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Resolved Wireless Network Switch or Wireless Router?

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by James Martin, 2011/10/04.

  1. 2011/10/04
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Hi all,

    My brother wants me to help him setup a wireless home network between a W7 laptop and an XP Home desktop PC. His desktop PC is currently connected to the web via a wired Motorola Netopia 2210-02 modem / router from AT&T.

    His laptop has wireless capabilities, and so does his new HP printer. I suggested he purchase a wireless network switch, but just about all of the units I see are considered wireless routers.

    With that said, if he opts for a router, then I assume it will have to be bridged with the modem?

    In addition, would a wireless router offer more security than a switch?

    Pardon my ignorance, but wireless is not my field of expertise, yet.
     
    James Martin,
    #1
  2. 2011/10/04
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    A router is a lot more secure than a switch, when accessing internet is concerened, but can also work as a switch. Wireless security is on par for both & depends on how you configure it.

    You would have to attach the router to your modem through router's WAN/Internet port & the rest of the computers would connect through LAN or wireless. It requires a little setting up so read the manual.
     
    rsinfo,
    #2


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  4. 2011/10/05
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Am I correct in assuming the modem / router & wireless router would have to be bridged?
     
    James Martin,
    #3
  5. 2011/10/05
    CozmicSeer

    CozmicSeer Inactive

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    All you need is a ethernet cable between the modem and the wireless router. If they are close together, a 1 foot cable is sufficient. As rsinfo said, you would connect the modem's ethernet port to the wireless router's WAN port and then use the lan ports on the wireless router to connect to the desktop PC or other lan switches if you have them.

    Then you would need to connect to the router through a browser using the desktop PC, usually on address 192.168.10.1 to configure the wireless router. The manual that came with the wireless router should have some instructions on how to do this. One thing you need to do is setup your security which is best using WPA2(or WPA if it doesn't support WPA2) for encryption. Then you also should setup some pass phrase that is easy for you to remember but couldn't be guessed easily. Mix in uppercase letters, like the second letter of the words and it will prevent someone from getting access to it that is nearby. Something like wEdOntnEednOsTinkingbAdges(with regards to the movie High Sierra) where the phrase is easily remembered and I uppercased the second letter of each word. Pick something you like. Then the Win 7 laptop wireless setup is pretty easy. Just put in the pass phrase in where requested and it should connect after finishing the setup. I did that with my Win 7 laptop and I was on the internet in no time.
     
    CozmicSeer,
    #4
    James Martin likes this.
  6. 2011/10/05
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    There's only 1 ethernet port on the Motorola Netopia 2210-02 modem/router from AT&T.

    You have a modem-router combo unit.

    There's no need to setup the Motorola in Bridged mode.

    Get a wireless router and connect it to your computer directly by wire. Then access the router control panel via a Web browser and change its LAN IP address to 192.168.1.253. (The Motorola is 192.168.1.254.)

    Next, disable the router DHCP functionality. This turns it into an access point and a switch. Let the Motorola handle the DHCP addressing and firewall functions.

    Next, connect the Motorola to one of the LAN ports on the wireless router. You'll now have a wired router (Motorola) and a switch/access point. Computers can connect by wire to the wireless router or by wifi to its access point.

    note: some wireless routers have a setting to use its WAN port as a switched ethernet port. If yours has that option then you can use the WAN port, otherwise don't use it.
     
    TonyT,
    #5
  7. 2011/10/06
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Has anyone ever seen a wireless switch (not a router)?

    I can't find anything other than wireless routers.
     
    James Martin,
    #6
  8. 2011/10/07
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    The wireless switches I've seen are business grade devices and expensive. You can turn any wireless router into a wireless switch by disabling its DHCP functionality. In other words, let another router handle addressing and firewall functions. Much less expensive.
     
    TonyT,
    #7
  9. 2011/10/10
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I thought so, too.

    The cheapest wireless switch I could find was around several hundred dollars.

    Thanks all the info, I will keep it marked for reference.
     
    James Martin,
    #8
  10. 2011/10/10
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    If you condiser that your question(s) has been answered to your satisfaction, the please mark your thread as 'Resolved'.

    Near the top of your thread you'll see Thread Tools. Click the down arrow to expand the drop down menu, at the bottom of it you'll see Mark this thread as solved. Click on it to mark your thread as solved.

    Thank you,
    TonyT
     
    TonyT,
    #9

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