Use WiFi Extender as WAN??

[jsmith24]

Hi guys,

I'm in uncharted territory here...my mom uses a wifi extender to get an Internet connection from my sister's house about 300 feet away. It works well, but here's what I'm trying to accomplish: I'd like to know if there's any way to use the extender as the incoming WAN for a separate wifi router?

The extender is an "Ideaworks" USB extender, though it DOES have an ethernet adapter. The router in question in a Belkin f5d8236- ver. 2.

I know I can setup her Windows 8 laptop as a hotspot with ICS, but the laptop is older and DOG slow. (No offense to dogs.)

Any help or creative ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Jack

 

[BuddhaSkoota]

I'd like to know if there's any way to use the extender as the incoming WAN for a separate wifi router?
The extender is an "Ideaworks" USB extender, though it DOES have an ethernet adapter. The router in question in a Belkin f5d8236- ver. 2.

Yes, it should work. To avoid IP conflicts and other potential problems, I'd recommend configuring the Belkin to operate as an access point. That just means connecting the cable from the Ideaworks to a LAN port (not the WAN port) on the Belkin, and turn off LAN DHCP.

 

[adamwinn]

Buddha is right. The belkin may even have a setting called 'Gateway Mode' to automatically handle this use-case. It may or may not need to be plugged into the WAN port when in gateway mode - check the Belkin manual to be sure.