Making a connection to a wired LAN into a wireless point.

[Marcos]

I'm in halls and we get free internet through a Cat5 connection to the building's LAN.

Theres nothing stopping us putting an AP on one of the sockets to go wireless but i'm wondering what the best/cheapest option is?

Should i just go with one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=5827798874

[peterb]

Yes.

[TheAnimus]

It depends.

I'd say no, because your uni might well not apreachate someone "uplinking" to their network. When you uplink, there is no routing taking place, and the switch has to forward a wide varity of MAC addresses to any given port. Often the managed switches they should damn well be using, aren't set up to allow this.

As such something that is described as a wireless router should be a better bet.

Or you could put a computer thats set up as a router in between. Most Uni's have wireless connectivity of their network, not implemented by them banned (as its inheriently insecure) but most won't mind if its a router, and you've implemented your own security messures.

you could say an old computer running m0n0wall (a nice silent mini-itx say), and provide lots of nice features too.

[Marcos]

It depends.

I'd say no, because your uni might well not apreachate someone "uplinking" to their network. When you uplink, there is no routing taking place, and the switch has to forward a wide varity of MAC addresses to any given port. Often the managed switches they should damn well be using, aren't set up to allow this.

As such something that is described as a wireless router should be a better bet.

Or you could put a computer thats set up as a router in between. Most Uni's have wireless connectivity of their network, not implemented by them banned (as its inheriently insecure) but most won't mind if its a router, and you've implemented your own security messures.

you could say an old computer running m0n0wall (a nice silent mini-itx say), and provide lots of nice features too.

You kinda lost me halfway there

But if i enable the 128bit encryption on that AP above then there shouldn't be a problem as i could control it so i'm the only one connecting to it? (And probably 4 or so others from my flat)

[peterb]

You might want to look at this... http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=170238 Combines the routing function that TheAnimus referred to... You might want to check that what you are proposing is acceptable to your Uni's IT department - don't be too surprised if the answer is no (again for the reasons outlined by TheAnimus) But in answer to your original question - the answer remains yes - the devices you mention will probably do the job.

[Marcos]

You might want to look at this... http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=170238 Combines the routing function that TheAnimus referred to... You might want to check that what you are proposing is acceptable to your Uni's IT department - don't be too surprised if the answer is no (again for the reasons outlined by TheAnimus) But in answer to your original question - the answer remains yes - the devices you mention will probably do the job.

Its probably not acceptable but i think it'll be ok

The one you linked is a bit price, i'm looking at under £20