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computers / alt.internet.wireless / Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

SubjectAuthor
* How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
+* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAndy Burns
|+* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
||`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|| +* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
|| |+* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchgtr
|| ||`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchIncubus
|| || `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchDanS
|| ||  `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|| ||   `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchDanS
|| ||    `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|| ||     `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchDanS
|| ||      `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|| |`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchKen Blake
|| | +* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|| | |`- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchKen Blake
|| | +* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAnt
|| | |+* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
|| | ||`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAnt
|| | || `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|| | |`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|| | | `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchKen Blake
|| | |  +* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAndy Burns
|| | |  |`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchKen Blake
|| | |  | `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAndy Burns
|| | |  |  `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|| | |  |   `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
|| | |  |    `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|| | |  `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|| | `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
|| |  `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|| |   `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
|| |    `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|| `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchRonTheGuy
|`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
| `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchNewyana2
|  `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|   +* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAlan Browne
|   |`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|   | +* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAlan Browne
|   | |`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|   | | `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAlan Browne
|   | `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
|   |  `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|   +- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchKen Blake
|   `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchNewyana2
|    `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|     +* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAlan Browne
|     |`- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|     `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchNY
+* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchMajorLanGod
|`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
| `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
|  `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
|   `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchdan
+* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchJeff Barnett
|`- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchLars Anders
+* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchZaghadka
|+- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchnospam
|`* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchChar Jackson
| `* Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchZaghadka
|  +- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchAndy Burnelli
|  `- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchZaghadka
`- Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switchBob F

Pages:123
How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<ttthn7$2f3or$1@paganini.bofh.team>

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From: nos...@nospam.com (dan)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2023 17:27:47 -0200
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 by: dan - Fri, 3 Mar 2023 19:27 UTC

The current home router is currently set up as the LAN gateway on
192.168.1.1 and it's set to get the WAN Internet IP address from the modem,
and it's set to hand out DHCP addresses from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254.

I've just now configured a new replacement router the same way by
connecting it to the Ethernet port of my Windows PC & duplicating
the setup that was on the old router (as much as was possible).

I'm going to swap them, but I might lose my Internet so I ask now.

After I replace that current router with the new router, then I have an
extra router which I'd like to make some kind of future use of somehow.

I guess the simplest task is to re-use the spare router as a switch, right?
(I don't really need the extra four LAN ports but why not add them anyway?)

But how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?

Do I change the old router IP address from 192.168.1.1 to a static IP of
something unused in the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254 or do I let
the replacement router (which is set up to hand out DHCP addresses in that
range) do it?

Does it matter what IP address I set that new "dumb" switch to?

Mainly I'm asking (before I switch over) how to turn the now spare router
into something useful, such as a dumb switch (to get four more ports).

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<k6f1pjF68l5U1@mid.individual.net>

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From: use...@andyburns.uk (Andy Burns)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2023 19:57:37 +0000
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In-Reply-To: <ttthn7$2f3or$1@paganini.bofh.team>
 by: Andy Burns - Fri, 3 Mar 2023 19:57 UTC

dan wrote:

> how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?

disabling DHCP, making sure its IP addr doesn't clash with the new
router, not using the WAN port, link one of it's LAN ports to one of the
new router's LAN ports just about covers it, enable or disable wifi to suit.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<i2050i1vt0s65v30hak1rht23fovs95jc5@4ax.com>

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From: non...@none.invalid (Char Jackson)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: Char Jackson - Fri, 3 Mar 2023 23:27 UTC

On Fri, 3 Mar 2023 19:57:37 +0000, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
wrote:

>dan wrote:
>
>> how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?
>
>disabling DHCP, making sure its IP addr doesn't clash with the new
>router, not using the WAN port, link one of it's LAN ports to one of the
>new router's LAN ports just about covers it, enable or disable wifi to suit.

I agree with Andy, but just wanted to add a bit of additional detail to
the DHCP step.

On the new router, adjust the DHCP scope to carve out the IP address
that you want to use for the old router, for example 192.168.1.2. So on
the new router, the DHCP scope would change from
192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.254 to
192.168.1.3 - 192.168.1.254.

(Intentionally written that way to illustrate that 192.168.1.2 has been
removed from the DHCP scope.) That way, DHCP on the new router has no
opportunity to assign that IP to any other node.

Then on the old router, manually assign 192.168.1.2 as its LAN IP, (its
WAN IP will remain blank and its WAN port will remain unused).

Insert, here, a note that if you're going to enable WiFi on both the old
router and the new router, if both are so equipped, separate the two
routers so that their radios aren't right next to each other.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<ttu6re$2lq2b$1@paganini.bofh.team>

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From: nos...@nospam.com (dan)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2023 23:28:26 -0200
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 by: dan - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 01:28 UTC

On Fri, 3 Mar 2023 19:57:37 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:

>> how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?
>
> disabling DHCP, making sure its IP addr doesn't clash with the new
> router, not using the WAN port, link one of it's LAN ports to one of the
> new router's LAN ports just about covers it, enable or disable wifi to suit.

I did the swap, which took me from when I sent that msg until now, which is
a few hours because of a series of problems that I only just now overcame.

The first thing I didn't know was that the modem configuration for the WAN
(let's call it 123.123.123.123/255.255.255.252) didn't automatically
transfer to the newly set up new router when I set up to "Get dynamically
from ISP" the Internet IP address from the modem. I don't know why.

The result was I could connect to the newly set up router via wireless or
via ethernet wired to one a LAN port from the PC but there was no Internet.

So I had to set up the new router to "Use static IP address" of (let's say)
123.123.123.123/255.255.255.252 & only then did it work. I don't know why.

After the new router had Internet, I switched that new router setup back
from "Use static IP address" to "Get dynamically from ISP" (and it still
worked). I did that because I don't know if my ISP changes my IP address or
not so I didn't want to take a chance. It's now set like the original was.

Now that the Internet is back, I can see your suggestions where I guess I
have some options, one of which is to turn the spare router into a dumb
switch (which should be the easiest thing to do with it, right?).

Is a switch a good use for a spare router?
I don't really need anything in particular, so that's why I ask.
I'm just trying to make use of the router now that I have it as a spare.

Are those all my options to make good use of a spare older router?
(I listed them below in terms of the assumed complexity of the setup.)
[1] dumb switch (gets me three or four extra LAN ports but nothing else)
[2] wired repeater (full speed) physically wired to the main gateway router
[3] wireless repeater (half speed) also connected to the main gateway router
[4] wireless client bridge + AP connected to the main gateway router or any AP

I don't really need any of that but I guess I could always use more ports
and I guess I could use better coverage in the house in lower signal areas.

Back to the dumb switch, I see another post so I'll take the setup there.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<XnsAFBCC85B83811lonelydad58.gmail.co@85.12.62.225>

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Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
From: lonelyda...@gmail.com (MajorLanGod)
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 by: MajorLanGod - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 01:41 UTC

dan <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in news:ttthn7$2f3or$1@paganini.bofh.team:

> The current home router is currently set up as the LAN gateway on
> 192.168.1.1 and it's set to get the WAN Internet IP address from the
> modem, and it's set to hand out DHCP addresses from 192.168.1.2 to
> 192.168.1.254.
>
> I've just now configured a new replacement router the same way by
> connecting it to the Ethernet port of my Windows PC & duplicating
> the setup that was on the old router (as much as was possible).
>
> I'm going to swap them, but I might lose my Internet so I ask now.
>
> After I replace that current router with the new router, then I have
> an extra router which I'd like to make some kind of future use of
> somehow.
>
> I guess the simplest task is to re-use the spare router as a switch,
> right? (I don't really need the extra four LAN ports but why not add
> them anyway?)
>
> But how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?
>
> Do I change the old router IP address from 192.168.1.1 to a static IP
> of something unused in the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254 or do
> I let the replacement router (which is set up to hand out DHCP
> addresses in that range) do it?
>
> Does it matter what IP address I set that new "dumb" switch to?
>
> Mainly I'm asking (before I switch over) how to turn the now spare
> router into something useful, such as a dumb switch (to get four more
> ports).
>
If by switch you mean a device that takes an incoming packet and routes
it to all of the other ports, I'm not sure it is possible. You might want
to wander the Net and look for software to flash to the old (now surplus)
router to turn it into a switch. After all, there is no hardware reason
why that would not work, you just need the proper software to handle the
new task.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<ttu95e$2m1r5$1@paganini.bofh.team>

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From: nos...@nospam.com (dan)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2023 00:07:54 -0200
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 by: dan - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 02:07 UTC

On Fri, 03 Mar 2023 17:27:21 -0600, Char Jackson wrote:

>>> how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?
>>
>>disabling DHCP, making sure its IP addr doesn't clash with the new
>>router, not using the WAN port, link one of it's LAN ports to one of the
>>new router's LAN ports just about covers it, enable or disable wifi to suit.
>
> I agree with Andy, but just wanted to add a bit of additional detail to
> the DHCP step.

Thanks because I don't know what I'm doing so I appreciate the advice.

I didn't realize until it was said above that I could not only get three or
four extra LAN ports out of the spare router by using it as a dumb switch,
but also the 5GHz and 2GHz wi-fi access points. I didn't think of that.

That means my options for re-use of the old router seem to be these in
order of what I presume would be the complexity and risk of the setup.
[1] switch + AP (gets 3 or 4 ports + the 5GHz & 2GHz access points)
[2] wired repeater (full speed) physically wired to the gateway router
[3] wireless repeater (half speed) over the air to the gateway router
[4] wireless client bridge + AP over the air to the gateway router
(or over the air to any AP)

The switch idea is good because you always need more ports near the gateway
router. The wired repeater is probably too much of a pain to physically
wire set up far from the gateway router because I don't want to drill holes
in walls and ceilings and the like just to make good use of a spare router.

The wireless repeater is easier to set up far from the gateway router but
it's half speed at best. And the wireless client bridge seems to be similar
to the wireless repeater. I'm not exactly sure the difference.

But I'll start with the switch plus the access points.

> On the new router, adjust the DHCP scope to carve out the IP address
> that you want to use for the old router, for example 192.168.1.2. So on
> the new router, the DHCP scope would change from
> 192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.254 to
> 192.168.1.3 - 192.168.1.254.

I was wondering about that because my phone is set to a static IP address
in the same range that the DHCP "scope" (using your word) is and it works.

> (Intentionally written that way to illustrate that 192.168.1.2 has been
> removed from the DHCP scope.) That way, DHCP on the new router has no
> opportunity to assign that IP to any other node.

Thanks. I understand that you're saying to make the switch + AP on an IP
address which is static and which is not handed out by the main router DHCP
process.

> Then on the old router, manually assign 192.168.1.2 as its LAN IP, (its
> WAN IP will remain blank and its WAN port will remain unused).

I guess any conflict would most likely happen if/when the newly added
switch + AP is offline, but in general, it's not likely to be offline.

> Insert, here, a note that if you're going to enable WiFi on both the old
> router and the new router, if both are so equipped, separate the two
> routers so that their radios aren't right next to each other.

That's the thing that is making me wonder if there's something else I
should do with the spare router because the physical connection to the main
gateway router means it has to be close (I'm not going to be cabling the
walls).

And if it's close, then it's merely duplicating the existing coverage by
the wireless access points. Better to put it farther away to get better
coverage in the house, but a wired repeater is out of the question because
it's too much work to run cabling.

That leaves only a wireless repeater + AP or a wireless client bridge + AP
where I'm googling now to see if they're actually different or the same.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<9ga50i5fna05h5brsg58i1vflfdnt17bq5@4ax.com>

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From: non...@none.invalid (Char Jackson)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: Char Jackson - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 02:35 UTC

On Sat, 4 Mar 2023 00:07:54 -0200, dan <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:

>On Fri, 03 Mar 2023 17:27:21 -0600, Char Jackson wrote:
>
>
>>>> how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?
>>>
>>>disabling DHCP, making sure its IP addr doesn't clash with the new
>>>router, not using the WAN port, link one of it's LAN ports to one of the
>>>new router's LAN ports just about covers it, enable or disable wifi to suit.
>>
>> I agree with Andy, but just wanted to add a bit of additional detail to
>> the DHCP step.
>
>Thanks because I don't know what I'm doing so I appreciate the advice.
>
>I didn't realize until it was said above that I could not only get three or
>four extra LAN ports out of the spare router by using it as a dumb switch,
>but also the 5GHz and 2GHz wi-fi access points. I didn't think of that.
>
>That means my options for re-use of the old router seem to be these in
>order of what I presume would be the complexity and risk of the setup.
>[1] switch + AP (gets 3 or 4 ports + the 5GHz & 2GHz access points)

That one's easy. You're probably already there.

>[2] wired repeater (full speed) physically wired to the gateway router

I don't know what a wired repeater might be. It sounds like a regular
old Access Point (AP), typically with its own unique SSID.

>[3] wireless repeater (half speed) over the air to the gateway router

The router's firmware would have to support that. Most OEM's don't offer
that option but you could check to see if 3rd party router firmware is
available for your specific model. dd-wrt, openwrt, and tomato are all
fairly popular.

You're not likely to be happy with a half duplex repeater, though. In
theory, the throughput speed is cut half, but in practice it can be much
worse than that.

>[4] wireless client bridge + AP over the air to the gateway router
> (or over the air to any AP)

Again, the router's firmware would have to support that, and it probably
doesn't, so you'd be looking for 3rd party firmware for this option, as
well.

>The switch idea is good because you always need more ports near the gateway

I agree with needing more ports, up to a point, but check the speed of
those ports. If they're only 100 megabit, you may want to pass in favor
of a dedicated switch that handles gigabit. Switches with 5 or 8 gig
ports aren't expensive anymore.

>router. The wired repeater is probably too much of a pain to physically
>wire set up far from the gateway router because I don't want to drill holes
>in walls and ceilings and the like just to make good use of a spare router.
>
>The wireless repeater is easier to set up far from the gateway router but
>it's half speed at best. And the wireless client bridge seems to be similar
>to the wireless repeater. I'm not exactly sure the difference.
>
>But I'll start with the switch plus the access points.
>
>> On the new router, adjust the DHCP scope to carve out the IP address
>> that you want to use for the old router, for example 192.168.1.2. So on
>> the new router, the DHCP scope would change from
>> 192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.254 to
>> 192.168.1.3 - 192.168.1.254.
>
>I was wondering about that because my phone is set to a static IP address
>in the same range that the DHCP "scope" (using your word) is and it works.

Don't count on that always working. If your scope is .3 to .254 you
probably have a lot of room between the land mines but one day you may
find that there's an IP conflict, which is a mess until it gets
resolved. As a rule, you should never statically assign an IP address
that's also subject to being assigned via DHCP.

Some higher end gear checks to see if an IP address is in use before
assigning it via DHCP, but I'm thinking it's not likely that your gear
does that. Most of mine doesn't.

BTW, there's no rule that says you have to put the whole address range
into your DHCP scope. You could, for example, set DHCP to use .101 to
..199, which is still probably far more addresses than you need for DHCP
clients. Anything outside of your scope is fair game to be statically
assigned.

>> (Intentionally written that way to illustrate that 192.168.1.2 has been
>> removed from the DHCP scope.) That way, DHCP on the new router has no
>> opportunity to assign that IP to any other node.
>
>Thanks. I understand that you're saying to make the switch + AP on an IP
>address which is static and which is not handed out by the main router DHCP
>process.

Correct, assuming you decide to use it at all.

>> Then on the old router, manually assign 192.168.1.2 as its LAN IP, (its
>> WAN IP will remain blank and its WAN port will remain unused).
>
>I guess any conflict would most likely happen if/when the newly added
>switch + AP is offline, but in general, it's not likely to be offline.
>
>> Insert, here, a note that if you're going to enable WiFi on both the old
>> router and the new router, if both are so equipped, separate the two
>> routers so that their radios aren't right next to each other.
>
>That's the thing that is making me wonder if there's something else I
>should do with the spare router because the physical connection to the main
>gateway router means it has to be close (I'm not going to be cabling the
>walls).
>
>And if it's close, then it's merely duplicating the existing coverage by
>the wireless access points. Better to put it farther away to get better
>coverage in the house, but a wired repeater is out of the question because
>it's too much work to run cabling.
>
>That leaves only a wireless repeater + AP or a wireless client bridge + AP
>where I'm googling now to see if they're actually different or the same.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<0kb50i1hoqvptdh9i9ige17ng59d3c4aj8@4ax.com>

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From: non...@none.invalid (Char Jackson)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: Char Jackson - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 02:41 UTC

On Sat, 04 Mar 2023 01:41:44 GMT, MajorLanGod <lonelydad58@gmail.com>
wrote:

>dan <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in news:ttthn7$2f3or$1@paganini.bofh.team:
>
>> The current home router is currently set up as the LAN gateway on
>> 192.168.1.1 and it's set to get the WAN Internet IP address from the
>> modem, and it's set to hand out DHCP addresses from 192.168.1.2 to
>> 192.168.1.254.
>>
>> I've just now configured a new replacement router the same way by
>> connecting it to the Ethernet port of my Windows PC & duplicating
>> the setup that was on the old router (as much as was possible).
>>
>> I'm going to swap them, but I might lose my Internet so I ask now.
>>
>> After I replace that current router with the new router, then I have
>> an extra router which I'd like to make some kind of future use of
>> somehow.
>>
>> I guess the simplest task is to re-use the spare router as a switch,
>> right? (I don't really need the extra four LAN ports but why not add
>> them anyway?)
>>
>> But how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?
>>
>> Do I change the old router IP address from 192.168.1.1 to a static IP
>> of something unused in the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254 or do
>> I let the replacement router (which is set up to hand out DHCP
>> addresses in that range) do it?
>>
>> Does it matter what IP address I set that new "dumb" switch to?
>>
>> Mainly I'm asking (before I switch over) how to turn the now spare
>> router into something useful, such as a dumb switch (to get four more
>> ports).
>>
>If by switch you mean a device that takes an incoming packet and routes
>it to all of the other ports, I'm not sure it is possible.

Ethernet switches (the ones that operate on OSI layer 2, which is most
of them) forward incoming packets to a single port, unless it's a
broadcast or ARP or similar. No routing at layer 2. Routing happens at
layer 3.

>You might want
>to wander the Net and look for software to flash to the old (now surplus)
>router to turn it into a switch.

Every router with more than one LAN port has an Ethernet switch built
in, almost always a 5-port switch where the 5th port is internally
connected to the router section. Therefore, every router with multiple
LAN ports can be turned into an unmanaged switch via simple
configuration. No extra software is required. Just disable DHCP and
don't connect anything to the WAN port and you have a switch.

>After all, there is no hardware reason
>why that would not work, you just need the proper software to handle the
>new task.

The router's GUI can be used.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<1hs1ljyuoje4w$.dlg@news.solani.org>

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From: ron...@null.invalid (RonTheGuy)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2023 19:25:14 -0800
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 by: RonTheGuy - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 03:25 UTC

On Mar 03, 2023, dan wrote
(in article<news:ttu95e$2m1r5$1@paganini.bofh.team>):

> That leaves only a wireless repeater + AP or a wireless client bridge + AP
> where I'm googling now to see if they're actually different or the same.

I don't know myself but this description is as clear as mud to me.

https://www.rezence.com/wireless-repeater-vs-bridge/
They both work so that your existing wireless signal can be reused and
rebroadcast over a different range but they're different in how they do it.

A network bridge connects two sections of a network.
The repeaters can rebroadcast wireless signals.

Two routers are used in a Wi-Fi Repeater. The first wireless router picks
up the WiFi network you want to extend and transfers it to the second. You
get more network coverage because the second wireless router transmits a
boosted signal.

The wireless bridge can be used to transmit signals from a distant location
within a building. It will then carry the signals by cable back to another
bridge within the router's range. The bridge doesn't automatically repeat
any signals it receives, so it eliminates the possibility of router signals
being repeated to it. The remote bridge allows laptops to communicate
wirelessly, first over cable and then wirelessly again to the router.

The repeater can send all traffic to the broadcast network, while bridges
can only work on one segment of a broadcast network segment.

The repeater works at the physical layer in the OSI model while the bridge
functions at the Data link layer. The repeater can lengthen the cable in
the network while the bridge expands the network segment limit.

We hope that you found this article helpful in understanding the
fundamental differences between repeaters and bridges.

I didn't.
Maybe someone else can clarify what it said.

Ron, the humblest guy in town.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<ttue6k$sr7t$1@dont-email.me>

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From: xxx...@yyy.zzz (gtr)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: gtr - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 03:33 UTC

On 2023-03-03 18:35:00 +0000, Char Jackson said:

> The router's firmware would have to support that. Most OEM's don't offer
> that option but you could check to see if 3rd party router firmware is
> available for your specific model. dd-wrt, openwrt, and tomato are all
> fairly popular.

He's likely to need dd-wrt but it can be installed on most recent routers.

As for the bridge versus the repeater this tries to explain dd-wrt's
terminology but I find them both to be almost the same in practice.
https://blog.flashrouters.com/2021/08/02/what-is-the-difference-between-client-bridge-wireless-repeater-modes-in-dd-wrt/

How Does the DD-WRT Client Wireless Bridge Differ from Repeater Mode?
"A Client Bridge links computers while a Wireless Repeater connects
routers. If you are looking to extend wireless access to more remote parts
of a home or office then use a Repeater. However, if you are looking to
create a more seamless integrated network of computers without concern for
extended wireless signal, then use a Client Bridge."

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<ttufsu$t021$1@dont-email.me>

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Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: Incubus - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 04:02 UTC

On 2023-03-04, gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> wrote:
>> The router's firmware would have to support that. Most OEM's don't offer
>> that option but you could check to see if 3rd party router firmware is
>> available for your specific model. dd-wrt, openwrt, and tomato are all
>> fairly popular.
>
> He's likely to need dd-wrt but it can be installed on most recent routers.
>
> As for the bridge versus the repeater this tries to explain dd-wrt's
> terminology but I find them both to be almost the same in practice.
> https://blog.flashrouters.com/2021/08/02/what-is-the-difference-between-client-bridge-wireless-repeater-modes-in-dd-wrt/
>
> How Does the DD-WRT Client Wireless Bridge Differ from Repeater Mode?
> "A Client Bridge links computers while a Wireless Repeater connects
> routers. If you are looking to extend wireless access to more remote parts
> of a home or office then use a Repeater. However, if you are looking to
> create a more seamless integrated network of computers without concern for
> extended wireless signal, then use a Client Bridge."

Assuming we're starting off with a soho router like the op seems to be
doing, then the way I look at the choice of setting it up as either a home
wireless repeater or as a home wireless client bridge is the bridge is
clearly the way to go over the repeater.

I'm assuming you're not connecting different subnets for this declaration
because if you're tying two networks together then you must use the bridge.

But if you're just trying to extend range inside a home on the same
network, then the wireless client bridge has what I understand to be a
speed advantage over the wireless repeater (assuming the same router in
both setups).

The wireless client bridge also can connect to just any old access point
inside your home (if you have them spread about that is) while the wireless
client repeater (as far as I'm aware) must connect to another router only.

If you have a PC with an Ethernet NIC, you can use the RJ45 output to
connect to either the wireless bridge or the wireless repeater so that's
the same there in terms of connected to a computer by wire to extend that
computer's range - but I'd use the bridge solely due to the faster speed.

In both cases you gain two new access points, where with the wireless
repeater, the router has two access points (5Ghz and 2.4Ghz) located in the
remote location but it's the same with the wireless client bridge since it
also has the same two access points since we're comparing the same router
set up in two different configurations.

In the end analysis, assuming you have a normal dual access point router
set up either as a wireless client bridge or as a wireless repeater, as far
as I can tell from thinking about it, both do the same job except the
wireless repeater is restricted to connecting to only another router (and
not another access point) and the wireless repeater is limited in speed.

That makes it a no brainer to extend signal in a home with an extra typical
router set up as a wireless client bridge, which you may need DD-WRT for.

I could be wrong because when I read the descriptions of the differences,
they don't sound anything like my experiences of using home soho routers as
wireless client bridges and as wireless repeaters.

Let me know if I'm wrong as I'm only basing this on experience where I have
a wired repeater and a wireless client bridge set up at this very moment.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<ttuqui$trqt$1@dont-email.me>

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From: jbb...@notatt.com (Jeff Barnett)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: Jeff Barnett - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 07:11 UTC

On 3/3/2023 12:27 PM, dan wrote:
> The current home router is currently set up as the LAN gateway on
> 192.168.1.1 and it's set to get the WAN Internet IP address from the modem,
> and it's set to hand out DHCP addresses from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254.
>
> I've just now configured a new replacement router the same way by
> connecting it to the Ethernet port of my Windows PC & duplicating
> the setup that was on the old router (as much as was possible).
>
> I'm going to swap them, but I might lose my Internet so I ask now.
>
> After I replace that current router with the new router, then I have an
> extra router which I'd like to make some kind of future use of somehow.
>
> I guess the simplest task is to re-use the spare router as a switch, right?
> (I don't really need the extra four LAN ports but why not add them anyway?)
>
> But how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?
>
> Do I change the old router IP address from 192.168.1.1 to a static IP of
> something unused in the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254 or do I let
> the replacement router (which is set up to hand out DHCP addresses in that
> range) do it?
>
> Does it matter what IP address I set that new "dumb" switch to?
>
> Mainly I'm asking (before I switch over) how to turn the now spare router
> into something useful, such as a dumb switch (to get four more ports).

I have a two Netgear routers in my home network. One of them acts as a
router - it talks to the cable modem, handles the wired LAN, and runs a
wireless network for that LAN - it is placed adjacent to the cable modem
and that is near a corner of the house. The other router is set, using
Netgear-provided software, to be an AP (access point) and is connected
to the other router by wire. The AP allows access by WiFi and routes the
traffic to the first router where IP addresses are assigned, etc. The
wired ports on AP make the AP look like a switch to access the LAN.
Note, the wireless network hosted by the AP has a different name than
the one hosted by the router.

In addition to AP mode, the AP router offers a bridge mode that seems to
be very much like AP but with a few differences - I don't think you need
to run wire between the router and the bridge, but am not sure. In any
event, I think most fairly modern routers will offer these sorts of
capabilities. You will need to grab the manual for your equipment and do
some reading. If it's clear, you do it; if not, find someone or some
forum to consult with specific questions. I've told you all I can
remember about the topic but I'm sure that some of the better informed
folks here might have memory jogged by this post. Good luck!
--
Jeff Barnett

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

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From: larsande...@glocalnet.se (Lars Anders)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2023 08:42:11 +0100
Organization: To protect and to server
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 by: Lars Anders - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 07:42 UTC

On 4 Mar 2023, Jeff Barnett <jbb@notatt.com> wrote :

> In addition to AP mode, the AP router offers a bridge mode that seems to
> be very much like AP but with a few differences - I don't think you need
> to run wire between the router and the bridge, but am not sure.

In the advanced setup for my netgear router are four buttons for four
different modes like you are describing for your netgear router too.

Netgear > Advanced Setup > Router/AP/Bridge/Repeating Mode >
Router Mode
AP Mode
Bridge Mode
Repeating Mode

Like you, I'm not really sure what the difference is in terms of how a
typical home owner would use them to extend their network given most
homeowners only have one subnet but everyone could use greater range.

What's confusing to me is all four modes will allow the 2.4 and 5 gigahertz
antennas to connect as an access point, so I don't know why they even
bother having an access point mode when bridge mode will also work as an
access point (both a bridge & AP at the same time) as with the repeating
mode (both a repeater & an AP) as will router mode (both a router & AP).

Why even bother having an AP mode when all the other modes do that too?

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<ttvip4$2qbpe$1@paganini.bofh.team>

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From: Newya...@invalid.nospam (Newyana2)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: Newyana2 - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 13:57 UTC

"dan" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote

| Is a switch a good use for a spare router?
| I don't really need anything in particular, so that's why I ask.
| I'm just trying to make use of the router now that I have it as a spare.
|

I wonder if it's worth the trouble. I have spare routers,
but when I wanted to go over five wired connections I
just bought a network switch. I think it was $25 for a
4-port switch, which works as easily as a multi-receptacle
extension cord. Some connections are fixed IP. Some are
DHCP. The router handles that. (I like to avoid wifi for
security and efficiency. So I've got 50' or 100' cables at
Home Depot and run them next to the forced hot air
heat ducts to bring ethernet outlets to the whole house.)

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<ofl60idrhnnsbs645r88lnmf4p2a9u1smp@4ax.com>

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From: Ken...@invalid.news.com (Ken Blake)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
Date: Sat, 04 Mar 2023 07:36:13 -0700
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 by: Ken Blake - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 14:36 UTC

On Fri, 03 Mar 2023 20:35:00 -0600, Char Jackson <none@none.invalid>
wrote:

>From: Char Jackson <none@none.invalid>
>Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
>Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
>X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 6.00/32.1186
>
>On Sat, 4 Mar 2023 00:07:54 -0200, dan <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 03 Mar 2023 17:27:21 -0600, Char Jackson wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>> how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?
>>>>
>>>>disabling DHCP, making sure its IP addr doesn't clash with the new
>>>>router, not using the WAN port, link one of it's LAN ports to one of the
>>>>new router's LAN ports just about covers it, enable or disable wifi to suit.
>>>
>>> I agree with Andy, but just wanted to add a bit of additional detail to
>>> the DHCP step.
>>
>>Thanks because I don't know what I'm doing so I appreciate the advice.
>>
>>I didn't realize until it was said above that I could not only get three or
>>four extra LAN ports out of the spare router by using it as a dumb switch,
>>but also the 5GHz and 2GHz wi-fi access points. I didn't think of that.
>>
>>That means my options for re-use of the old router seem to be these in
>>order of what I presume would be the complexity and risk of the setup.
>>[1] switch + AP (gets 3 or 4 ports + the 5GHz & 2GHz access points)
>
>That one's easy. You're probably already there.
>
>>[2] wired repeater (full speed) physically wired to the gateway router
>
>I don't know what a wired repeater might be. It sounds like a regular
>old Access Point (AP), typically with its own unique SSID.
>
>>[3] wireless repeater (half speed) over the air to the gateway router
>
>The router's firmware would have to support that. Most OEM's don't offer
>that option but you could check to see if 3rd party router firmware is
>available for your specific model. dd-wrt, openwrt, and tomato are all
>fairly popular.
>
>You're not likely to be happy with a half duplex repeater, though. In
>theory, the throughput speed is cut half, but in practice it can be much
>worse than that.
>
>>[4] wireless client bridge + AP over the air to the gateway router
>> (or over the air to any AP)
>
>Again, the router's firmware would have to support that, and it probably
>doesn't, so you'd be looking for 3rd party firmware for this option, as
>well.
>
>>The switch idea is good because you always need more ports near the gateway
>
>I agree with needing more ports, up to a point, but check the speed of
>those ports. If they're only 100 megabit, you may want to pass in favor
>of a dedicated switch that handles gigabit. Switches with 5 or 8 gig
>ports aren't expensive anymore.

My 4-ethernet-port router has one free port, so I don't expect to need
more ports any time soon.

But, not knowing what the future will bring, if I needed more ports
some day, would this $18.99 switch be a good choice?

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07PFYM5MZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VJNMB3XPQXC&keywords=lan%2Bswitch%2B8%2Bport&qid=1677940077&sprefix=lan%2Bswitch%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-3&th=1

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<040320231018523509%nospam@nospam.invalid>

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Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: nospam - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 15:18 UTC

In article <ofl60idrhnnsbs645r88lnmf4p2a9u1smp@4ax.com>, Ken Blake
<Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:

> My 4-ethernet-port router has one free port, so I don't expect to need
> more ports any time soon.
>
> But, not knowing what the future will bring, if I needed more ports
> some day, would this $18.99 switch be a good choice?
>
> https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07PFYM5MZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VJNMB3XPQXC&keywords=lan%2Bswitch%2B8%2Bport&qid=1677940077&sprefix=lan%2Bswitch%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-3&th=1
>

that and similar 8 port switches are fairly generic and available from
a variety of manufacturers, although i've had multiple power adapter
failures with netgear. fortunately, the power adapters are even more
generic (12v) and easy to replace.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

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From: Ken...@invalid.news.com (Ken Blake)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: Ken Blake - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 15:31 UTC

On Sat, 04 Mar 2023 10:18:52 -0500, nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid>
wrote:

>In article <ofl60idrhnnsbs645r88lnmf4p2a9u1smp@4ax.com>, Ken Blake
><Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>
>> My 4-ethernet-port router has one free port, so I don't expect to need
>> more ports any time soon.
>>
>> But, not knowing what the future will bring, if I needed more ports
>> some day, would this $18.99 switch be a good choice?
>>
>> https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07PFYM5MZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VJNMB3XPQXC&keywords=lan%2Bswitch%2B8%2Bport&qid=1677940077&sprefix=lan%2Bswitch%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-3&th=1
>>
>
>that and similar 8 port switches are fairly generic and available from
>a variety of manufacturers, although i've had multiple power adapter
>failures with netgear. fortunately, the power adapters are even more
>generic (12v) and easy to replace.

OK, thanks for the info.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<HDOdnafF1vt79Z75nZ2dnZfqnPadnZ2d@earthlink.com>

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 by: Ant - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 15:51 UTC

In alt.comp.os.windows-10 Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
....
> But, not knowing what the future will bring, if I needed more ports
> some day, would this $18.99 switch be a good choice?

> https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07PFYM5MZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VJNMB3XPQXC&keywords=lan%2Bswitch%2B8%2Bport&qid=1677940077&sprefix=lan%2Bswitch%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-3&th=1

Also, is that enhanced software worth getting and using? Or can we use a
free third party software?
--
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." --Colossians 1:15. Finally, warm sun 4 da 3-body colony to go out 2 forage/shop, move, eat, cut hairs, less humans, etc. yesterday. No rain 4 a couple wks.? No naps 4 days 2.
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
| |o o| |
\ _ /
( )

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<ttvu6d$2rihb$1@paganini.bofh.team>

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From: nos...@nospam.com (dan)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2023 15:12:58 -0200
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 by: dan - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 17:12 UTC

On Sat, 4 Mar 2023 08:57:37 -0500, Newyana2 wrote:

> I wonder if it's worth the trouble. I have spare routers,
> but when I wanted to go over five wired connections I
> just bought a network switch. I think it was $25 for a
> 4-port switch, which works as easily as a multi-receptacle
> extension cord. Some connections are fixed IP. Some are
> DHCP. The router handles that. (I like to avoid wifi for
> security and efficiency. So I've got 50' or 100' cables at
> Home Depot and run them next to the forced hot air
> heat ducts to bring ethernet outlets to the whole house.)

Who wouldn't want extended range for free without cost or waste?
And who wouldn't want to save landfills from one more piece of waste?

My thoughts are that I hate to waste things, and buying a new "anything" is
a tremendous waste for the environment if everyone acted that way.

I would also say most people could use a few more ports, but as some noted,
they never hook voip phones or cellular mini towers or network printers or
additional wired access points or wired repeaters and the like to their
main home router so most of its ports are probably unused already.

But I would assume almost everyone not living in a one-bedroom flat would
like to have increased signal strength in the furthest places of the home.

Most people, I would think, would be like me in that they don't want to
string wires so what's left is the choice of using the extra router as
[1] smart switch (I later realized a switch can also be an access point)
[2] access point (which is a switch and an access point)
[3] wireless repeater (which also has access points)
[4] wireless client bridge (which also has access point)
[5] wired pc wireless range extender (connected to the client bridge)

What's confusing now that I think more deeply of what a typical wireless
home router can do is that almost every option starts looking like the same
thing if you're not bridging networks. They all seem to have access points.

Am I correct in assuming that every option listed above in some way can
"extend the range" of your signal when set up on a typical home router?

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

<EdLML.58423$LAYb.28306@fx02.iad>

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 by: Alan Browne - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 17:29 UTC

On 2023-03-04 12:12, dan wrote:
> On Sat, 4 Mar 2023 08:57:37 -0500, Newyana2 wrote:
>
>
>> I wonder if it's worth the trouble. I have spare routers,
>> but when I wanted to go over five wired connections I
>> just bought a network switch. I think it was $25 for a
>> 4-port switch, which works as easily as a multi-receptacle
>> extension cord. Some connections are fixed IP. Some are
>> DHCP. The router handles that. (I like to avoid wifi for
>> security and efficiency. So I've got 50' or 100' cables at
>> Home Depot and run them next to the forced hot air
>> heat ducts to bring ethernet outlets to the whole house.)
>
> Who wouldn't want extended range for free without cost or waste?
> And who wouldn't want to save landfills from one more piece of waste?

This is my first thought as well, along with benefits such as another AP
for WiFi.

However, it is more complicated to set up and will require maintenance
at some point down the line if the configuration changes.

Why a smart/unmanaged switch is so easy to install - and not expensive.

> My thoughts are that I hate to waste things, and buying a new "anything" is
> a tremendous waste for the environment if everyone acted that way.

Indeed. Why I repurpose a lot of things or sell/give them away to
someone who might need it.

> I would also say most people could use a few more ports, but as some noted,
> they never hook voip phones or cellular mini towers or network printers or
> additional wired access points or wired repeaters and the like to their
> main home router so most of its ports are probably unused already.

WiFi does a lot to avoid cables, and a lot of "appliances" have WiFi
(printers, etc) so it's appealing to avoid cabling.

I personally have run Ethernet from my home office to the downstairs
AppleTV - mainly because the routing turned out to be convenient
(through the bathroom under the tub, downstairs to the laundry room,
through there (above the window, exposed), into the wall and down to
exit near the AppleTV.

But. If I had to run it to the other end of the house I doubt I'd even
try. WiFi would do it.

> But I would assume almost everyone not living in a one-bedroom flat would
> like to have increased signal strength in the furthest places of the home.

Of course.

>
> Most people, I would think, would be like me in that they don't want to
> string wires so what's left is the choice of using the extra router as
> [1] smart switch (I later realized a switch can also be an access point)
> [2] access point (which is a switch and an access point)
> [3] wireless repeater (which also has access points)
> [4] wireless client bridge (which also has access point)
> [5] wired pc wireless range extender (connected to the client bridge)
>
> What's confusing now that I think more deeply of what a typical wireless
> home router can do is that almost every option starts looking like the same
> thing if you're not bridging networks. They all seem to have access points.
>
> Am I correct in assuming that every option listed above in some way can
> "extend the range" of your signal when set up on a typical home router?

Sure. With caveats and maintenance in mind.

--
“Donald Trump and his allies and supporters are a clear and present
danger to American democracy.”
- J Michael Luttig - 2022-06-16
- Former US appellate court judge (R) testifying to the January 6
committee

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

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From: nos...@nospam.com (dan)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2023 15:55:12 -0200
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 by: dan - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 17:55 UTC

On Sat, 4 Mar 2023 12:29:07 -0500, Alan Browne wrote:

>> Who wouldn't want extended range for free without cost or waste?
>> And who wouldn't want to save landfills from one more piece of waste?
>
> This is my first thought as well, along with benefits such as another AP
> for WiFi.

Like you I don't want to waste things and I only started realizing that
every option that I choose adds both the access points and the switches.

> However, it is more complicated to set up and will require maintenance
> at some point down the line if the configuration changes.

I don't "maintain" my routers since nowadays they can upload the latest
firmware on their own, and they take their IP address from the modem too.

> Why a smart/unmanaged switch is so easy to install - and not expensive.

Can't argue with you that a dumb switch is the easiest method, which is why
originally I was only thinking about re-use as a switch but then I realized
while looking at all the responses that EVERY option adds two things anyway
[1] three or four extra ports
[2] two Wi-Fi access points (one 2.4GHz and one 5GHz)

If anything, I have more appreciation now than before I opened this topic
that a router is a powerful set of switches & access points no matter how
you configure it for a typical home environment.
>> My thoughts are that I hate to waste things, and buying a new "anything" is
>> a tremendous waste for the environment if everyone acted that way.
>
> Indeed. Why I repurpose a lot of things or sell/give them away to
> someone who might need it.

I only recently realized another use can be to augment a PC's weak Wi-Fi
NIC by connecting the router to the Ethernet port and using it for three
different purposes all at the same time (which is amazing).

[1] It starts as a wireless client bridge connected to any AP in the home
[2] For free it adds a few more ports at that PC if you need more Ethernet
[3] And for free it adds two Wi-Fi access points at the location of the PC

I don't see any disadvantage of this other than it uses up the one Ethernet
port most PCs have but if you're not using it, then that's not a drawback.

>> I would also say most people could use a few more ports, but as some noted,
>> they never hook voip phones or cellular mini towers or network printers or
>> additional wired access points or wired repeaters and the like to their
>> main home router so most of its ports are probably unused already.
>
> WiFi does a lot to avoid cables, and a lot of "appliances" have WiFi
> (printers, etc) so it's appealing to avoid cabling.

On a humorous sidenote, I observe that going wireless has produced more
wires than I had before I only had long ago wired devices. :->
> I personally have run Ethernet from my home office to the downstairs
> AppleTV - mainly because the routing turned out to be convenient
> (through the bathroom under the tub, downstairs to the laundry room,
> through there (above the window, exposed), into the wall and down to
> exit near the AppleTV.

I've run cabling too but I prefer for this re-use not to, so the only
cabling will either be from the new home router to the old re-used router
(to get more ports mostly as I don't need more access points in the office)
or from a PC ethernet port to the old re-used router (to extend its range
and to add more ethernet ports to the pc and to add two more access points
at the location of the pc).

Practically, that option seems to be the best but it would likely be only
useful for a static desktop and not useful for a laptop which moves around.

> But. If I had to run it to the other end of the house I doubt I'd even
> try. WiFi would do it.

One trick I've used in the past to get signal from one end of the house to
the far end is to drill a hole in the outside wall where the modem cable
runs into the house and run the cat5 cabling from the home router in the
office out that hole and then around the outside perimeter of the house and
then either bring the signal back inside the house at the other end by
drilling another hole or without drilling the hole using an access point
just outside the window pointing back into the house.

I'd use the router if I could but it has to be outdoor equipment for that.

>> But I would assume almost everyone not living in a one-bedroom flat would
>> like to have increased signal strength in the furthest places of the home.
>
> Of course.

With all this advice, I'm now leaning toward using the extra router to
augment a desktop pc's existing Wi-Fi NIC because the extra router might be
more powerful than the PC's internal Wi-Fi NIC, and it also adds extra
ethernet ports to the PC and it also adds two additional access points to
the PC which cellphones can use.

This seems like a perfect solution for a desktop PC far from the location
of the main home router which is usually located near where the modem is.

The only requirement is the desktop PC needs to have an empty RJ45 port.

>> Am I correct in assuming that every option listed above in some way can
>> "extend the range" of your signal when set up on a typical home router?
>
> Sure. With caveats and maintenance in mind.

Once I set up a router, I don't look at it for years, and because of that I
often tape a written description of the login details because I don't touch
it for another five years and then I forget what the login credentials are.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

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From: non...@none.invalid (Char Jackson)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: Char Jackson - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 17:56 UTC

On Sat, 04 Mar 2023 15:51:02 +0000, ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) wrote:

>In alt.comp.os.windows-10 Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>...
>> But, not knowing what the future will bring, if I needed more ports
>> some day, would this $18.99 switch be a good choice?
>
>> https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07PFYM5MZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VJNMB3XPQXC&keywords=lan%2Bswitch%2B8%2Bport&qid=1677940077&sprefix=lan%2Bswitch%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-3&th=1
>
>Also, is that enhanced software worth getting and using? Or can we use a
>free third party software?

What enhanced software? If you mean 3rd party router firmware, yes,
that's generally free, but it's not applicable to a switch.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

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From: non...@none.invalid (Char Jackson)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.internet.wireless
Subject: Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch
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 by: Char Jackson - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 18:03 UTC

On Sat, 04 Mar 2023 07:36:13 -0700, Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com>
wrote:

>My 4-ethernet-port router has one free port, so I don't expect to need
>more ports any time soon.
>
>But, not knowing what the future will bring, if I needed more ports
>some day, would this $18.99 switch be a good choice?
>
>https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07PFYM5MZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VJNMB3XPQXC&keywords=lan%2Bswitch%2B8%2Bport&qid=1677940077&sprefix=lan%2Bswitch%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-3&th=1

I agree with nospam. I currently have 3 Netgear GS208 switches scattered
around the house where I need extra gigabit ports and they've been
working fine for the past 3 years or so. The main difference between the
GS208 and the GS308 (linked above) seems to be that the 308 has a metal
case, which is nice, while my 208's are plastic. If I was buying today,
the Netgear GS308 would be on my short list.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

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 by: nospam - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 18:32 UTC

In article <HDOdnafF1vt79Z75nZ2dnZfqnPadnZ2d@earthlink.com>, Ant
<ant@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> > But, not knowing what the future will bring, if I needed more ports
> > some day, would this $18.99 switch be a good choice?
>
> >
> > https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07PFYM5
> > MZ/

> Also, is that enhanced software worth getting and using? Or can we use a
> free third party software?

what enhanced software?

it's an unmanaged switch. there isn't anything software can do.

Re: How do I turn a spare router into a dumb switch

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 by: nospam - Sat, 4 Mar 2023 18:32 UTC

In article <5i170i14itk2mo8bm0enbbv1rupvqls1d0@4ax.com>, Char Jackson
<none@none.invalid> wrote:

> I currently have 3 Netgear GS208 switches scattered
> around the house where I need extra gigabit ports and they've been
> working fine for the past 3 years or so. The main difference between the
> GS208 and the GS308 (linked above) seems to be that the 308 has a metal
> case, which is nice, while my 208's are plastic. If I was buying today,
> the Netgear GS308 would be on my short list.

i've never seen a plastic netgear switch. all of the ones i have are
metal, going back to 100b-t days.

for an unmanaged gigabit switch, there's no real difference between
brands and probably have the same chipset inside.

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