Adding wireless to office network but not on internet

**kenandkim** · July 19th, 2012, 02:00 PM

Hi!

We have an inner office wired system that we do NOT want connected to the internet. Right now we have a 20 port either switch or router (not sure which one). We want to add another computer, but can not run the ethernet wires to this location so we wanted to find out if we just need to plug in a wireless router to the router/switch that is there to give that computer access to our office network.

We do not have or need internet...we just need to be able to share a networked program both wired and wirelessly.

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks for your help!

Kim

**stroyal** · July 19th, 2012, 02:47 PM

Welcome to TechIMO!
Just a home network guy, but I might be able to shed some light.
Real network guys, will be around later.

It must be a Router/switch combo, or I think you would have routing problems. (not positive though)
It is certainly a switch, as pure routers, only has 2 plugs, in, and out.

1 You can add a wireless access point to the switch.

2 You can add a wireless router, and disable DNS on one of them, if you do already have a router.

I know it is possible you have just a switch, as I operated a home network, years ago with just a switch.
I only had dial up at the time.

I use to recommend Linksys, but after their last 2 screw the consumer moves, I won't anymore.

My WRT54G is hackable in 2 day max, and they won't upgrade the firm ware.

Their 3 newest routers, were taken over by Linksys, via the internet, and you had to sign up to their service, to get into your own router.(no notice what so ever)
They have since relinquished control, after consumers flipped out.
It was the last straw, with me though.

I'm going to update my router with aftermarket firmware, as soon as I know exactly how.
Leo is doing a tutorial. this week.
I think it is strait forward, but I don't want to have to buy anew router at the moment.

Not sure if I'm going to use WRTT, or Tomato.

**kenandkim** · July 19th, 2012, 03:05 PM

Thanks so much for your response.

I forgot to mention that we also have a wireless bridge that is set up to connect to a wired computer 200' away that works great. The wireless bridge is connected by ethernet to our 20 port switch. Can I still add an access point for our wireless laptop so it can access our network in house program.

To recap - No need for internet
We have a 20 port switch (router?)
We have 14 computers hardwired thru ethernet to the switch
We have a wireless bridge (200' away) with one computer wired into the other end of the bridge.

Can we still put in a wireless access point so our laptop can access our program wirelessly?

Thanks so much!

**stroyal** · July 19th, 2012, 03:15 PM

The bridge just confused me.

How dose the bridge connect to your network? wirelessly, or by cable?
How is the computer connected to the bridge?

Explain that bridge a little better, for my limited knowledge.

**stroyal** · July 19th, 2012, 03:16 PM

Here are some access points

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Wireless AP / Bridges, wireless access point

**stroyal** · July 19th, 2012, 03:20 PM

If the bridge is connected to the switch and the computer, by cable, why is it wireless, and why do you need it?
Ethernet cable is good for 325 feet.

**kenandkim** · July 19th, 2012, 04:46 PM

Thanks for you input. We run a temporary event. Our set up is 13 computers wired thru ethernet to our 20 port switch. We also have a computer a couple hundred feet away across a parking lot and we can't run ethernet. We have a 2 part wireless bridge that connects to the switch thru a 20' foot ethernet where we mount the first part of the bridge onto the roof of one building. We then mount the other half of the bridge on the roof of the second building across the parking lot and run an ethernet cable from the 2nd part of the bridge into our cmoputer. We are now in need of adding a laptop in the same building as the 13 wired computers but we don't have a way for it to pickup a wireless signal. Suggestions?

**stroyal** · July 19th, 2012, 06:38 PM

All you need is a wireless access point.
The access point is just another device, on the network.
AFAIK the bridge would not be affected, unless the channels are the same.

But all wireless has that problem, and the 8 wireless networks around me, don't interfere.