[SOLVED] Switch + Wireless Bridge + Print Server

mut80r · 11-16-2008, 07:16 PM

I'm a university student, and the Internet access here is wireless-only. There are no Ethernet ports in sight. At the moment I'm using a Linksys PSUS4 I bought a while back, which is a 4-port switch and print server combined. I would like to attach a wireless bridge to this device but I only have one ethernet port left on it and plan on getting an Ethernet printer so I may aswell do away with the PSUS4 anyway as I will no longer have a USB printer.

I would like to know the cheapest device someone has seen which has atleast 4 ethernet ports, that acts as a switch, and has a wireless antennae built in that can connect to a wireless network. I am not talking about a router, I don't want a firewall, NAT, a seperate private network, DHCP, etc.

I just want a switch + bridge built in, with atleast 4 ports, because it will need to provide wired connections to my PC, a new ethernet printer, my xbox 360 and my laptop (when I have it in my room; the wireless network blocks file and printer sharing by manually dropping any packet destined to 135, 137-139 and 445, and I would like to use file and printer sharing, so connecting the PC and laptop to a switch would mean they could communicate without the wireless network getting involved, which would mean they're not restricted).

I don't want anything fancy, or expensive, or with features I don't need, like a router... etc.

Anyone seen anything remotely like I'm describing?

EDIT: For access currently, I'm using Internet Connection Sharing from the PC (it has a wireless PCI card) to the switch, but this oviously means I need the PC on if the other devices want Internet access.

Thanks in advance,
_____
Aaron.

**johnwill** · 11-17-2008, 08:27 AM

Probably the cheapest will be something like a Linksys WRT54g with the DD-WRT 3rd party firmware. This will be a wireless bridge with four Ethernet connections. You can simply add more Ethernet ports if required by using a cheap Ethernet switch to expand them.

The "fancy" router converted to a wireless bridge is the logical solution to the issue. There are also wireless bridge products available, but they're generally more expensive than the router which can do the same job with the free firmware upgrade.

mut80r · 11-19-2008, 10:47 PM

Hm. Thanks. I'll get on that, I just looked and this will do exactly what I need.

Sorry for the late reply. Dropped off the net for a while. 20 e-mails :|

11-16-2008, 07:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
mut80r Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wolverhampton, United Kingdom Posts: 31 OS: Windows XP Corporate SP3 x86 and Ubuntu 8.10 x64 in a dual-boot on PC and laptop. My System	[SOLVED] Switch + Wireless Bridge + Print Server I'm a university student, and the Internet access here is wireless-only. There are no Ethernet ports in sight. At the moment I'm using a Linksys PSUS4 I bought a while back, which is a 4-port switch and print server combined. I would like to attach a wireless bridge to this device but I only have one ethernet port left on it and plan on getting an Ethernet printer so I may aswell do away with the PSUS4 anyway as I will no longer have a USB printer. I would like to know the cheapest device someone has seen which has atleast 4 ethernet ports, that acts as a switch, and has a wireless antennae built in that can connect to a wireless network. I am not talking about a router, I don't want a firewall, NAT, a seperate private network, DHCP, etc. I just want a switch + bridge built in, with atleast 4 ports, because it will need to provide wired connections to my PC, a new ethernet printer, my xbox 360 and my laptop (when I have it in my room; the wireless network blocks file and printer sharing by manually dropping any packet destined to 135, 137-139 and 445, and I would like to use file and printer sharing, so connecting the PC and laptop to a switch would mean they could communicate without the wireless network getting involved, which would mean they're not restricted). I don't want anything fancy, or expensive, or with features I don't need, like a router... etc. Anyone seen anything remotely like I'm describing? EDIT: For access currently, I'm using Internet Connection Sharing from the PC (it has a wireless PCI card) to the switch, but this oviously means I need the PC on if the other devices want Internet access. Thanks in advance, _____ Aaron. __________________ "Don't let school get in the way of your education." Last edited by mut80r; 11-16-2008 at 07:21 PM.

11-17-2008, 08:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,787 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Switch + Wireless Bridge + Print Server Probably the cheapest will be something like a Linksys WRT54g with the DD-WRT 3rd party firmware. This will be a wireless bridge with four Ethernet connections. You can simply add more Ethernet ports if required by using a cheap Ethernet switch to expand them. The "fancy" router converted to a wireless bridge is the logical solution to the issue. There are also wireless bridge products available, but they're generally more expensive than the router which can do the same job with the free firmware upgrade. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-19-2008, 10:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
mut80r Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wolverhampton, United Kingdom Posts: 31 OS: Windows XP Corporate SP3 x86 and Ubuntu 8.10 x64 in a dual-boot on PC and laptop. My System	Re: Switch + Wireless Bridge + Print Server Hm. Thanks. I'll get on that, I just looked and this will do exactly what I need. Sorry for the late reply. Dropped off the net for a while. 20 e-mails :\| __________________ "Don't let school get in the way of your education."