vB Easy Archive - Wireless Networking Question

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Wireless Networking Question
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Posted by: jeffsui

First off is there a howardchui type website (I.E. GREAT FORUMS) on 802.11 stuff. ??

Second can somebody help me with termonolgoy.

You've got your wireless router thingy (wireless + wired) and its called an access point.

You've also got this thing that will let you extend the range of your network (i think of it as a repeter or something) but is it also called a wireless access point?

Basically I need to extend my signal but i'm confused as to what hardware i can get (for cheap) and what i need to be looking up.

thanks

-jeff

Posted by: Appleman

A wireless router, is a wireless router. Essentially, it provides NAT services for multiple computers (wired or wireless) to gain access to the internet through a single connection, cable modem or DSL.

An wireless ethernet bridge connects the wireless network to the wired network. Does not generally provide any services other than the bridging.

A repeater would just let you extend the range of the wireless network.

At least this is how I understand it.

The confusion would come from the companies manufacturing these devices. The do not use any consistent terminology. Linksys uses all sorts of terms. You really have to look at the feature or services provided by the particular device. Access Point would be a very general term in which to describe all of them.

Posted by: scottb

Here's more.

The router connects to your cable/dsl modem. This provides multiple connections to your Internet connection.

The wireless access point provides a path to your router for your wireless nodes (PCs). The access point plugs into one of the open ports on the router.

Linksys (and probably others) make a single router/acces point device in one package. This single unit provides the connectivity to your cable/dsl modem and to your wireless nodes.

Posted by: robrand

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffsui
First off is there a howardchui type website (I.E. GREAT FORUMS) on 802.11 stuff. ?? . . .

Do you speak Swedish?

http://www.wlan-forum.com/modules.php?name=Forum

Posted by: jeffsui

I dont speek sveedish? Do jooo?

it looks like there is no easy answer for this one is there?

If i want to extend the range of my wierless network can I just buy another wireless router and connect it to my existing network wireless-ly? I just dont use the ethernet ports on the 2nd router?

Posted by: scottb

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffsui
I dont speek sveedish? Do jooo?

it looks like there is no easy answer for this one is there?

If i want to extend the range of my wierless network can I just buy another wireless router and connect it to my existing network wireless-ly? I just dont use the ethernet ports on the 2nd router?

What range are you trying to achieve? A wireless access point must be connected to the network with a wire, so I don't think you can extend it "wireless-ly."

Posted by: p_synthesis

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffsui
First off is there a howardchui type website (I.E. GREAT FORUMS) on 802.11 stuff. ??

You can try DSL Reports

Posted by: robrand

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffsui
I dont speek sveedish? Do jooo? . . . .

Nope. Been there, couldn't understand a word of Swedish except "ya". But everyone there speaks English. The Swedes may be the friendliest people on Earth (the Thai's are super friendly too).

Try Wireless Advisor, not as active as HowardForums, but some good stuff there:
http://www.wirelessadvisor.com/wafo...es.cfm?catid=20

. . . or good old Network News:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...p=comp.networks

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...TF-8&group=comp