Connecting Router to WiFi Hotspot??

SteelCitySteve · 05-10-2018, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelk

You are not going to have a raw internet connection because your behind the hotels guest network.

I use the Netgear extender as a bridge for devices do not have wireless capabilities. I also have a WRT54G router that is used as a wireless bridge too. The bridge connects to the router via WiFi and provides a wired connection to whatever you want to connect.

If you connect a router then I would assume that any device behind it would not require a login but I've never tried so I really don't know.

I should mention there are several different types of bridge modes and not all devices support all modes. The two mentioned devices are the only ones that I've had first hand experience.

https://www.speedguide.net/faq/what-...y-routerap-297

I read the link you posted and on some other sites but am still a little unclear of all these news concepts.

Why would I choose "Client mode" versus "Bridge mode"?

It sounds like client mode is closer to what I want, which is the hotel's network seeing my wireless router and its IP address, but then that same wireless router hiding any clients that connect to it from the hotel's network.

So I could have 3 laptops plugged into the wireless router, but the notel's network would only see one IP address for the woreless router itself.

That would give me both anonymity as well as not having the hotel track each of the laptops but only needing them to give the router access for a month.

Would "Client mode" allow me to do that?

Also, can you guys recommend some decent wireless routers that would allow me to do this?

Thanks!

SteelCitySteve · 05-10-2018, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scasey

Sometimes there's a CAT-5 port on the telephone deskset itself...
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Check out "range extenders" -- they are designed to connect wirelessly to an existing wireless network and will then provide both increased wireless signal strength and several ports for CAT-5 cable connections. You will need to log the extender onto the hotel's wireless, but then should stay connected for as long as the hotel will allow you to stay connected (they may have timeouts configured...). [Oh...I see that michaelk already talked about them...] I connect my TV to my wireless network with a cable to my range extender.

It sounds like the right router in the right mode would also do that, right? (See my last post.)

If so, what would be the advantages/disadvantages of an "extender" versus a wireless router?

Based on my newbie networking knowledge, I just want one ethernet port that I can plug into.

My goal is to hook up an extender or wireless router to the hotel's wifi, and then have a wired connection I can plug into.

Once I have that, then I could buy a Netgate firewall appliance running pfSense and try to teach myself about hardware firewalls!

Also, I could go buy a dedicated switch, and learn about switches and setting up a home network!

With the ultimate goal of maybe getting my A+ and Network+ certifications later this year! =)

scasey · 05-16-2018, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelCitySteve

If so, what would be the advantages/disadvantages of an "extender" versus a wireless router?

AFAIK, a wireless router will want a wired network to connect to...an extender is designed to connect to a wireless network. Just be sure that the extender also has cat-5 output ports...not all do.