Question:
Can you get wifi from just a Ethernet switch?
anonymous
2014-09-01 22:04:01 UTC
I'm at college and there is no wifi in my building. However there are Ethernet ports that we are allowed to use. I bought an Ethernet cord and ask the guy at RadioShack for a router. Instead he gave me an Ethernet switch and I'm about an hour from home so I can't just go out and exchange it. Is it possible to get wifi from just an Ethernet switch and an Ethernet port in the wall ????? or will I have to go and exchange it.

P.s. The Ethernet switch is a netgear FS605 with 5 ports
Eight answers:
crippldfoot
2014-09-01 22:31:35 UTC
A switch just extends the amount of Ethernet ports from one to 4-6. You need a WiFi router instead to get a signal. Sorry dude, RadioShack didn't know what they were talking about.
?
2014-09-02 03:10:46 UTC
If you can connect a laptop to the Ethernet port directly,then you can create a free Wifi hotspot with My WIFI Router software. Based on laptop's wireless card, this software will turn Ethernet into wireless network just with a click. Free download address, http://www.mywifirouter.me/download/
anonymous
2014-09-01 22:57:54 UTC
If there are Ethernet ports available to you, they will be connected to the internet supply of the college. If you are happy to connect through a cable, you do not need WiFi. Either way, you are still going through the college's service, anyway. The switch will allow you to convert the one supplied port into 4 ports, in case you have more than one machine you want to connect to the internet. Radio Shack sold you the right equipment!
David
2014-09-02 05:45:25 UTC
1st the Netgear is a switch, it does not have the electronics for a wifi

2nd A lot of colleges have ethernet access which has to be verified buy username and password before they will allow access through their servers to the internet, if so even if you get a router you would no be able to bypass this stage, there is no easy workaround for this. This is done so that Colleges can control what bandwidth is being used

HTH

David
Komentaristang
2014-09-01 22:09:14 UTC
nope! have it exchanged for a wifi router man! An ethernet switch is just as it is a switch, it doesn't have a wifi antenna to receive or transmit wifi frequencies.
anonymous
2014-09-02 02:07:10 UTC
No you can't get Wi-Fi from an ethernet switch, you have to buy a Wi-Fi router. When you buy the Wi-Fi router make sure its WAN port is Ethernet.
anonymous
2014-09-01 22:06:03 UTC
NO.

But you can connect a wireless router to it so that you can have WIFI.
?
2014-09-02 04:27:53 UTC
No


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