Connect wireless router to wireless router

Chickabiddybex

Is there a way to get my wireless router to pick up the wifi from the people upstairs?

They give us permission to use their Internet but I want to connect my sky box to the Internet and unless I shell out for an expensive dongle thingy for my sky box I need to plug it directly into a router. I have my own router to do this, but I need to connect it to my neighbours' router first.

Can this be done without me having to plug my router into theirs first to set it up? How do I do it?

GunJack

yes, your router must NOT be connected to the phone line, and connected as an Access Point - the user guide for your router will tell you how to set this up

Chickabiddybex

OR... Someone here can tell me? I don't have the user guide.

ConsumerMatt

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news - but that isn't possible (in your scenario).

You may be able to configure the router to work as an access point but for that to work your router would need to be hard wired to the main router upstairs

You need to get a 'dongle' for the Sky box. In the end, Routers provide the wireless connection, dongles receive the wireless connection. There is no way around that, the same as there is no way you can freeze your chicken in the oven or cook it in the freezer.

flashg67

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

OR... Someone here can tell me? I don't have the user guide.

It's not something that can easily be explained in a post on here - google 'set up router as wireless repeater' or similar - it will vary with the make of router.

PS - your router user guide will be online too

Chickabiddybex

I have one person saying it is possible and one saying it isn't

securityguy

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

I have one person saying it is possible and one saying it isn't

It depends on all the equipment in use. Some routers will do it straightforwardly, some will but you have to fiddle around (perhaps by using the command-line interface rather than the web interface), some won't do it at all. Some of them will do it pretty well whatever the configuration of your neighbour's router is, some will be a bit picky about that. It's certainly doable in principle (I'm using an old Apple Airport Express to hook my TV to the wireless network) but it's impossible to give a hard and fast answer.

mauriphonic

it can be done, but needs a router capable of doing it which is not that often included in a bog standard router.
Firstly the sky box. If the only device you want to connect is the sky box, then Sky sell a device for £21.95 that would be well worth it. Its called the Sky Wireless connector. Tell your neighbours what you plan on doing though - on demand TV will use a lot of bandwidth and will slow them down and / or risk them exceeding limits on their package if they aren't unlimited.
If its to re-broadcast their wireless network across the rest of your house, then a wireless repeater will do it, and isn't expensive. It effectively takes their wireless network and extends it.

Otherwise to setup your own wireless network get a router capable of acting as a wireless bridge to service both needs. There are a few out there, but they can be fiddly to setup. Google wireless router bridge mode to find one.

Chickabiddybex

If I get a wireless repeater can I connect it to the current wifi with no wires?

I don't need to worry about bandwidth. I already use it for downloading full games (many gbs), playing games online, streaming music, watching Netflix, watching other TV online, etc etc. I use LOADS.

thefirs

Have a look at this site: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-turn-an-old-router-into-a-wireless-bridge/. Quite a lot of configuration, and possibly the acquisition of some hardware from eBay involved, bit of a learning curve to entertain.

Definitely do-able if you're determined and willing to put some effort in.

mauriphonic

Yes, a repeater will basically extend the neighbours network across your house, so you will have a strong signal wherever you are in range, but it will need to be in strong range where you connect it. It will not however necessarily connect to the Sky box, which needs a cabled connection. The sky device I referred to before will attach to the wifi signal, and bridge it to wired in order to plug into the set top box