Using an old router as a bridge

[Palmerfan]

I have a modem/router with a wired connection to my desktop downstairs in my house, and I want to use an old machine I have lying around as a web browsing computer upstairs. Problem is, it doesn't have wireless capabilities and there's no way I can wire it to the modem/router. I have an old Netgear WNDR4500 I want to use as a bridge (correct term? idk) to connect the computer to the internet. Is this possible, and if it is, how difficult will it be to set up?

 

[sparda1]

You should be able to. I used to use my old wired D-Link router to extend the connection from the basement since I didn't have a long enough cable. It's just a matter of taking the cable from one of your LAN ports on your main router and plugging it into one of the ports on the Netgear and then another cable from the Netgear's LAN port to your PC.
I'm not sure about using the wifi from your main router to broadcast the connection to the Netgear router though (if your main router is wifi capable that is).

 

[Palmerfan]

You should be able to. I used to use my old wired D-Link router to extend the connection from the basement since I didn't have a long enough cable. It's just a matter of taking the cable from one of your outgoing ports on your main router and plugging it into one of the ports on the Netgear. I'm not sure about using the wifi from your main router to broadcast the connection to the Netgear router though.

The problem is that I can't physically connect the two routers since there's a few walls between them, so I'd prefer to do it wirelessly if at all possible

 

[sparda1]

Sorry, I read part of your question wrong. So you are wanting to broadcast Wireless from your main router to the Netgear and bridge that signal to your other PC?

 

[sparda1]

You could try adding a wireless USB/PCI network adapter for your other PC, that way you wouldn't need the router to bridge the connection.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4831PB8779&cm_re=wireless_usb_network_adapter-_-0XM-000X-00032-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166021&cm_re=wireless_network_adapter-_-33-166-021-_-Product

 

[Palmerfan]

You could try adding a wireless USB network adapter for your other PC, that way you wouldn't need the router to bridge the connection.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4831PB8779&cm_re=wireless_usb_network_adapter-_-0XM-000X-00032-_-Product

I'll try this, thanks!

 

[sparda1]

You can also try a PCI Network Adapter that connects to your motherboard, they tend to have stronger external antennas, but USB ones can also be connected to USB extension cables if you are too far away to get a string signal.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166021&cm_re=wireless_network_adapter-_-33-166-021-_-Product

 

[Pooneil]

The manual for your Netgear WNDR4500 states the unit has a built in bridge mode. So it should do what you want to do. There are some advantages to a bridge, most importantly is the ability to place it where the WiFi signal is the strongest. This is of course constrained by where you can run a cable, but it will be more flexible than either a USB or PCI adaptor.

If you find you have weak wifi in the new location. The old router also has a repeater function, so it could be placed in between the current router and new location to boost the signal, perhaps at the cost of some internet speed.

 

[sparda1]

His other computer does not have wireless capabilities, so he would still need to get a wireless adapter anyways. But yes, if the signal is is too weak to reach the other computer, the bridge would be good to use.

 

[Pooneil]

His other computer does not have wireless capabilities, so he would still need to get a wireless adapter anyways. But yes, if the signal is is too weak to reach the other computer, the bridge would be good to use.

The OP specifically ask if his router would work in bridge mode, to provide wireless capabilities to his computer. Which it will with the addition of an Ethernet cable, according to the manual I looked up on the manufacturers web page. So no, he does not need a wireless adapter to use a bridge.

If the signal is to weak at a location where he can conveniently locate a bridge, he could also use the router as a repeater, somewhere closer to the access point. That would then require a wireless adapter on the computer.