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Need to turn a switch into a wireless switch

A

Alan Westman

Junior Member
Howdy/hello everyone. Its been a while since I posted anything.
Alright I have a to swap out a switch for a wireless switch or equivalent device.
How its setup right now
Cable modem to Wireless router (4 port) to Switch (4 port)
Every port is being used currently.
The wireless router is positioned in a horrible spot and the signal is no longer cutting it. I do not have the power to move the router. It needs to stay in its current location. Same as the switch which is located 100 feet away from the router. What I need to do is swap the switch out for something that can be wireless with Ethernet ports on the back of it. Can someone please recommend a product for me to use to fix my dilemma.
 
Almost any wifi router can be used in access port mode. You'd probably need one with 6 ports (5+WAN) since to work in AP mode (not routing or DHCP'ing) you plug it into the network using a downstream port. That might be hard to find. But if you don't mind daisy chaining your current switch off of the new WAP, then you're good to go.
 
dave_the_nerd said:
Almost any wifi router can be used in access port mode. You'd probably need one with 6 ports (5+WAN) since to work in AP mode (not routing or DHCP'ing) you plug it into the network using a downstream port. That might be hard to find. But if you don't mind daisy chaining your current switch off of the new WAP, then you're good to go.
Click to expand...
I thought about doing the wireless router setup but honestly I was hoping there would be a simpler solution then needing to change all the settings in the router. I was hoping just to do a straight swap if at all possible with something that has wireless capabilites

Just to add a bit of info I was looking at something along this line right here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2F84WV1796
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164067

I believe that an wireless access point will give me what I need both a switch and the ports that are requared
 
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I think either I'm confused, or you're confused about what to do.

Are you trying to get a stronger wireless signal from the router to the switch area, to eliminate the switch/cable between?
 
Alan Westman said:
I thought about doing the wireless router setup but honestly I was hoping there would be a simpler solution then needing to change all the settings in the router. I was hoping just to do a straight swap if at all possible with something that has wireless capabilites

Just to add a bit of info I was looking at something along this line right here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2F84WV1796
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164067

I believe that an wireless access point will give me what I need both a switch and the ports that are requared
Click to expand...

Well, sure, either of those should be perfectly adequate. Netgear's an old standby I wouldn't be afraid of buying. Never heard of that other company, although that doesn't mean they're bad. TP-Link is another excellent brand. ASUS is also good. (I particularly like the webadmin utility on their recent consumer stuff.)

Most routers are pretty easy to configure as APs now (mine is exactly three clicks), and pretty much everybody I know has a perfectly good wifi router sitting unused in a drawer somewhere because they change ISPs every 3-4 years. So spending more money on a device with intentionally less capability is, well, not "dave_the_nerd" behavior. 🙂
 
dave_the_nerd said:
Well, sure, either of those should be perfectly adequate. Netgear's an old standby I wouldn't be afraid of buying. Never heard of that other company, although that doesn't mean they're bad. TP-Link is another excellent brand. ASUS is also good. (I particularly like the webadmin utility on their recent consumer stuff.)

Most routers are pretty easy to configure as APs now (mine is exactly three clicks), and pretty much everybody I know has a perfectly good wifi router sitting unused in a drawer somewhere because they change ISPs every 3-4 years. So spending more money on a device with intentionally less capability is, well, not "dave_the_nerd" behavior. 🙂
Click to expand...
Its not for me. Its for the gym I go to. His current wifi router is up in an office that doesnt cover the whole gym. So I figured disable the wifi in that router and swap out the switch with something capable of doing Wireless AC. But he wants to keep it easy and uncomplicated incase he needs to swap stuff out. He wont have any additional equipment

and ty for your replies
 
ch33zw1z said:
I think either I'm confused, or you're confused about what to do.

Are you trying to get a stronger wireless signal from the router to the switch area, to eliminate the switch/cable between?
Click to expand...

just reposting what I just wrote. It should help clarify a few things
Its not for me. Its for the gym I go to. His current wifi router is up in an office that doesnt cover the whole gym. So I figured disable the wifi in that router and swap out the switch (which is dead center of the gym) with something capable of doing Wireless AC. But he wants to keep it easy and uncomplicated incase he needs to swap stuff out. He wont have any additional equipment
 
ok, thanks for clarifying. sounds like you want a SOHO device, so I'm gonna bow out because I won't go SOHO for wireless anymore lol.

Best of luck
 
I second a Ubiquiti. I have a UAP-AC-LR and love it.

if you plant one of those where the switch is, you'll need an extra power plug to run the PoE adapter.

This won't replace the switch either, and if you don't have any extra ports then you'll need to either free up a port on the switch or get a bigger switch.
 
ch33zw1z said:
I second a Ubiquiti. I have a UAP-AC-LR and love it.

if you plant one of those where the switch is, you'll need an extra power plug to run the PoE adapter.

This won't replace the switch either, and if you don't have any extra ports then you'll need to either free up a port on the switch or get a bigger switch.
Click to expand...

The UAP-AC-LR is definitely worth considering, depending on the size of the gym. The switch info I glossed over, and a new switch with more ports would be necessary. Get one with Passive PoE ports and the extra power plug won't be necessary, but they are more expensive (~$60+) than standard gigabit switches (~$16+).
 
Good idea.

I hadn't considered that. I've only used those in security cam setups.

Gotta check the specs though. Does ubiquiti use standard voltage?
 
ch33zw1z said:
Good idea.

I hadn't considered that. I've only used those in security cam setups.

Gotta check the specs though. Does ubiquiti use standard voltage?
Click to expand...

The UAP-AC-LITE and LR use 24V Passive PoE, the PRO is 802.3af PoE/802.3at PoE+ and EDU is 802.3at PoE+ Compatible, so you do have to pay attention to which switch you get unless it covers all three types of PoE.
 
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