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View Full Version : Adding a Wireless Access Point to an Ethernet Network?



paulsmith109
01-03-05, 03:49 AM
:) Hi folks, I currently have a wired 2Mb DSL connection that runs via ethernet on a combined ADSL Modem/switch/router. I have 8 static IP addresses, (5 useable, not using NAT) from my ISP. Currently, I share the connection (I have 4 LAN ports) between 3 devices: (1 desktop PC, 2 Laptops) which all run Windows XP Pro SP2.
What I would like to do is to have one of the Laptops connected via wireless, but leave the remaining clients wired via ethernet. How do I do this? Do I just need to get a simple Wireless Access Point, plus a PCMIA `g` adaptor to go in the laptop? Would the WAP plug into the LAN port on my existing router that would be vacated by the laptop that is to be used wirelessly? I assume that I don`t need a wireless router?
What IP address would the WAP eventually need to have? One of the spare fixed IPs from my block of 5 with my existing LAN subnet mask of 255.255.255.248 ?
Do WAPs come with default LAN addresses of the type 192.168.1.1 and if so would I have to temporarily change my desktop PC`s IP address to the same range whilst configuring the WAP? Also, I assume that my current router must have a seperate address to the WAP once everything is set up and I change all my IP addresses back to their original range/subnets?
Lots of questions! Some fairly `stupid` I suppose, but I would really appreciate some help from all you knowledgeable folk out there!

Many thanks, and a happy new year!

Regards,
Paul
Oxford
ENGLAND

paulsmith109
01-05-05, 10:34 AM
:) Hi folks, I currently have a wired 2Mb DSL connection that runs via ethernet on a combined ADSL Modem/switch/router. I have 8 static IP addresses, (5 useable, not using NAT) from my ISP. Currently, I share the connection (I have 4 LAN ports) between 3 devices: (1 desktop PC, 2 Laptops) which all run Windows XP Pro SP2.
What I would like to do is to have one of the Laptops connected via wireless, but leave the remaining clients wired via ethernet. How do I do this? Do I just need to get a simple Wireless Access Point, plus a PCMIA `g` adaptor to go in the laptop? Would the WAP plug into the LAN port on my existing router that would be vacated by the laptop that is to be used wirelessly? I assume that I don`t need a wireless router?
What IP address would the WAP eventually need to have? One of the spare fixed IPs from my block of 5 with my existing LAN subnet mask of 255.255.255.248 ?
Do WAPs come with default LAN addresses of the type 192.168.1.1 and if so would I have to temporarily change my desktop PC`s IP address to the same range whilst configuring the WAP? Also, I assume that my current router must have a seperate address to the WAP once everything is set up and I change all my IP addresses back to their original range/subnets?
Lots of questions! Some fairly `stupid` I suppose, but I would really appreciate some help from all you knowledgeable folk out there!

Many thanks, and a happy new year!

Regards,
Paul
Oxford
ENGLAND

Anybody ?!

Courtney
01-07-05, 09:32 PM
You have it. Just get a wireless access point and plug it into the port previously occupied by the laptop. You won't have to make any other changes to your setup other than to configure the laptop. (You will have to get the wireless adapter.)

courtney sends....