Bringing wifi to network cable only devices

Sandtree

So, we have a Linksys Velop mesh wifi system at home which works great other than:

1) Where the main node is is very awkward/limited space and no spare power sockets (4 bar full and tight to get into the space it is already)
2) The node only as 2 ethernet ports one for the inbound internet and the other for our VOIP system
3) We have some ethernet port only devices in another part of the house that would benefit from network access

In our old place I used powerline plugs to get internet to the cluster of wired only devices and it was ok ish but network speed was much slower than wifi devices in the same room. In the new place there is no physical space to put the powerline plug in and I've been told a certain no on having trailing cables/drilling holes etc.

So, ideally I am looking for a wifi receiver (dont want it to act as an extender/repeater etc) which can connect to the existing wifi and ideally have 3 ethernet ports to connect devices to, else one could do and I'll just reuse and old switch. 

[Deleted User]

One example of a device you could use is this in "Media Bridge Mode" - it has 5 gigabit ports for you to connect other devices.
https://www.asus.com/uk/Networking-IoT-Servers/Range-Extenders-/All-series/RP-AC68U/


There are lots of other devices that do the same depending on your budget but I happen to own the above device so gave it as an example.

Sandtree

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have a look.

I am sure there are plenty of devices out there that do it but its knowing what to search for. Everything that I found acts as a relay on the Wifi so if I was on the sofa its likely my laptop would connect to the relay and then go to the node thats the other end of the same room which is just a pointless extra step

[Deleted User]

Sandtree said:

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have a look.

I am sure there are plenty of devices out there that do it but its knowing what to search for. Everything that I found acts as a relay on the Wifi so if I was on the sofa its likely my laptop would connect to the relay and then go to the node thats the other end of the same room which is just a pointless extra step

Yes, it is usually a secondary feature of a repeater or access point so hard to find when searching. Technically known as a "wireless ethernet bridge" but that doesn't help much when Googling for them either.

With the one I've shown in the example, it will just act as a receiver for the wifi and will not create another access point to avoid the issue you mention about your laptop connecting to it. Many others do however act like repeaters, I have a TP Link one that does that and you cannot switch the wifi repeater transmission off even if only using the ethernet port.

Sandtree

Looking at a random PC Mag article on difference between mesh networks and repeaters it states repeaters normally use a different SSID... if that is the case then that could be another option so even if the wifi cannot be turned off at least it can be set to an SSID thats never used... not ideally creating more unwanted noise but a potential way of cost cutting.