access point with dhcp server = wifi router?

eusonxabi · 10-01-2008, 04:18 PM

Hi. I just bought an Access Point D-Link G700AP with a built-in DHCP server. At home I have a modem for my cable connection and the idea was to use the Access Point to be able to connect with several laptops at the same by using only one IP. Right now I have the modem connected to the AP and DHCP server enabled in it. The AP is in the same range of IP of the modem (that's verified) and I have set as gateway in the AP the modem IP. When I connect to wifi network, my AP gives me a private IP, but with no connection to the outside world. If ping to google's IP, e.g., I get no answer. If I ping to the modem, however, if do obtain an answer.
I hope I made my point, thanks in advance!

**johnwill** · 10-03-2008, 09:08 AM

I suspect what you really wanted was a router, not a WAP. What is the make/model of the modem?

eusonxabi · 10-03-2008, 11:30 AM

Hi again. Thanks for your answer johnwill. My modem is a Cable Modem Motorola SB5101. I agree that a router would be ok for sure, but as I wrote in the title I was wondering if I could use this WAP with DHCP server with same purpose...

**johnwill** · 10-04-2008, 06:35 PM

I don't think so, but I've never tried. That unit does not have a NAT layer, which is the missing ingredient for multiple connections.

eusonxabi · 10-05-2008, 05:53 AM

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. The difference here is that I can't use my AP as a gateway...

**johnwill** · 10-05-2008, 02:08 PM

I'm not sure what your point is with the comment: The difference here is that I can't use my AP as a gateway...

What are you alluding to?

eusonxabi · 10-06-2008, 02:59 AM

Well, I mean that when I try to configure the AP "Lan" settings I'm unable to set its IP as gateway. There's an error message saying "This is an AP, you can't set it as gateway"

**johnwill** · 10-06-2008, 08:58 AM

Exactly, that's because it doesn't have a NAT layer, which is what I said previously.

eusonxabi · 10-07-2008, 03:11 AM

So now I know the difference between an access point with dhcp server and a wifi router... :-) Thanks Johnwill

**johnwill** · 10-07-2008, 07:32 AM

Time to buy that router you always wanted.

turkamure · 10-30-2008, 09:23 PM

I've done something similiar when I could not afford a new router. I has two network cards in my computer. The router was connect to one card, then shared the internet connection through the other. You could connect a switch or directly to the access point. The computer acts as the router. The biggest drawback is that one computer has to be running for others to get internet. Some claim this is a more secure way(with a firewall on the PC) then using a router with builtin firewall.

**johnwill** · 10-31-2008, 09:23 AM

Some may "claim" this is more secure, but I'm not buying. Also, the disadvantages in both performance and convenience convince me this is the wrong way to do.

10-01-2008, 04:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
eusonxabi Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista SP1	access point with dhcp server = wifi router? Hi. I just bought an Access Point D-Link G700AP with a built-in DHCP server. At home I have a modem for my cable connection and the idea was to use the Access Point to be able to connect with several laptops at the same by using only one IP. Right now I have the modem connected to the AP and DHCP server enabled in it. The AP is in the same range of IP of the modem (that's verified) and I have set as gateway in the AP the modem IP. When I connect to wifi network, my AP gives me a private IP, but with no connection to the outside world. If ping to google's IP, e.g., I get no answer. If I ping to the modem, however, if do obtain an answer. I hope I made my point, thanks in advance!

10-03-2008, 09:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? I suspect what you really wanted was a router, not a WAP. What is the make/model of the modem? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-03-2008, 11:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
eusonxabi Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista SP1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? Hi again. Thanks for your answer johnwill. My modem is a Cable Modem Motorola SB5101. I agree that a router would be ok for sure, but as I wrote in the title I was wondering if I could use this WAP with DHCP server with same purpose...

10-04-2008, 06:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? I don't think so, but I've never tried. That unit does not have a NAT layer, which is the missing ingredient for multiple connections. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-05-2008, 05:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
eusonxabi Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista SP1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. The difference here is that I can't use my AP as a gateway...

10-05-2008, 02:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? I'm not sure what your point is with the comment: The difference here is that I can't use my AP as a gateway... What are you alluding to? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-06-2008, 02:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
eusonxabi Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista SP1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? Well, I mean that when I try to configure the AP "Lan" settings I'm unable to set its IP as gateway. There's an error message saying "This is an AP, you can't set it as gateway"

10-06-2008, 08:58 AM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? Exactly, that's because it doesn't have a NAT layer, which is what I said previously. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-07-2008, 03:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
eusonxabi Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista SP1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? So now I know the difference between an access point with dhcp server and a wifi router... :-) Thanks Johnwill

10-07-2008, 07:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? Time to buy that router you always wanted. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-30-2008, 09:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
turkamure Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? I've done something similiar when I could not afford a new router. I has two network cards in my computer. The router was connect to one card, then shared the internet connection through the other. You could connect a switch or directly to the access point. The computer acts as the router. The biggest drawback is that one computer has to be running for others to get internet. Some claim this is a more secure way(with a firewall on the PC) then using a router with builtin firewall.

10-31-2008, 09:23 AM	#12 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,802 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: access point with dhcp server = wifi router? Some may "claim" this is more secure, but I'm not buying. Also, the disadvantages in both performance and convenience convince me this is the wrong way to do. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience