Router/Switcher(Hybrid?) Question For Dorm Room

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
I

ImDumSorry

Reputable
Jun 13, 2014
3
0
4,510
I live in a dorm room that only has a single Ethernet port. I have multiple devices I wanna use via Ethernet so it's annoying. I was originally planning to buy a plain 5 port Ethernet switcher but...

Now I'm interested in an Ethernet switcher that has wifi capabilities so I can also get a bigger signal on my wireless devices lol.

But I don't think a router is allowed so i want something that can work as a plain Ethernet switcher too lol, thanks in advance.
 
Solution
P
Well in that case just by a regular router, you can literally change it to a router, switch or access point. It's really up to you though. Just get one from Amazon.com and disable wireless and drop, that will pretty much make it a switch and all new routers support WPA 2 encryption
Sort by date Sort by votes
P

plivin89

Reputable
Jun 11, 2014
140
0
4,710
ok so your switch is not aloud to have layer 3 functions ? you could try a wireless access point with switch ports like http://www.edimax.com/au/produce_detail.php?pd_id=378&pl1_id=1&pl2_id=2.

if not you could get a router, disable dhcp and routing and configure the wireless. that might work. I have a linksy router i use only as a access point and for layer 2 switching
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
I

ImDumSorry

Reputable
Jun 13, 2014
3
0
4,510


I'd rather have a router"use and installation of any unauthorized wireless access device or router is prohibited unless authorized by management" I might be able to use my job with Apple as a reason for it. If they don't let it fly though I just want to be able to use it as a switch.

With the one you listed though could I create my own wifi connection with a name, wpa2, and all that? (Excuse my ignorance lol.)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

bill001g

Titan
Aug 9, 2012
28,367
2,766
125,640
I could see a restriction about wireless since you set it up with no security and then anyone could use their network. It could also degrade their wireless by competing with it.

Allowing a router but not a switch is very strange. Then again they since most routers have wireless they may just be saying router when they mean wireless.

So what you do is buy a wireless router and take the name plate off it.

You can make the device run as a switch, AP or router just by changing software settings and cabling.

So you disable the DHCP and set the lan ip to some address that does not conflict with the network. You cable to a LAN port not the WAN port. It is critical to turn off the DHCP when you attach your LAN port to another network to not cause issue to the network.

You now no longer have a router. You have a switch with wireless ability...more commonly called a AP.

If wireless is not allowed then turn the radios off in the menus. You now have a stupid switch.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

plivin89

Reputable
Jun 11, 2014
140
0
4,710
Well in that case just by a regular router, you can literally change it to a router, switch or access point. It's really up to you though. Just get one from Amazon.com and disable wireless and drop, that will pretty much make it a switch and all new routers support WPA 2 encryption
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

plivin89

Reputable
Jun 11, 2014
140
0
4,710
Well in that case just by a regular router, you can literally change it to a router, switch or access point. It's really up to you though. Just get one from Amazon.com and disable wireless and drop, that will pretty much make it a switch and all new routers support WPA 2 encryption
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
I

ImDumSorry

Reputable
Jun 13, 2014
3
0
4,510


Alright cool, thanks everyone. I don't know anything about routers and I don't want to spend more than $60ish dollars on one. So here are some I'm looking at.

http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WDR3600-Wireless-Gigabit-300Mbps/dp/B008RV51EE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1402719479&sr=8-3&keywords=5+ghz+gigabit+router

Honestly, I just like this one because of the USB ports, wifi on and off switch. To be honest though I probably wouldn't even use the 2 usb ports lol.

http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Wireless-N-Ethernet-Parental-RT-N53/dp/B005SAKW7S/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1402719614&sr=8-5&keywords=asus+gigabit+router

I've built 4 computers and I went with Asus mobos every time, I trust Asus.

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Wireless-Dual-Band-Streaming-F9K1103/dp/B004N625AK/ref=sr_1_35?ie=UTF8&qid=1402720035&sr=8-35&keywords=5+ghz+gigabit+router

And this one just because it looks sleek and has good reviews lol.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

bill001g

Titan
Aug 9, 2012
28,367
2,766
125,640
All will do what you want I suspect.

The TP-link has the widest support of third part firmware and the asus has quite a few. That belkin is hard to say their might be dd-wrt images.

You would really only use the third party firmware when the stuff loaded does not have feature you need. For your case it likely doesn't matter since you intend to disable a lot of the function but it is a nice thing to have as a option if you would ever need it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom