Router for Wireless ISP?

stereosteveo · 10-27-2009, 04:39 PM

Is there such a beast?

My wireless ISP will soon start charging per MAC address from what I understand. Right now I can log into any of my PC's with the same PPOE login. In fact I can login to the internet from multiple PC's concurrently with the same login even though I have only 1 account, although they say it's impossible.

I am wondering if they make a router that detects a wireless ISP signal and then transmits it through the house, much like a wired (Cable/DSL) router does now.

Or am I going down the wrong path here? I currently have a Linksys WRT54G. But I have no use for it. If it had a USB port however I could just hook a wireless adapter to it I"m thinking. Or maybe they make such a USB>RJ-45 Adapter already? Is this even possible?

Also does an ISP see all your MAC adresses from a standard router? Maybe I won't be able to get away with a "Wireless Wireless Router"...

Thx,
-SteveO..

**johnwill** · 10-27-2009, 05:29 PM

You could use a wireless bridge to receive the signal, and feed that into the WAN port of a wireless router. That would give you a single MAC address at the ISP end and give you multiple wired/wireless connections.

stereosteveo · 10-27-2009, 06:01 PM

OK thanks for the reply and info johnwill.
I know very little about routers and less about bridges.
Since you mentioned a bridge, I was looking at the Linksys WET54G, and it says to set it up takes an ethernet connection:

"Configuring the bridge to join an existing 802.11g network is easy and takes about five minutes. Just attach the device via Ethernet to a computer or hub on your network, load the accompanying CD into your computer, and let the CD's installation wizard take over. Unfortunately, the initial configuration requires an Ethernet connection; you can't set up the bridge via a wireless connection. Most access points and wireless routers allow for wireless configuration."

Right now when I want to get on the internet I open IE and it takes me to my wireless isp login webpage. I log in of course then good to go. I don't know if I will be able to loging if I connect this bridge to a router, then the router to my PC.

If I am I reading this correctly I won't be able to install this bridge in my case as I have no ethernet, or any other physical internet connection?

Thx Again

**johnwill** · 10-28-2009, 09:12 AM

Do you have to login to the wireless Internet to connect through? If so, that might nix the idea of using the wireless bridge, since it won't be smart enough to login for you.

10-27-2009, 04:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
stereosteveo Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Router for Wireless ISP? Is there such a beast? My wireless ISP will soon start charging per MAC address from what I understand. Right now I can log into any of my PC's with the same PPOE login. In fact I can login to the internet from multiple PC's concurrently with the same login even though I have only 1 account, although they say it's impossible. I am wondering if they make a router that detects a wireless ISP signal and then transmits it through the house, much like a wired (Cable/DSL) router does now. Or am I going down the wrong path here? I currently have a Linksys WRT54G. But I have no use for it. If it had a USB port however I could just hook a wireless adapter to it I"m thinking. Or maybe they make such a USB>RJ-45 Adapter already? Is this even possible? Also does an ISP see all your MAC adresses from a standard router? Maybe I won't be able to get away with a "Wireless Wireless Router"... Thx, -SteveO..

10-27-2009, 05:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,654 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Router for Wireless ISP? You could use a wireless bridge to receive the signal, and feed that into the WAN port of a wireless router. That would give you a single MAC address at the ISP end and give you multiple wired/wireless connections. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-27-2009, 06:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
stereosteveo Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 4 OS: Vista	Re: Router for Wireless ISP? OK thanks for the reply and info johnwill. I know very little about routers and less about bridges. Since you mentioned a bridge, I was looking at the Linksys WET54G, and it says to set it up takes an ethernet connection: "Configuring the bridge to join an existing 802.11g network is easy and takes about five minutes. Just attach the device via Ethernet to a computer or hub on your network, load the accompanying CD into your computer, and let the CD's installation wizard take over. Unfortunately, the initial configuration requires an Ethernet connection; you can't set up the bridge via a wireless connection. Most access points and wireless routers allow for wireless configuration." Right now when I want to get on the internet I open IE and it takes me to my wireless isp login webpage. I log in of course then good to go. I don't know if I will be able to loging if I connect this bridge to a router, then the router to my PC. If I am I reading this correctly I won't be able to install this bridge in my case as I have no ethernet, or any other physical internet connection? Thx Again

10-28-2009, 09:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,654 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Router for Wireless ISP? Do you have to login to the wireless Internet to connect through? If so, that might nix the idea of using the wireless bridge, since it won't be smart enough to login for you. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience