Ethernet connection to WiFi?

Question

In my room at school I have a wired ethernet connection that goes back to a main router I think somewhere. But I was wondering whether it would be possible to change this ethernet connection into a WiFi connection.

What do I need?
...and is it Macbook Pro compatible?

Answer 1

You need a wireless router designed for cable broadband or for use with a separate modem. Some routers have a built is DSL modem - you don't want that type. You want a router that has an Ethernet WAN port.



Connect the WAN port to your room's Ethernet connection. There is one trick that you need to check out first:



You need to make sure that the sub-net that is being used by your new router to connect to your computers is different from the sub-net that the school is using for the Ethernet connection it is providing to your room. This is normally a case of logging on to your new router through one of its PC LAN ports and changing the router's address to a different sub-net if there is a clash. If there is a clash of sub-nets, it can prevent the routing from working correctly - it may work but it is not guaranteed.



For example, if the gateway address provided by the school connection (without your new router) is 192.168.0.1, and your new router has its address as 192.168.0.254, you will have a clash as both the school network and your router will be on the 192.168.0 sub-net. In this example, changing the router to 192.168.1.254 will put it on a different sub-net.



I have used this sort of setup with a router similar to the TP-link TL-WR340G, which cost around $30.



Provided you pick a router that works on the same WiFi band as the Macbook, it should work just fine.

Answer 2

You can use a wireless router, but I would check with your school's Residential Living and/or IT departments before doing this. If done incorrectly you could cause problems on the school's network, among other things that could be a breach of your housing contract and/or the network usage policy.

Answer 3

WIFI access point or WAP for short

apple makes one - airport express works very nice because you can stream music to it from iTunes. just connect speakers to it and you have wireless speakers :)

other than that you can use any wireless router or access point. they all do the same thing. the airport express is nice because you can have remote speakers as well as remote printer.

Answer 4

you need an a wifi access point such as this

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=wifi+access+point&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=3390883826748844430&sa=X&ei=86eVT8XMIcHK0QXzwLnMAQ&ved=0CKUBEPMCMAM



yes it will be Mac compatible

HTH

David

Answer 5

if your trying to do this at schools then you cant becasue they have passwords and a proxy that stops you from doing it, i tryed

Answer 6

how about, hm, i don't know, wifi router?