Multiple access points / routers via wireless?

[lopri]

Noob here so please go easy on me please.

Is it possible for a router to receive a signal via wireless, then work as a NAT wired?

For example, there is a main router on the second floor and only way to get the connection on the 3rd floor from that router is via wireless. So initially the router/access point will have to communicate with the main router on the 2nd floor wireless.

Then, can the router/access point use that connection to hook other devices wired? Say, something like gigabit-LAN but wireless WAN? The reason for this weird setup would be:

1. It's impossible to run a cable from the 2nd floor to 3rd floor.
2. 3rd floor devices need to access Internet.
3. 3rd floor devices need to communicate each other faster than wireless connection.

I don't even know if my question makes sense. If it does, please help this noob out!

Thanks in advance.

 

[JackMDS]

You do not need a second NAT, the maim Router does all the NAT that is needed.

You can use a device like this, http://www.linksys.com/servlet...pper&lid=9743339789B09

Or a Router that can work as a Wireless Client. ( http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Modes.html ).

Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

 

[lopri]

JacMDS: Thank you very much for the links. I took some time to read through but my head still spins. 😉

From this page,

http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

I think what you're suggesting is like the "Solution Two", am I understanding it correctly? I think the solution makes a lot of sense. Now that was my first question, and since I'm learning I will expand my question further. I will read through your site more thoroughly but if you could point me to the right direction, that would be great.

My home has two floor (1st floor for living room and kitchen and the 2nd for bedrooms) and I also have a finished basement and finished attic (hardwood floor). I want to set up a media/backup server in the basement and use the basement as a 'lab'. On the first floor I have a Playstation 3 which can connect via wireless. I might get a laptop or very basic computer by kitchen so that family member can check their e-mails or quick surfing/searches, which also can be taken care of via wireless. On the 2nd floor, my main office where I do most business work *and* play games. I am also planning to get another Playstation 3 for the master bedroom. At last, but not the least, the attic is going to be another office for my wife, but I would think wireless would be suffice.

If I want wired connection on the basement (0th floor) and 2nd floor, and wireless on 1st/3rd floor. What would be the most ideal solution? If I have to, I wouldn't mind wiring from the basement to 2nd floor. Will the "Solution Two" still work for this configuration? Or if I wanted to have a wired/wireless hybrid device on the 2nd floor so that the attic can get a better signal, then my choice should be "Solution One"?

One thing I am having a little difficulty understanding is that this house is a new construction, and if I'm not mistaken the whole house is wired with CAT5e (two CAT5e outlets and two coax outlets per room). I know this because if I take the cable modem to ANY outlet, it works from there. Same goes to cable TV as well. If I take the cable box to any coax outlet, cable TV works from there. How should I understand this and how can I make use of this for home networking? Does this mean if I plug an LAN cable to the wall outlet, I will be able to receive a signal from ANY outlet?

Also, I recently purchased Apple Airport Extreme and the performance has been very satisfactory, compared to my previous Netgear product. Thing is, I noticed that Apple doesn't make anything else other than this and client adapter. Should I purchase another Airport, and use one in the basement and the other on the 2nd floor? One as a router and the other as access point?

Ahh.. I'm getting a headache.. Thanks for listening and helping!

 

[Aarondeep]

Your house is prewired? That's great. What you need to do is find where all the central wiring goes to. That's where you should put in the switch and or router. (each cable from each room should run into this room where a patch panel should be) Then you could just use wired connections everywhere possible. Online gaming wont be as fun over wireless.
Then on each floor you need wireless you could just put in an access point. Don't do all this wireless bridging if your house is already wired! Save yourself headache.

Hopefully this points you in the right direction.