How to convert device with RJ45 socket to wireless

[CookyMonzta]

I have a device with an RJ45 Ethernet socket, and I have a long (15 FT.) cable plugged into that device and a router which is also wireless. I want to turn my wired device into a wireless device; that is...

...from this:

DEVICE X------>15 FT. RJ45 cable------>ROUTER

...to this:

DEVICE X--->shorter RJ45 cable--->WIRED-TO-WIRELESS CONVERSION DEVICE------>ROUTER

I see solutions all over this board, from wireless adapters to wireless access points to ethernet-to-wireless bridges, but for my setup, I'm not exactly sure which conversion device I should use. Or is it something else entirely?

 

[Solandri]

If your Device X is a computer, a USB wireless adapter is the cheaper and easier way to solve this problem.

But if the ethernet port is the only way to get network access to the device, you need to buy another router which supports wireless client mode. The only cheap one I know offhand which does is is the Edimax BR-6478AC, which occasionally goes on sale for $30. However, if you can get a DD-WRT-compatible router and upgrade it with DD-WRT firmware, that will give it wireless client mode (though getting it working is a bit finicky).

In wireless client mode, the router no longer acts as a router. It acts as like a computer connecting to your wifi network. It then shares that wifi network over its LAN ports (leave the WAN port empty). (Bridged client mode is the more accurate term. But a wireless bridge is different from bridged client mode, so the key phrase you want to look for is client mode.) So you can plug in Device X into the second router's LAN port, and it will act like it's connected to your wifi network.

If you do get a DD-WRT router and are having problems getting this to work, PM me. There are a few not-obvious tricks to getting it working. But once you get it working, it's pretty solid.

 

[BuddhaSkoota]

I have a device with an RJ45 Ethernet socket, and I have a long (15 FT.) cable plugged into that device and a router which is also wireless. I want to turn my wired device into a wireless device...

I have a couple of Trendnet devices that have worked well, but there are many other similar available. A search for "wireless bridge" will turn up more for you.

 

[CookyMonzta]

If your Device X is a computer, a USB wireless adapter is the cheaper and easier way to solve this problem.

But if the ethernet port is the only way to get network access to the device, you need to buy another router which supports wireless client mode. The only cheap one I know offhand which does is is the Edimax BR-6478AC, which occasionally goes on sale for $30. However, if you can get a DD-WRT-compatible router and upgrade it with DD-WRT firmware, that will give it wireless client mode (though getting it working is a bit finicky).

In wireless client mode, the router no longer acts as a router. It acts as like a computer connecting to your wifi network. It then shares that wifi network over its LAN ports (leave the WAN port empty). (Bridged client mode is the more accurate term. But a wireless bridge is different from bridged client mode, so the key phrase you want to look for is client mode.) So you can plug in Device X into the second router's LAN port, and it will act like it's connected to your wifi network.

If you do get a DD-WRT router and are having problems getting this to work, PM me. There are a few not-obvious tricks to getting it working. But once you get it working, it's pretty solid.

I have a device with an RJ45 Ethernet socket, and I have a long (15 FT.) cable plugged into that device and a router which is also wireless. I want to turn my wired device into a wireless device...

I have a couple of Trendnet devices that have worked well, but there are many other similar available. A search for "wireless bridge" will turn up more for you.

Thank you for the advice. My laptop and tablets are obviously wireless-enabled.

I have an R2-3500 digital media recorder with an Ethernet port. I've never checked for wireless capability.

Right now, I'm trying to build a variation of this Web radio...

http://www.serasidis.gr/circuits/Arduino_WebRadio_player/Arduino_WebRadio_player.htm

...I intend mine to be a layer-cake version; Arduino UNO on the bottom, Ethernet Shield or MP3 Shield next (whichever goes next, the other will follow), with the Digital display on top (I'll have to determine how and where to place the switches). One might suggest that I replace the Ethernet Shield with a Wi-Fi Shield, But I don't want to take that step until I'm sure that it works with the Ethernet Shield. But just in case I get this thing working (long shot though it may be; could take months, between this and my work schedule), and I want to keep my Ethernet Shield, which device should I plug into the Ethernet port to turn that shield into a wireless-enabled device and access the Wi-Fi signal from my router?

 

[BuddhaSkoota]

But just in case I get this thing working (long shot though it may be; could take months, between this and my work schedule), and I want to keep my Ethernet Shield, which device should I plug into the Ethernet port to turn that shield into a wireless-enabled device and access the Wi-Fi signal from my router?

Either the method suggested by Solandri (router in client/bridge mode) or the dedicated wireless bridge will work. Both methods will provide wireless capability to the device via the Ethernet port.

 

[Dreamslacker]

What you need is a wireless client mode capable router/ device.
I would recommend the TP-Link TL-WR702N as it is compact and very similar in size to the UNO.
As an added advantage, the unit is powered through a Micro-USB connection so you can actually use a multi-port USB charger to power both the UNO and the unit together.

 

[CookyMonzta]

What you need is a wireless client mode capable router/ device.
I would recommend the TP-Link TL-WR702N as it is compact and very similar in size to the UNO.
As an added advantage, the unit is powered through a Micro-USB connection so you can actually use a multi-port USB charger to power both the UNO and the unit together.

So, a wireless adapter alone, plugged into a USB-to-RJ45 interface, with the RJ45 end plugged into the Ethernet Shield, won't work to pick up the router's Wi-Fi signal; am I correct?

I'm looking at the TP-LINK quick setup guide (I don't have the device), and at first it looks a bit complicated, as if you are setting up a 2nd router. But why a 2nd router when you need your device (in my case, a Web radio) only to receive a Wi-Fi signal from your main router?

 

[Solandri]

So, a wireless adapter alone, plugged into a USB-to-RJ45 interface, with the RJ45 end plugged into the Ethernet Shield, won't work to pick up the router's Wi-Fi signal; am I correct?

No it won't work. The USB end of both the USB wireless adapter and USB-to-RJ45 converter need to be connected to a computer (with drivers) to function. Connecting them to each other is like connecting the tires from two cars to each other and expecting to be able to drive around. You still need an engine connected to the tires to make them move.

I'm looking at the TP-LINK quick setup guide (I don't have the device), and at first it looks a bit complicated, as if you are setting up a 2nd router. But why a 2nd router when you need your device (in my case, a Web radio) only to receive a Wi-Fi signal from your main router?

A router is basically a computer with both wifi, LAN, and WAN ports. A router in wireless client/bridge mode is basically a computer programmed to relay packets between the LAN ports and wifi (ignoring the WAN port).

Your digital media recorder is a computer. So if someone had programmed a driver for it to operate a wifi adapter, then you could just use a wifi adapter. That's how the wifi adapter for Smart TVs and the XBox work. But if nobody has programmed it to be able to drive a wifi adapter, then you need to use another computer to do it - the router in wireless client mode.

 

[Dreamslacker]

So, a wireless adapter alone, plugged into a USB-to-RJ45 interface, with the RJ45 end plugged into the Ethernet Shield, won't work to pick up the router's Wi-Fi signal; am I correct?

I'm looking at the TP-LINK quick setup guide (I don't have the device), and at first it looks a bit complicated, as if you are setting up a 2nd router. But why a 2nd router when you need your device (in my case, a Web radio) only to receive a Wi-Fi signal from your main router?

The guide you need to read is this:
http://www.tp-link.com/en/article/?id=395

Long story short, there are dedicated devices for this purpose - they are sometimes known as a Wireless media bridge.
The routers that have this capability activated no longer act as a wireless router. Basically, they become a wireless adapter that connects to your home wireless network and "converts" to wired ethernet.
In normal routing mode, they actually do the reverse - taking the wired connection and providing it over wireless.

Now, whether you use a dedicated device or a router, the steps are effectively similar once you have switched the mode of the router:
1) You need to connect to the device with a computer to configure it (in the event where the device you want to use doesn't have the ability to access the UI).

2) You need to tell it what network to connect to and what the password is. It is just like how you would connect to Wifi on a mobile device - there is no magical device that will automatically know your wireless network name and password.

3) Once the configuration is committed, you connect the wired ethernet to the actual device being used.

 

[CookyMonzta]

So, a wireless adapter alone, plugged into a USB-to-RJ45 interface, with the RJ45 end plugged into the Ethernet Shield, won't work to pick up the router's Wi-Fi signal; am I correct?

I'm looking at the TP-LINK quick setup guide (I don't have the device), and at first it looks a bit complicated, as if you are setting up a 2nd router. But why a 2nd router when you need your device (in my case, a Web radio) only to receive a Wi-Fi signal from your main router?

The guide you need to read is this:
http://www.tp-link.com/en/article/?id=395

Long story short, there are dedicated devices for this purpose - they are sometimes known as a Wireless media bridge.
The routers that have this capability activated no longer act as a wireless router. Basically, they become a wireless adapter that connects to your home wireless network and "converts" to wired ethernet.
In normal routing mode, they actually do the reverse - taking the wired connection and providing it over wireless.

Now, whether you use a dedicated device or a router, the steps are effectively similar once you have switched the mode of the router:
1) You need to connect to the device with a computer to configure it (in the event where the device you want to use doesn't have the ability to access the UI).

2) You need to tell it what network to connect to and what the password is. It is just like how you would connect to Wifi on a mobile device - there is no magical device that will automatically know your wireless network name and password.

3) Once the configuration is committed, you connect the wired ethernet to the actual device being used.

Now that makes more sense. Before I consider getting the TP-Link router, can any router be used for this purpose? I have a Rosewill RNX-N150RT (V2.0) router (which I had long forgotten about) that I never got to use because my Internet provider's DSL modem is also a router. I take it that I can also set up my Rosewill router as a receiver for my Ethernet devices, yes?

 

[Solandri]

Now that makes more sense. Before I consider getting the TP-Link router, can any router be used for this purpose? I have a Rosewill RNX-N150RT (V2.0) router (which I had long forgotten about) that I never got to use because my Internet provider's DSL modem is also a router. I take it that I can also set up my Rosewill router as a receiver for my Ethernet devices, yes?

As I said, if the router supports wireless client/bridge mode, then yes it will do what you want.

The manual for the Rosewill RNX-N150RT says it has a wireless bridge mode and will do what you want. Although it's not guaranteed to work (some wifi chipsets don't play nice with each other.)
http://www.rosewill.com/mgnt/uploads2/attachmentforproduct/rnx-n150rt_support_3modes.pdf

 

[CookyMonzta]

So, a wireless adapter alone, plugged into a USB-to-RJ45 interface, with the RJ45 end plugged into the Ethernet Shield, won't work to pick up the router's Wi-Fi signal; am I correct?

I'm looking at the TP-LINK quick setup guide (I don't have the device), and at first it looks a bit complicated, as if you are setting up a 2nd router. But why a 2nd router when you need your device (in my case, a Web radio) only to receive a Wi-Fi signal from your main router?

The guide you need to read is this:
http://www.tp-link.com/en/article/?id=395

Long story short, there are dedicated devices for this purpose - they are sometimes known as a Wireless media bridge.
The routers that have this capability activated no longer act as a wireless router. Basically, they become a wireless adapter that connects to your home wireless network and "converts" to wired ethernet.
In normal routing mode, they actually do the reverse - taking the wired connection and providing it over wireless.

Now, whether you use a dedicated device or a router, the steps are effectively similar once you have switched the mode of the router:
1) You need to connect to the device with a computer to configure it (in the event where the device you want to use doesn't have the ability to access the UI).

2) You need to tell it what network to connect to and what the password is. It is just like how you would connect to Wifi on a mobile device - there is no magical device that will automatically know your wireless network name and password.

3) Once the configuration is committed, you connect the wired ethernet to the actual device being used.

The TP-Link TL-WR702N router looks very convincing to me, for the price ($20) and especially its size; as small as a credit card and therefore as small as the Arduino Uno itself.

Assuming I'm successful in building this radio and getting it to run (a layer-cake design, boards connected one under another, all connected to the Arduino), and getting the router to access the wi-fi signal from the main router, I can just simply build a case to hold my layer-cake Web radio and the router.

One other drawback from Serasidis' design (if I read everything right) is that his radio can only access 14 stations, probably the limit of the storage space he has on his device. The trick here will be to get my device to access one or both of the micro-SD slots (on the VS1053B audio codec shield or the W5100 Ethernet shield), in order to select one from the dozens, if not hundreds, of IP addresses that I intend to store on a micro-SD card.

 

[Dreamslacker]

Since the sketch loads SPI library, you can use that to access the micro-SD card with the appropriate shield.

Probably need to remove the static definitions and swap out the case switch for a function to read off data from a txt file in the sd card instead.

Only penalty would be the lag time to switch stations since you'd need to access the sd card to get the next station's IP.