can an access point connect through an access point?

[Neil Cherry]

Timothy Murphy wrote:
> Les Mikesell wrote:
> 
>>> Additional detail: the box that my broadband is connected to is an FC4
>>> box. It's acting as router and doing DHCP for the LAN. The machines on
>>> the LAN are all Windows boxes, though slowly being changed over to Linux.
>>> That's why I need to dump the Microsoft USB WIFI nic.
>> The home combo router/ap/switch boxes are so cheap these
>> days that it is probably not worth the effort to use
>> anything else.  In fact if you need a second access
>> point the cheapest way to do it may be to get a
>> pair of routers, connect by ethernet on the switch
>> side, and disable the WAN side of the 2nd unit.
>> If you shop for closeouts/rebates you might find
>> them for around $20.
> 
> I'm not sure what you mean by a home combo router/ap/switch box.
> Could you give an example (or two) please.

WRT54G/WRT54GS/WRT54GL or a BEFW11S4.

Typically much of the WAP's being sold have all 3 functions
built into them. You know you have a switch if you have at least
4 Ethernet ports in a row (I've not seen them with less), with
router functionality you add a Internet Ethernet port (or DSL
or cable modem for the all in on devices), the AP is obvious
as it has 1 or more antenna.

There will be exceptions, of course.

 > What is the point of having a second AP?

To bridge a second Ethernet to the main Ethernet. An example
is; in your living room you have a Tivo, a PS3 and another
networked device. Instead of having 3 devices with wireless
adapters you could have the 3 devices hard wired (Ethernet)
to a wireless bridge (the 2 WAP setup as a wireless bridge).
The Wireless bridge would then have a wireless connection to
the WAP which would then have a connection to local servers
(if any) and the Internet.

> I've found this thread very confusing.

> Nb I'm no expert on WiFi, as may be obvious.

Welcome to the wonderful world of network, where everything
becomes a blur, especially the technology.

-- 
Linux Home Automation         Neil Cherry       ncherry at linuxha.com
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