wired/wireless network confusion..

[ltwally]

Any (knowledgable) advice for the following scenario would be greatly appreciated, as I am new to doing anything beyond the very basics with wireless. Thanks

I have a (1) cable modem attached to a (2) wireless router in the home office of our new house.

In my den, halfway through the house, I have a small cluster of computers, connected via a (3) 10/100 wired router... I would like these computers to be able to reach the internet without giving each of them a wireless card.

I've already discovered, the hard way, that I can not replace (3) with a wireless router, and have the two wireless routers work amniably....

So, is an Access Point attached to (3) my solution? As in:

Cable Modem <-> Wireless Router <-> Access Point <-> Wired Router (with DHCP disabled) <-> Wired Computers

Are there better solutions that do not involve me either buying a plethora of wireless NIC's or running ethernet cable through the attic?

Thanks in advance

PS. Anyone that has actually done this before, that wishes to give specific configuration advice, please feel free to post that as well... anything to ease my pain is appreciated.

PPS. What is the deal with the price on access points? They seem to cost, on average, more than a wireless router... which makes no sense to me.

[Steve]

From the sounds of your setup, wireless nic's would seem to be the easiest, least expensive solution. Why the reluctance?

[ltwally]

From the sounds of your setup, wireless nic's would seem to be the easiest, least expensive solution. Why the reluctance?

Only one of the computers runs Windows. Another runs FreeBSD, and the other is my "play-around" box. The simple fact is that wireless NIC's are generally not as well supported as wired. Plus, a 10/100/1000 NIC will literally last me for years. Can the same be said of a 802.11g NIC? Wireless seems to be much more of a moving target than wired.

For me, wired is a prefered solution. If running CAT cable was an option, I wouldn't even be investigating wireless solutions.

[Steve]

Well, that makes sense. I looked around on the web last night for an example of the setup you are proposing and came up with nothing. Unless you can run a cat5 cable between 2 and 3 I'm really not sure it will happen.

We have some pretty knowledgable networking folks here. Maybe someone can find a solution to your problem.

:)

[pop pop]

Wireless standard is a bit of a moving target AND wireless with Linux is or can be a bit of a pain (I haven't got mine to work yet but I haven't really worked hard at it--the Linux boxes are all wired).

Given your description and reluctance to add wireless NICs, I would run the CAT5.

Classic is very good with networking solutions. Maybe he'll have a better idea.

[ltwally]

I think I've found the solution:

Cable Modem <-> Wireless Router <-> Wireless/Ethernet Bridge <-> Wired Router (with DHCP disabled) <-> Computers

This solution was actually recommended by Linksys's Tech-Support (albeit in heavily accented English), after I had tried both a second wireless router and an access point.

To me, an access point seems like a device that should do the trick... but apparently not. So, a bridge it is...

The interesting thing I've noticed is this:
Price for ...
802.11b + 4-port 10/100 Router == $50
802.11g Access Point == $80
802.11b to 10/100 Wireless Ethernet Bridge == $120
802.11g to 10/100 Wireless Ethernet Bridge == $130

....
Is anyone else noticing that as the devices get simpler (in design and function) and are cheaper to produce (both hardware and firmware), the cost actually increases??? I could understand the wireless router costing less due to the large number of sales... but why on Earth is a bridge more expensive than an access point, when technically it is a simpler device and cheaper to manufacture?

Sometimes capitalism confuses the hell out of me.

Anyhoo... I'll post a reply if the bridge works. Right now, I'm having a hard time finding one locally... And with the number of returned products I've already wracked up, I'd really rather not buy it online ;)

[Steve]

Ah yes, the wireless ethernet bridge. That just might be the missing link. I couldn't figure out how to get the wired router to communicate with the wireless router other than to hardwire it. I haven't had the opportunity to use a bridge yet but I think I'll order one and check it out.

And yes, I have noticed the seemingly strange pricing. I think it is just a matter of numbers. The fewer that are sold, the higher the price.

It sounds like you had a good experience with Linksys tech support. I have been in contact with them a couple of times lately with good results. I'm glad to hear good stories concerning tech support now a days.

And certainly, please let us know if this works out for you. It will be useful info.

[Steve]

ltwally, if you want to stay with Linksys and you are in the US, take a look at these links...

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=22&prid=432

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833124008

Seems to be what you're looking for and the price seems right. I have one on the way... :)

[ltwally]

The results are in... and I loathe Linksys even more than ever. It always seems to be the same thing with them: great hardware, craptastic firmware.... and having their tech support based in India doesn't help. ;)

Anyhoo... I bought a WET54GS5 (http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=615) earlier today... and Linksys appears to be selling units with defective firmware. The webadmin access was unavailable, and I had to jump through hoops for nearly 2 hours just to get a firmware upgrade installed (having the webadmin as the only means of updating the firmware is a really bad idea). At the end of it, however, I finally had a working device. I'm still working on cascading my wired router off it... but I bought this unit specifically because it includes its own 5-port switch. So, all is well for now.

The router I'm connected to is only a B.. but I've got 100% signal strength even though I'm 50' away and have a washer/dryer in the direct line-of-site. All things considered, not bad.

Anyhoo.. that ends my "emergancy", at least. Now to see if I can beat the wired router into playing well with the wireless network. Suggestions are always welcome from those in-the-know! :)

[Steve]

Thanks for the update. Your firmware issue is interesting in that I have recently had the firmware in a Linksys wireless router go bad. It's starting to look like the firmware is the weak part of the product.