 ports (adding a 5 port switch) or 7 ports (adding a 8 port switch).... glen

[jb4674]

Originally Posted by RAI6

There shouldn't be a limit to how many items can access the wi-fi....
It's simply a signal that's being accessed.

Originally Posted by jemsite

like Rai6 said, 4-ports is 4 wired ports. there is no real limit for wireless connections so you're good to go.

if you need more physical ports (w/ cat5 cable) just connect any 5 or 8-port switch to the wifi router. you'll lose one port connnecting the new switch but will gain 4 ports (adding a 5 port switch) or 7 ports (adding a 8 port switch).... glen

Actually, there is a limit guys. Cosmic, you have up to 254 ip addresses that your wireless router can dish out. Glen's idea for expanding the physical router ports is the best solution to tackle the lack of ports.

Jimmy

[CosmicDebris]

Excellent fellas, thank you very much.

[DarthLamer]

Originally Posted by jb4674

Actually, there is a limit guys. Cosmic, you have up to 254 ip addresses that your wireless router can dish out.

Jimmy

Wrong.

[CosmicDebris]

Originally Posted by DarthLamer

Wrong.

A wrong without any facts backing it up is as water tight as a screen door on a submarine.

[DarthLamer]

Nobody held my hand.
The information is available. If you are unable to find it, that's not my problem.

[CosmicDebris]

Fair enough I suppose. Thou it would make you seem like a nice person had you stated it in your post but that is neither here nor there. On a different note I found this picture of you very fetching.