Network Setup.

I currently have a U.S Robotics 9108 "Wireless MAXg ADSL Gateway" Modem. Not sure wether its a Modem/router.

Now I want to change the U.S Robotics I have at the moment, I'm thinking of getting a Belkin modem.

What I want to do is, have a wireless connection all around my house.
So I'm thinking, a Belkin modem in my room, and an access point somewhere around the house so it covers the whole house.

I'm wondering if my U.S Robotics modem can work as an access point, if so, I'd like to know how. If not, then I guess I'll be buying a new access point as well, unless you have any other suggestions.

 

you're going to have to provide a model number if you want anyone to answer these questions. The us robotics site is not very userful if you don't have the model number

 

From what I see it's a modem/wireless router. So u should be able to set up a wireless network with it.

Click | Click | Click

 

I believe the model number for the U.S Robotics is 9108.

Those links seem to be what I'm looking for, thanks

 

excellent...now,

This is both a modem and router ... and yes, an access point

Since this is wireless device why are you unhappy with it? Is the signal too weak for the entire house?

This is actually a very nice device. You can set this up as an access point, which means you would need to connect this device to the new modem/router using the switch ports and disable the other functions (adsl, dhcp, etc.), or you can put it in bridge mode if your other new device you buy supports Wireless Distribution System

In this case, you still need to diable extraneous services, but you can simply plug this in somewhere and it will relay the signal back to the other wireless router (that supports Wireless Distribution System) -- no wires needed

 

No prob. Go through the pages, any issues or questions..u know where to ask them!

 

It truely is a nice device Gerry, but sometimes it just randomly turns off and im forced to restart it while gaming, pretty annoying to be honest.
Hence why I'm buying a new modem and making my current one an access point. And yes, the signal is too weak for the entire house.

I didnt quite understand what you said here, all I understood was turning off adsl, dhcp.: "which means you would need to connect this device to the new modem/router using the switch ports and disable the other functions (adsl, dhcp, etc.), or you can put it in bridge mode if your other new device you buy supports Wireless Distribution System

In this case, you still need to diable extraneous services, but you can simply plug this in somewhere and it will relay the signal back to the other wireless router (that supports Wireless Distribution System) -- no wires needed"

The other device im buying will most probably be a Belkin modem, I don't remember which model exactly unfortunately. It's one of these:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=403724
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=365203
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=281371

 

OK....let me see if I can explain this a little better.

Unfortunately, I cannot determine if any of those routers support Wireless Distribution System.

Think of WDS as a booster system for your wireless signal, or a bridge from one area to another. Basically, you will turn off all the extra features in the US Robotics device and turn it into a dummy box whose job is to pass the signal from your laptop to your router that is connected to your incoming dsl connection.

Let's say your dsl connection is in your basement. Wire comes out of the wall and into your Belkin (assuming it supports WDS--cannot tell). Your computer is on the second floor in your study. For the sake of argument we'll ignore the authentication process. You open your browser and type in www.notebookreviews.com

Your browser request works it's way down the OIS model until the signal is nothing more than an electronic pulse that is spit out by your wireless adapter. Just like over wire, a wireless signal degrades over distance and by itself it could not reach your router in the basement (more likely due to interference than distance unless you own a really big house).

What to do? Put a WDS capable device like your US Robotics modem/router halfway between. Your signal goes from your laptop to the US Robotics device, and then your US Robotics device amplifies the signal and sends it on to your Belkin device, the signal goes out the wire to the internet, and the remote webserver sends you this page.

Now, let's say that your Belkin does not support WDS. That means you need a hard connection between the BELKIN and the US Robotics. The US Robotic device still has all the extra features turned off and does the same thing, except that the jump from it to the Belkin cannot travel wirelesslessly--you need to run a big long cat 5 cable.

Since the Belkin device is also a wireless device, you are going to need to make sure the signal from it and the signal from the US Robotic device are not stepping all over each other or you could be in a worse situation then you are now depending on how well the two devices work together...maybe you will need to do nothing, or maybe change the channel on one of the devices...it really depends on how it is working. They may interfere with each other, even though both devices are on the same network.

As long as only one device is handling routing, dhcp, dns resolution, security, you should be fine.

They key, for you, I think is to make sure whatever you buy supports WDS--make your life easier.

 

Thanks alot

 

You do not want a Belkin if you want something that is trouble free and works. Belkins are the worst. Look at Dlink, Netgear, Linksys (you have to be careful on which model) if you want something reliable.