Bridging the gap(?)

Having recently changed ISPs and opted for BT Infinity (BT Hub 3.0), I have noticed that coverage is patchy at the front of the house. I would therefore like to extend coverage. As I bought not too long ago a Belkin Play (F7D4402v1) router, I was wondering if I could use it as a wireless repeater or bridge or access point (the connection needs to be wireless) and i could also connect to it a printer to be accessed via a print server.
I have already ascertained that that router does not support DD-WRT, so would be grateful if you could suggest other alternatives. I know it can be configured to act as a 1483 bridge (whatever that is), but would that be of any use to me? Or is there another better solution?
Thanks in advances for your replies!

ppb7

You need a device that supports WDS and I don't think the Belkin device does.

WDS is flakey as the "standard" isnt, I believe, actually part of the WiFi alliance certification.

The Home Hub definitely does WDS - either get another HH (same version) or ditch the HH and get two devices from the same manufacturer (ideally the same model).

Remember that you will have connected through two wireless devices if you are connected via the remote device (switching between them should be automatic!) which will increase latency and limit bandwidth as the same channel is used for both devices.

Assuming that both routers have a spare LAN port, you could try connecting the two together (LAN to LAN) with a patch cable.

Dissable the DHCP server in the F7D4402v1 and you are then just simply using it as a switch and WAP.

It could be as simple as that (it works with my Draytek and Belkin routers).

Thanks for this. Wired connection therefore seems to be the only viable and sensible option

You could use homeplug to connect the router and access point

Wired networking is generally better than wireless in terms of bandwidth and latency (and security) and suffers only in terms of convenience. If it is an option I would always suggest using a wired network conection over wireless.

Obviously wireless is a boon to a laptop though, so as has been suggested, if you want you can try setting the spare router to act as a wireless access point by turning off the DHCP server, and connecting one of the LAN ports on the spare router (turn DHCP off first, that is important) to one of the LAN ports on the main router (that connects you to the net). As an added bonus the spare LAN ports on the spare router will then also act as wired LAN ports, that should also just work.

Hi, this will help you configure your spare router as the wireless access point…

http://i.dslr.net/pics/faqs/image93081.jpg

http://www.tested.com/news/how-to/298-how-to-use-an-...

http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/static-ip-addre...

http://portforward.com/networking/staticip.htm

Important your main router and the wireless access point must be within the static IP address range.

In reply to a post by pmb00cs:

...... if you want you can try setting the spare router to act as a wireless access point by turning off the DHCP server, and connecting one of the LAN ports on the spare router (turn DHCP off first, that is important) to one of the LAN ports on the main router (that connects you to the net). As an added bonus the spare LAN ports on the spare router will then also act as wired LAN ports, that should also just work.

Now, that is a good idea. although expressed in more detail than than my post.

I know this may sound amazing, but sometimes, just occasionally, someone on the internet gives good advice!



Even more amazingly, and even more occasionally, someone else agrees with them

In reply to a post by pmb00cs:

someone else agrees with them

Steady on!