PIggybacking Routers

ZootHornRollo

Hi,

In our house we have a wireless network with a BT Home Hub.

Currently connecting to it are :

1x PC (Ethernet)
2x PC (WiFi) (Upstairs from HomeHub)
1x BT Vision (Ethernet via Homeplugs)

The wireless card has packed in on one of the pcs connecting wirelessly. I have a spare Netgear DG834GT (sky broadband) router.

Could i use this to pick up the wifi signal from the HomeHub and then connect the PC with the faulty wifi card using an ethernet cable? Hope that makes sense? (i guess effectively using the router as an external wifi card)

Alternatively, if i disconnect the BT Vision box from the network will it still function properly? We don't use any on demand etc. Only freeview and recording freeview. I could then use the homeplug to connect the upstairs PC.

fwor

Some wireless routers will support this, but (from the datasheet, at least) your Netgear doesn't seem to. Generally the feature list will include something like "wireless repeater" or "wireless extender" and yours appears only to be able to function as an Access Point.

Regarding the BT Vision box - I'd suggest you try it and see. If it provides an extended EPG (i.e. one that shows a lot more than just a week ahead) then you may lose that, and might need to change its config to use the EIT version.

ZootHornRollo

Thanks,

A quick google (only possible by having the right term - thank you!) suggests it may be possible with a firmware upgrade but can be a very tricky thing to get working in practice... might just shell out a tenner for a new wifi card!

Thanks again.

thebyp

Updating the firmware on Sky boxes is a pain in the rear end, and really not worth it. Maplin had a white box wireless 802.11b/g dongle for a fiver last time I was in there - if you have the time crack on with the sky box, but I can think of better things to do with my time

gefnew

if your router is a dg83 etc try the dg team to update firmware,
they have lots of very good firmware to help make it a bridge, note this is not an offical netgear firmware update.