I posted this as a comment to a post describing the difference between a wireless router and an access point so I've copied it here.
I have a BEC router/modem which was provided by my internet provider (my phone company). I want to make my home wireless and someone told me that I don't want a wireless router as it will "fight" with the BEC router but that I should get a Wireless Access Point instead. They said it was important to make sure that the Wireless Access Point can have range extenders added to it as one computer is on the second floor (with the router/modem) while the other is in the basement on the other side of the ranch style house (single floor except for the room with the computer which is over the garage.
At this point I'm not sure what to do. I have a Netgear wireless dual band USB adapter which I thought I needed to buy first but not sure what to about the wireless router vs access point. I read the article here that explains the difference but that didn't really help me decide what I need.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
(my phone company suggested the Netgear brand so that's why I bought the Netgear usb adapter)
How do I add wireless to a system with a router/modem supplied by provider?
You can use a wireless router as an access point.
To do that, you assign the w-router a LAN IP address that would be appropriate for your wired net. Best is usually to choose something just out of the range of IP addresses that your current router gives out with DHCP. For example, I have a router that gives out addresses in the range 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.50. So I could choose 192.168.1.51 or 192.168.1.100 to assign to the w-router.
You must disable DHCP on the w-router, since clients will get their IP address from your wired router.
Then connect the w-router to the wired router using one of its LAN ports. Leave the WAN port of the w-router unconnected.
That usually works just as well as an access point. At typical consumer prices, a wireless router is often less expensive than a separate access point.
As for range extenders - you will find out whether needed when try things out. If you have ethernet cable to parts of the house, you can connect another access point (or router configured as access point) for that.
To do that, you assign the w-router a LAN IP address that would be appropriate for your wired net. Best is usually to choose something just out of the range of IP addresses that your current router gives out with DHCP. For example, I have a router that gives out addresses in the range 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.50. So I could choose 192.168.1.51 or 192.168.1.100 to assign to the w-router.
You must disable DHCP on the w-router, since clients will get their IP address from your wired router.
Then connect the w-router to the wired router using one of its LAN ports. Leave the WAN port of the w-router unconnected.
That usually works just as well as an access point. At typical consumer prices, a wireless router is often less expensive than a separate access point.
As for range extenders - you will find out whether needed when try things out. If you have ethernet cable to parts of the house, you can connect another access point (or router configured as access point) for that.
Thank you so much for getting back to me!
I will get a wireless router then and try to follow your directions to set it up as an access point to disable the router part which I gather will cause problems.
I really think there should be step by step directions on how to do all of this somewhere on the internet but I have yet to find anything that is written clearly. Your directions I think I can follow. Thank you again.
I will get a wireless router then and try to follow your directions to set it up as an access point to disable the router part which I gather will cause problems.
I really think there should be step by step directions on how to do all of this somewhere on the internet but I have yet to find anything that is written clearly. Your directions I think I can follow. Thank you again.
nwrickert wrote:You can use a wireless router as an access point.
To do that, you assign the w-router a LAN IP address that would be appropriate for your wired net. Best is usually to choose something just out of the range of IP addresses that your current router gives out with DHCP. For example, I have a router that gives out addresses in the range 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.50. So I could choose 192.168.1.51 or 192.168.1.100 to assign to the w-router.
You must disable DHCP on the w-router, since clients will get their IP address from your wired router.
Then connect the w-router to the wired router using one of its LAN ports. Leave the WAN port of the w-router unconnected.
That usually works just as well as an access point. At typical consumer prices, a wireless router is often less expensive than a separate access point.
As for range extenders - you will find out whether needed when try things out. If you have ethernet cable to parts of the house, you can connect another access point (or router configured as access point) for that.
Try this one: Using a Wireless Router as an Access PointAnnaJar wrote:I really think there should be step by step directions on how to do all of this somewhere on the internet but I have yet to find anything that is written clearly.