Make a wired switch wireless? And other ways of doing things, your advice!!

[Vini]

Is it possible to make a wired 4 port switch (3 ports in use - handy) wireless? Would a gaming bridge into the spare port on my switch make all 3 other devices wireless?

Im in such a pickle.

My wireless router is in our hallway, living room to the left, computer room to the right.

My router doesnt (i dont think) support bridging, so I am struggling to find ways to get the xbox's in the living room and the pc's in the computer room all hooked up.

I'm thinking 3x Netgear XE104 (85mbps) Homeplug adapters are my way forward, but then on the other hand im thinking ditch current router and buy 2 adsl gateways that support WDS. And place one in each room.

Or i could get a bridge for the living room which is already on a wired switch (connected to nothing yet) and the same for the bedroom.

Any ideas?

[Vini]

ive completely overlooked moving the router to behind the TV's as theres a phone point there. the next thing i have to decide on is to ditch the current router and get 2 XE104's... or ditch the current router and buy two that i can bridge and position one where the xboxes are and one where the pc's are.

going homeplug way would mean more stability. but going wireless way would mean i have better options when i move again.

[Atomic]

You can only have one ADSL router connected to one line.

Two ADSL routers connected to one line wont work.

To give you current network Wireless capability you need a wireless bridge.

[Vini]

You can only have one ADSL router connected to one line.

Two ADSL routers connected to one line wont work.

To give you current network Wireless capability you need a wireless bridge.

I wasnt planning on connecting them, just getting 2 gateways as theyre just as cheap as AP's but with better/more functionality (when not running in AP mode)

[Atomic]

I wasnt planning on connecting them, just getting 2 gateways as theyre just as cheap as AP's but with better/more functionality (when not running in AP mode)

Ah good. I've had a few people do that and wonder why their broadband doesnt work.

Guess it depends how much money you want to spend really.

As there is a phone point there already I would connect the wireless router to Xboxes via cat5, the use a wireless bridge to connect the PCs.

It's the most simple option and then if you move again you can upgrade the setup to your new needs easily.

[Vini]

aye, my major problem is finding an ADSL Gateway with WDS functions, and an access point to use with it. Proving tricky!

Im tempted to just go with 2x Netgear XE104's, but i do like the idea of extended Wifi coverage from an AP and Gateway. Argh! Decisions.

[Atomic]

WDS is nice, but (unless my info is out of date) it doesnt support WPA, so static WEP keys only may be used in a WDS connection... And as we all know WEP isnt very secure.

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just:

cat5 the Xboxes to the current Wireless router
buy wireless PCI cards for the PCs.
Done.

edit: your flat isnt huge so I doubt you will have coverage issues with just using a single wireless router... unless your walls are made of lead!

[Vini]

completely overlooked that too. ive got a usb adapters for both pc's however, mine just doesnt want to play ball, ive ordred a pci card and should be all set

talk about trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.

[Vini]

did that, and it turns out the phone socket behind the tv isnt even working. what an arse about.

[Atomic]

did that, and it turns out the phone socket behind the tv isnt even working. what an arse about.

Is it a rented flat?

If so and it wasnt mentioned on your details, you maybe able to get the landlord to fix it.

[Vini]

its a brand new flat, rented, im sure we'll be able to get it looked at