short range wifi hotspot addon to switch

[TSDKVP]

I have a fully cabled home. I don't really want to need wifi, but sometimes people come by with tablets.

Hence i am looking for an usb-wifi solution that I can connect by ethernet cable to one of my switches, i.e.: Router > switch > switch > wifi hotspot. I want something that is dead easy to plugin / unplug, so I can get instance wifi on/off.

I also don't want a range larger than say 10 meters (i.e. 7 meters is also fine), so it is not detectable/usable by anyone else, even if everything security fails.

Does such a thing exist? What should it state "on the box", so I know it will fit my purpose? This looks kinda promising: https://www.asus.com/Networking/WL330NUL/ but I am not sure?

 

[boosted1g]

Not sure where the usb-wifi solution is coming into play here since you would connect via Ethernet.

What you are waning is a wireless access point. You can buy a dedicated access point, or you turn any router into an access point with some configurating.
For your distance limitation, you can turn TX power down, now how well that will work will very greatly by model.
Other then that I would just make sure you have multiple security measures.
MAKE SURE WPS IS TURNED OFF. This feature is so insecure a 12 yr old can download an app on smartphone and hack into your router.

 

[TSDKVP]

I tried ASUS WL-330NUL (travel wifi router solution) where I plug it into a switch. It shares wifi fine, but the signal strength is way too high, and there is no way to configure it.

In summary I need:
- A wifi sharing solution that I can power and connect to a switch using an ethernet cable.
- A wifi sharing solution where I can actually configure signal strength and wifi protocols used.

I only want something with a "bubble" of 5 meters - max 10.

I understand 2.4ghz is stronger/penetrates more than 5ghz so it may be sufficient if I can simply turn that off.

Do you know of any access points that fit above requirements?

 

[boosted1g]

If you don't need the 2.4 ghz band and all of your devices are 5ghz band capable then leaving 2.4 band off is the way to go, because the 5ghz band is not going to get through 3 non-insulated walls.

What I recommend for you is to get a tp-link wdr3600 (or 4300 if on sale for cheaper), then flash it to dd-wrt.
What is your current router? If the tp-link has more memory and cpu then I would use the tp-link for primary processing and just use a switch where the router was at. If the wired router is a high end model with more specs then configure the tp-link to be an access point.
Then you can play with TX signal strength and/or leave 2.4 band off.

 

[TSDKVP]

It will be used in a setup like this:

Main router (wifi switched off) > Switch > Switch > rooms-where-I-want-wifi

Sounds like i should get one of the tp-link products you suggest

Is dd-wrt installation as simple as it looks from here:
https://www.dd-wrt.com/site/support/router-database

i.e. I can simply flash it with dd-wrt without jumping though a lot of extra hoops?
Will I be able to access settings through either:
- settings file
- browser

or similar? Or will I need to be a full fledged linux mode?

 

[boosted1g]

If you are having the wifi router be the second router then you will want to configure it as an access point.

In regards to installing DD-WRT it varies greatly by the model. For the 3600 you need to flash the stock-ddwrt file, and then flash the full dd-wrt file and then you are done.

The files you need are here: http://dd-wrt.com/site/support/other-downloads?path=others%2Feko%2FBrainSlayer-V24-preSP2%2F

You can use the instrucitons on the second post in this thread: http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=168094&highlight=wdr3600
You will need to flash the factory-to-ddwrt and then flash the full webflash version so don't bother setting up your settings at first. Also the waiting for 2 minutes is very important otherwise you may brick your router, I know it seems like nothing is happening but just wait the full 2 minutes and then reboot.

Don't fret it though, I have set up a dozen of these routers, they are my go to for medium end home/small office users.