Wireless addition?

[Marty]

I have a 4-port router which is connected on the WAN side to a cable
modem and to several computers on the LAN ports. Everything works fine
(DHCP OK).

I want to add a wireless link to one of the unused LAN ports. Can I
simply connect a wireless access point device to an unused LAN port
and provide wireless access to a computer with a wireless USB adapter?
In other words, I want the wireless computer to get a DHCP address
just like the computers that are wired directly to a LAN port on the
router. I realize that I could purchase a router that provides both
wired LAN ports as well as 802.11_ wireless connectivity -- but my SMC
router works real well and I'd like to keep using it. (If the access
point idea will be problematic, then I"ll get a new router.)

Second question: Considering 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g -- as options,
which will work more reliably in the confines of a home? (i.e. through
walls, floors, etc.)

[daytripper]

On 21 Dec 2003 19:41:52 -0800, minorman@yahoo.com (Marty) wrote:
I have a 4-port router which is connected on the WAN side to a cablemodem and to several computers on the LAN ports. Everything works fine(DHCP OK).I want to add a wireless link to one of the unused LAN ports. Can Isimply connect a wireless access point device to an unused LAN portand provide wireless access to a computer with a wireless USB adapter?In other words, I want the wireless computer to get a DHCP addressjust like the computers that are wired directly to a LAN port on therouter. I realize that I could purchase a router that provides bothwired LAN ports as well as 802.11_ wireless connectivity -- but my SMCrouter works real well and I'd like to keep using it. (If the accesspoint idea will be problematic, then I"ll get a new router.)


Yup, that's all there is to it. Make sure the access point is configured to
operate in "infrastructure mode", not "ad hoc mode". And if the wireless
access point has its own DHCP server built in, just make sure it doesn't issue
addresses from a block that overlaps any other DHCP service (the router, for
instance).

fwiw, I've had a Netgear 802.11a access point plugged into one of my Linksys
router ports for almost two years, works just like you want it to work.
Second question: Considering 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g -- as options,which will work more reliably in the confines of a home? (i.e. throughwalls, floors, etc.)

Wireless B & G should travel better than A, B best of all (lower bandwidth and
less demanding) but both B and G are in the virtually unregulated 2.4ghz space
(read: "2.4ghz portable phones"). A is in a regulated 5ghz space, which is
good, but it doesn't travel through structures as well.

If I was doing it again, and had to do it now, I'd likely get a B+G access
point as the most flexible bang for the buck. But if I could wait a little
longer, I'd get an A+B+G dual frequency WAP as slightly more flexible yet
again...

/daytripper