Wireless ethernet to wireless router?

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firehawk_1

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So, I am in a bit of a situation but need temporary internet access.

I have a main desktop computer that uses the Ethernet cable which is plugged into my wireless router.

My wireless router (Linksys E4200) has many things configured such as the firewall, MAC Address filtering, DDNS etc... and other things allowing me to do some isolated network testing for things.

What I want to do now is, I want to be able to connect to a "public" wireless network (available at the complex I am staying at) through the wireless router and NOT through my main desktop computer.

Is there a way to do this? Essentially it would be nice to plug in some form of Ethernet to wireless card into the Linksys router and have it use it for internet access.

thoughts?
 
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BFG-9000
No the Linksys firmware doesn't let you do it, but it does let you flash directly to 3rd-party firmware right from the Administration tab which makes it ridiculously easy.

If your E4200 is a v1 (as in it doesn't say v2 anywhere on the label), then I'd suggest the most minimalist Tomato Shibby v132. Set it up in Wireless Client mode for now (wired only) and if you ever do get an ISP of your own just change it to Gateway mode. Or flashing back to stock firmware is just as easy.

Note that the v2 E4200 uses a Marvell chipset which has no 3rd party firmware available. And at used computer stores over here, used N routers are just $5 each because everyone wants AC now.
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BFG-9000

BFG-9000

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There are two ways to do this, which are trivial if you are using third-party firmware for your router such as Tomato.

You can set the router into "Repeater Mode" which not only takes the public wireless and converts it to ethernet but also rebroadcasts it as wifi also. It has the disadvantage of everyone trying to connect to the public network also seeing your 2nd copy of the same SSID being broadcast as well, and even connecting to your router rather than the public one. As there is only one radio (which can either xmit or rx at any time) performance is necessarily halved.

Better is to set the router into "Wireless Client Mode" which only takes the public wireless and converts it to ethernet. If you want to use wifi though you'll have to plug a separate AP into an ethernet port, but this means you can set your own SSID and security on it.

I don't recommend "Ethernet Bridge Mode" because your network would be on the same subnet as the public network so anybody could eg print to your networked printers.
 
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firehawk_1

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Thanks BFG - almost there.
Without using a 3rd party firmware on my Linksys E4200, what other option is there for me? Isn't there something where I can plug a wireless card which has an Ethernet port and plug the card into the WAN port of the router? I would probably have to, some how, tell the Wireless card to connect to the particular hotspot.

Definitely want my internal wireless devices to connect to the same router (E4200) along with any wired connection and then have the router connect to the public wifi.
 
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BFG-9000

BFG-9000

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Well sure, many manufacturers will be happy to sell you a separate product called a wireless bridge which has ethernet ports and you could plug one right into your present router in double-NAT.

There's no getting around the fact you'd need a separate device and third party firmware lets you repurpose an old router you already may have. If you don't already have another router I should point out that ASUS routers' factory firmware (ASUSwrt) is based on Tomato already.

I would personally much rather buy a more flexible product like a router than a single-purpose device as it could be used for other things when your needs change, and can even serve as a backup in case your primary router dies.
 
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firehawk_1

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Thanks! I want to try and not buy another router regardless how much it costs due to...my financial situation right now. If I can do things without requiring a 3rd party firmware or router then I'd be happier doing that.

So with the existing Linksys E4200 with the manufacturer firmware, there wouldn't be a way of getting IT to connect to the public wifi and have my internal devices connect to the router wired and wirelessly? If not wirelessly then that's fine but at least in a wired fashion?
 
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BFG-9000

BFG-9000

Splendid
Sep 17, 2016
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No the Linksys firmware doesn't let you do it, but it does let you flash directly to 3rd-party firmware right from the Administration tab which makes it ridiculously easy.

If your E4200 is a v1 (as in it doesn't say v2 anywhere on the label), then I'd suggest the most minimalist Tomato Shibby v132. Set it up in Wireless Client mode for now (wired only) and if you ever do get an ISP of your own just change it to Gateway mode. Or flashing back to stock firmware is just as easy.

Note that the v2 E4200 uses a Marvell chipset which has no 3rd party firmware available. And at used computer stores over here, used N routers are just $5 each because everyone wants AC now.
 
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