wireless networking problems

[ZaijiaN]

Here was the plan: network together 2 desktops in the same room + a laptop, give them all cable internet access. Sounds simple, get a wireless router to hook up the 2 desktops, get a wireless PCMCIA card for the laptop. It would have been that easy, had Time Warner been able to install a cable modem somewhere remotely near the 2 desktops. Instead, they had to install it on the other side of the house. So my question is, is there a way to wirelessly connect the modem to the WAN port on the router? The only other way I can see is to connect the router to the modem directly, and connect some sort of wireless relay to a hub for the 2 desktops. So what are your recommendations, and what hardware do I need to get?

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless from Modem to WAN, not possible with regular Entry Level means.

Let assume that you buy a Wireless Cable/DSL Router, and you connect it to the Modem.

If the distance, and obstruction allows you can buy three Wireless Client cards for the computer, and you are in heaven.

If the Gap between the Modem Location and the computer's room can not be covered by an Entry Level Wireless you have to be creative.

Depending on you surrounding you will have to buy a Combination of Access Points that can be configured as bridges, and bridge the gap.

BTW, No matter what you do, when you initially configure the Router put a computer near, and configure through a Wire, don?t try to configure first time wirelessly.

Take a look at this info. It could help to derive a solution.

Access Point Configurations:

Mode 1 - Gateway. All Entry Level Wireless Access Point (WAP) can act as Wireless Hub to connect to Wireless Clients that are installed in computers.

Mode 2 - Bridge. Some WAPs can also be configured as a Bridge. In such a Configuration the WAP can only communicate with another WAP that is configured as a Bridge. This mode is useful to Bridge two LANs that are a part, and it is preferred to connect them wirelessly. Plug one WAP Bridge to a Switch on the first LAN, the other WAP to a Switch on the second LAN, and they are connected.

Mode 3. Client - Few WAPs can also be configured as Clients. In such a configuration they act as a "Fancy" regular Wireless card that usually goes on a computer. Under such configuration The WAP can only communicate with a Gateway configured WAP.

Mode 4 - Repeater. One WAP thus far (D-Link 900AP+) can work as a Repeater. It acts like a client to receive a signal from any 802.11b source (regular Router or AP), and as an AP it broadcasts to regular clients, thus enabling to extend the Wireless range.

Since it has only one Radio it alternate between Client, and AP mode, thus reduces the Speed of the extended segment by 50%.


Let capture.

Mode 1 can only communicate with Mode 3.

Mode 2 can only communicate with Mode 2.

Mode 3 can communicate with Mode 1,

Mode 4 can communicate with Mode 1, and Mode 3.

As far as I know to date, all the WAPs that are part of a Cable/DSL Routers, can only be configured as Gateways (Mode 1).


BTW - In one setting I was able to solve distance issue by connecting an independent WAP to a regular Router via 30' CAT5 and placing the WAP out of the Modem room further toward the LAN room. This arrangement provided much less obstructions then by setting the WAPs in each LAN's room. I was able to cover quite a distance by doing so.

 

[ZaijiaN]

BTW, I have already purchased a wireless router.

So, I think I have 2 options then, tell me if i'm wrong:
1) get 2 bridges, have them set to connect to each other, plug one end into modem, other end into wan port of router.
2) move the wireless router next to the modem, get a bridge and plug it into the uplink port of a hub.

 

[JackMDS]

I am not sure that there is option One. May be the Linksys WET11, you should call Linksys, and ask them if it will work.

Option 2. If the Bridge is plugged to a hub you will not have wireless in the compuetr's room, unless you buy one WAP for Bridging, and one WAP as Gateway in the Computer?s room, or may be the D-Link 900AP+ set as a repeater.

 

[ktwebb]

The WET11 in ad hoc, basically bridging, or AP with and AP in client mode, or two AP's in bridge mode. 1 AP with the other in client mode would work but not a very good choice or logical. Option 1 will work with any of those scenarios however. You might need crossover cables but it will work. If your router is wireless and the bridge is another wireless link just make sure they are using a different frequency set, a non-overlapping channel than the AP/Router Combo.

With option two, you'd need a workgroupg bridge like the WET11 or AP in client mode to associate to the AP/Router combo.

Both options are do-able. Which is easier or less expensive. Depends on what you want and/or willing to do/spend, and/or where you want your wireless client coverage for laptops and so forth.


After mulling it over, the problem you may run into with option one is if either wireless device is setup as a DHCP client. (AP/Bridge/WorkgroupBridge). It would pick up the IP from the modem that you need the router to pickup. The Bridge from Modem to router will work with any of those configs but you need to be able to disable the device as a DHCP client so that it's only function is to forward packets.