From wired to wireless

[Livzz]

Hi,
I have a wired network with a few PCs and a broadband modem all attached to a simple ethernet switch (D-Link DES1008D if it helps).
I now have a laptop with wireless capabilities, and wish to take advantage of this.
To enable the laptop to wirelessly connect to my already established wired network, all I need is a wireless access point right?
Something like the D-link DWL-G700AP, plugged into my switch, will enable the laptop to join the network??

thanks for your time, i appreciate it!
Paul

 

[ack]

Hi,
I have a wired network with a few PCs and a broadband modem all attached to a simple ethernet switch (D-Link DES1008D if it helps).
I now have a laptop with wireless capabilities, and wish to take advantage of this.
To enable the laptop to wirelessly connect to my already established wired network, all I need is a wireless access point right?
Something like the D-link DWL-G700AP, plugged into my switch, will enable the laptop to join the network??

thanks for your time, i appreciate it!
Paul

Yes, you will need a wireless access point if you want to connect your laptop to your network and the internet. I have a modem with wireless capabilities and i run a couple comps with wireless cards through that.

 

[apj101]

Yes, you may even be able to ditch the switch depending on how many devices are running off it. The router will probable have several wired based sockets available for you to use on your wired systems.

may be worth checking out if the wireless card and router are compatable, find out if you card is type a or b or g, then ensure you router allows that type of card (i'm fairly confindent that it will as most modern routers accept all card type).

 

[Livzz]

i dont think i can ditch the switch, because the point where all the wireless activity is going to be is too far away from the main computer area (where the modem and switch is).
Before i mentioned a wireless access point, but is a wireless router basically the same thing? i know an access point has 1 ethernet port to connect to the switch/hub, and a router has a few ports for multiple computers, but do they do the same thing?

 

[apj101]

they will do the same thing, i suggested the router as it would allow you to ditch the switch. I found this online which should explain it for you (but effectively your understanding is correct) oh and the device you listed is an access point and not a router, so it will be just fine for your requirments.

A wireless access point is not necessarily a wireless router, but it can be. What is the difference?

Wireless Access Point

A Wireless Access Point (WAP) is generally connected to a LAN and provides transparent access between the LAN and a wireless network, sometimes referred to as a wireless bridge. The Linksys WAP11 fits into this category. For users with a single IP address from their ISP, your ADSL modem/router is normally providing a NAT service for your Ethernet LAN. The WAP11 simply extends this NAT service onto your wireless LAN.

For users with a multiple IP service from their ISP, you will only be able to attach as many computers to the Wireless network as IP addresses you have left, e.g. if have an 8 IP block, 6 are available for use (the other two are used for network and broadcast), generally one is used by the ADSL modem/router and 5 are available for computers. So any combination of computers on the Ethernet and Wireless network is possible so long as a total of five is not exceeded. If you need more computers on the wireless segment then a wireless router is a better option.

Wireless Router

The wireless router features some form of NAT routing and can be useful to users with a block of static IP addresses, who do not want the wireless network to use external IP addresses. Some people also prefer to hide the Ethernet LAN from the Wireless LAN and the router component should allow this.

The wireless routers like the Linksys BEFW11S4 are also ideal for users with a cable modem service as they provide NAT to a wired LAN in addition to providing wireless service.