Adding wireless to an existing network

This is probably a stupid question (I am pretty clueless when it comes to networks).
At home we already have a wire ADSL router modem hooking up 2 desktop PCs. I'm getting a notebook so would like wireless. Can I just plug a wireless access point into the router instead of buying a wireless router and throwing the old one away?

 

No, you need a wireless router, an access point is a different animal. They're really cheap though, you can get a good one from the likes of Netgear for $40 usually.

 

Hmm, This was in the guide to setting up wireless

Using an Access Point
A wireless access point (WAP) is a piece of hardware that plugs into your existing network with a standard Ethernet cable, and it can supply wireless networking access to several PCs. Access points are much cheaper than they used to be, and many companies, including Linksys, D-Link, Belkin, offer devices that don't cost much more than a wireless NIC. In fact, given the low price of these devices and the ease with which you can add one to your existing network.
An Access point is the logical starting point for anyone looking to add wireless support to an existing network. If your using a switch, hub, or broadband router that offers multiple Ethernet ports, you simply plug in the access points power cord and then connect it to the wired network using a standard 10 or 100mbps Ethernet Cable.
In addition to the access point, such a setup requires one wireless network card for each PC that will access the network wirelessly

Which implies that I should be able to....

 

Nick,
That tone is not really necessary.

Carlovski,
A wireless accesspoint is all you really need to get wireless onto an existing network. As you indicated from your caption above, all you need to do is connect the WAP to your existing router/hub/switch. You would configure it according to your WAP manuals and this will allow your wireless clients to connect to your network.

Alternatively, as indicated previously, you can get youself a wireless broadband router as well. This will actually probably be your cheaper option. Unless you have a real attachment to your existing router, I'd go with a new wireless router and sell off the old router on ebay.

-Vb-

 

Sorry bout that, was in a bad mood which is rare.
Anyway, yes i agree, go with the new router. My guesses it would be easier and more efficent. If your going with a router, try linksys or netgear. I have a linksys and i love it.

 

Cheers Guys - It's a little more complicated for me because the router is actually my housemates - I thought it might just be easier to plug in an access point and let him keep his router. I'll have a chat with him about it (He knows this networking stuff better than me!). I'm in the UK - I think I have seen access points cheaper than the equivalent router, might be a bit different here (Probably just all more expensive!).

 

And you can use a router as an access point. I do that here, dLink 624-s wireless into an SMC wired with parallel port print server. It actually gives me two hardware firewalls that way.

 

do u have problems with two routers?

 

Haven't noticed any. I did it primarily to share my HP LaserJet 4 with all the machines here. I have the WAN port of the wireless plugged into a LAN port of the wired one because I only need two or three wired ports and I use the LAN ports on the wireless for those. I could, if I needed more wired ports, use static addressing and connect the wireless to the wired router LAN port to LAN port. That would give me two more wired ports.

 

Quick update - I eventually decided that I might as well buy a wireless modem/router so If my housemate or I move out we still have the necessary kit.
But when I went in the shop I noticed they were selling Belkin access points off in the managers clearance section so it worked out a lot cheaper to get one of those.
Slight complications with the setup (Due to the netgear router and the Belkin WAP wanting to be on different subnets) but after a bit of fiddling it works fine.

 

I have a setup of a wired router/printserver plus a wireless AP/switch. Both by Edimax. Works flawlessly. Really no reason why it shouldn't.

Congrats on your new buy.

 

Yes congrats and glad to hear that it went at least "ok" in the setup.

 

alright kinda reading thru this.. ive got a wired network right now.. linksys router(the black/blue).. am i able to buy a wireless of the same kind and attach the 2 or do i have to replace the existing one with ports in it? id prefer to have 2 because most of the wireless dont have enough ports for the amount we need

 

It is the exact same thing I was dealing with - I wanted to go wireless and extend the number of wired ports at the same time. I also didn't want to give up my wired router, due to it also performing print server functions.

After some research I ended up buying an access point with an integrated 5-port switch (instead of the 1-port that most access points have, which only allows you to connect your access point to the existing router (it would be completely useless without it). I bought what I did, because I didn't want a router.

But you can still buy a wireless router, and integrate it with your current network. Then, disable routing functions on one of them, and it will become a switch. I'd suggest keeping the wireless in router mode, and using the wired as a switch. This way, both the router functions and the access point functions will be controlled by the same device.

Note, in this mode you should connect the routers LAN-to-LAN, not LAN-to-WAN.