From: gwelsh@spamcop.net   
      
   "Some Guy"  wrote in message news:4FA092FF.BCFC51CB@Guy.com...   
   > Is there such a thing as a wireless switch?   
      
   "Switch" kind of implies dedicated bandwidth for each device, which kind of   
   contradicts how wireless (WiFi, anyway) works.  Would you settle for a hub?   
   Read on...   
      
   > Our lan has a subnet of 192.168.2.0.  I would want our wireless devices   
   > to have IP addresses on the same subnet, and NOT be subnetted to a   
   > different net through a wireless router.   
      
   The name for that is "access point"... a device which creates a (shared)   
   wireless network connected to a wired LAN.  Without routing.  Unfortunately,   
   access points are a lower volume device compared to wireless routers so they   
   tend to be both less well stocked and more expensive (even though they   
   contain a subset of the functionality of a wireless router.)  It is probably   
   cheaper to buy a wireless router, disable the DHCP server on it, and use   
   only the LAN side of the device (i.e., leave the WAN port unconnected) and   
   use it as an access point... and pay no attention to the router part.   
      
   > I would imagine that this might require that this hypothetical switch   
   > would require 1 LAN connection for every wifi device being connected to   
   > it.   
      
   If you're really sensitive about sharing the wireless bandwidth you could   
   try using multiple access points on multiple channels but be aware that WiFi   
   channels overlap so once you get past two or three devices - or if there are   
   any other WiFi networks near you - this isn't going to accomplish anything.   
      
   > We have an issue currently where computers connected through wifi can't   
   > seem to browse the network work groups and find (and connect to) shared   
   > directories on various servers - but they can if directly connected via   
   > wired ethernet to our office 24-port switch.   
      
   If they're behind a router, then that would contribute to the problem   
   (Ethernet broadcasts, which comprise some of the ways that Microsoft   
   Networking sends announcements and queries, do not transit routers.)   
   Devices connected to a wireless access point should be able to see each   
   other without the need for each to be connected to a different switch port.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)