Using ADSL router purely as an access point?

francozola · 03-11-2007, 20:15

Hi there, I've just (eventually) had Virgin Media installed today, with the usual wired modem.

I have an old Linksys wag354g ADSL router and wonder if it would be possible to simply run the ethernet cable from the modem into it and use it as a wireless access point only?

Alternatively, I can scrounge an old wireless access point of a friend of mine. If I connect to the modem with the ethernet cable will this work?

Sorry, I'm totally new to cable, and this is the first time that I've tried to set up a wireless network other than through Windows Internet Connection Sharing with the access point hooked up to a base computer.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Graham M · 03-11-2007, 20:36

Most routers have a setting to turn off the NAT/DHCP/Firewall/etc, functions and turn it into a simple access point, you will need to look through the menus of the router to see if there is such a setting. I suppose you could do it manually, by finding the appropriate settings.

dragon · 04-11-2007, 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

Most routers have a setting to turn off the NAT/DHCP/Firewall/etc, functions and turn it into a simple access point, you will need to look through the menus of the router to see if there is such a setting. I suppose you could do it manually, by finding the appropriate settings.

Just turn off the DHCP

Nat and firewall shouldn't matter since there will be nothing connected to the wan side.

With DHCP off and another router connected to one of the LAN ports then the Adsl router should act like an access point/switch

Aragorn · 05-11-2007, 09:36

Hold on there!
The linksys device only has four 'LAN' ports and no WAN or uplink port. It has no firmware that allows it to grab an IP address from the VM modem on one of those LAN ports. Yes, you could setup an isolated Wireless LAN but it wouldn't be able to connect to VM.

If the OP wants a wireless VM connection, why not ebay the WAG354G and put the proceeds towards a new WRT54G.

Graham M · 05-11-2007, 09:40

The LAN Ports will PROBABLY be autoswitching in which case any will act as an Uplink port allowing it to act basically as a second switch

monkey2468 · 05-11-2007, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

The LAN Ports will PROBABLY be autoswitching in which case any will act as an Uplink port allowing it to act basically as a second switch

Indeed, did a similar setup last week. Belkin wireless router/ADSL modem. Connected a new ADSL modem (no router on TalkTalk) to the LAN port of the old Belkin modem/router. Worked perfectly. I would assume that most routers will do this.
(I could have called TalkTalk to get the modem settings to apply to the old ADSL modem/router, but didn't have time to wait in a que)

Graham M · 05-11-2007, 12:09

If the ports aren't auto-sensing (only needs to be on 1 of the devices) then you could use a Crossover cable to achieve the same effect.

dragon · 05-11-2007, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Hold on there!
The linksys device only has four 'LAN' ports and no WAN or uplink port. It has no firmware that allows it to grab an IP address from the VM modem on one of those LAN ports. Yes, you could setup an isolated Wireless LAN but it wouldn't be able to connect to VM.

If the OP wants a wireless VM connection, why not ebay the WAG354G and put the proceeds towards a new WRT54G.

oh yeah sorry I thought they just wanted it to add a wireless AP to an existing wired router.

Teaches me not to read it properly

francozola · 05-11-2007, 19:36

Hi, thanks everyone for your comments. I've had a good look around the settings of the ADSL router and haven't been able to make it work yet, but there are a lot of acronyms I'm not familiar with!

I have a Belkin Wireless Access Point (not router) that I had been using at my old place that I can get my hands on from Weds. I think that I should be able to just plug this into the output port from the VM modem. Does that sound right? (It's a little different to it's previous setup where I had a USB ADSL modem plugged into a desktop with the access point hooked up by ethernet and Windows Internet Connection Sharing- new place is laptop only so trying to avoid the need for a wired up server PC.)

If that doesn't work I might have to come back to you guys with the various different options that the ADSL router lets me change to see if any of you can point me in the right direction!

Thanks again for your help.

dragon · 05-11-2007, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by francozola

Hi, thanks everyone for your comments. I've had a good look around the settings of the ADSL router and haven't been able to make it work yet, but there are a lot of acronyms I'm not familiar with!

I have a Belkin Wireless Access Point (not router) that I had been using at my old place that I can get my hands on from Weds. I think that I should be able to just plug this into the output port from the VM modem. Does that sound right? (It's a little different to it's previous setup where I had a USB ADSL modem plugged into a desktop with the access point hooked up by ethernet and Windows Internet Connection Sharing- new place is laptop only so trying to avoid the need for a wired up server PC.)

If that doesn't work I might have to come back to you guys with the various different options that the ADSL router lets me change to see if any of you can point me in the right direction!

Thanks again for your help.

the access point may be able to give ONE device access to the internet wirelessly but that will be on since it lacks a NAT