Wireless router + travelling question

You need to contact the campus to ask and for permission.

That wasn't my question. My question is whether it's actually possible to do this with any piece of hardware, not at the campus specifically. I was after hardware suggestions, looks like I forgot to include that in the OP.

{ wireless isp }<-- wireless -->[wireless ethernet bridge](lan)<-- wire -->(wan)[wireless router]

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-WNCE2001-Universal-Intern...

The Netgear is not intended as a recommendation, just an example, lots of different brands and models w/ various features are available. They're also sometimes called client or gaming adapters.

This is what I imagine the connection will be like:

Cable internet/modem <--wire--> wireless router <--wireless--> wireless access point <--wireless--> the router/adepter I get

Could you possibly recommend a specific piece of hardware for that type of usage?

You said you needed access to what is essentially a wireless ISP. But it’s impossible to do since your router only accepts a wired connection at its WAN. So the ONLY thing we're doing is providing a means to bridge that WAN port to the wireless ISP. And that's where the wireless ethernet bridge comes into the picture. It takes a wired connection on one side, and converts it to wireless on the other side.

But you’re second diagram seems to go beyond that simple concept to include additional routers, APs, etc. So I’m not sure what you’re envisioning beyond the initial problem description.

The Netgear is one such wireless ethernet bridge. They’re also marketed as client adapters, gaming adapters, ethernet clients, ethernet wireless converters, lot of different terminology, but all essentially the same thing. There are lots of them on Amazon and Newegg. Some routers can be reconfigured for these purposes too, esp. those that accept third party firmware (dd-wrt, tomato, openwrt, etc.). The requirements of this bridge are so basic/simple, it doesn’t need to be anything fancy or too expensive. Most travel/pocket routers support this feature too (they almost always call it “client mode”) and have a much smaller footprint, making it a little easier to manage from a portability perspective.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Wireless-Gaming-Adapter-...
http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-WET610N-Dual-Band-W...

Yes, they vary widely in price and features. There are too many to list them all. Just search for “wireless ethernet bridge”. You’ll find all types, sizes, features, and prices. They sometimes go on sale and can be had for about $20. Personally, I just use an old dd-wrt compatible router and reconfigure it. But many ppl don’t want to deal w/ third party firmware.

P.S. Here's a very good deal.

http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-WRT160N-RM-Refurbis...

It's a refurb, but if you install dd-wrt (which it supports), it can be configured as a wireless ethernet bridge (plus lots of other features).