I'm trying to connect my D-Link DIR-880L to my main router to basically extend the reach of my wireless signal. I have an ethernet cable that I'm able to connect to my main router via a switch placed in my master bedroom closet which is the hub of all the network cables.
I'm hoping someone can help me because it seems that the information I'm reading on the internet has one person saying one thing and another person saying something else. Go figure, right? So the DIR-880L has mode in the setup called router mode or bridge mode and I don't believe bridge mode is what I'm looking for. Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't bridge mode a way to extend a wireless signal but in order to do this, the DIR-880L has to be within reach of the main router because it takes the signal of the main router to connect to the network and from there pushes the signal out via the antennas of the DIR-880L? I've also read that although this works, it's not the most ideal because it will slow the clients connected to the DIR-880L because some of the data is basically being used to transmit data from the client to the DIR-880L and then some of the other data is being used to transmit data from the DIR-880L to the main router.
So if I'm understanding this correctly, I don't want this setup because I want to use the ethernet cable to connect to the main router, via the switch. The problem with this is, the DIR-880L doesn't have an Access Point mode, which is what I've read that I need. I've found some extenders that appear to have the router, bridge, and access point mode built into the set up options but the DIR-880L doesn't have this option. So I found that you basically need to turn off DHCP server. Is this all I need to do to accomplish what I want or is it more involved?
Also, if this works, can someone confirm that I would then be able to connect other clients via ethernet cables to the DIR-880L and via wireless or can the client only be connected via wireless? I ask because again, I'm reading conflicting information. Some say if you do it this way, you can only connect additional clients wirelessly. The other thing that throws me off is that I've read that if I connect it as an access point, the ethernet cable from the main router (via switch) must be connected to the DIR-880L using one of the LAN ports and NOT using the WAN port.
I know. Many questions but I'm confused so hoping someone can help me figure this out. Thanks.
I'm hoping someone can help me because it seems that the information I'm reading on the internet has one person saying one thing and another person saying something else. Go figure, right? So the DIR-880L has mode in the setup called router mode or bridge mode and I don't believe bridge mode is what I'm looking for. Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't bridge mode a way to extend a wireless signal but in order to do this, the DIR-880L has to be within reach of the main router because it takes the signal of the main router to connect to the network and from there pushes the signal out via the antennas of the DIR-880L? I've also read that although this works, it's not the most ideal because it will slow the clients connected to the DIR-880L because some of the data is basically being used to transmit data from the client to the DIR-880L and then some of the other data is being used to transmit data from the DIR-880L to the main router.
So if I'm understanding this correctly, I don't want this setup because I want to use the ethernet cable to connect to the main router, via the switch. The problem with this is, the DIR-880L doesn't have an Access Point mode, which is what I've read that I need. I've found some extenders that appear to have the router, bridge, and access point mode built into the set up options but the DIR-880L doesn't have this option. So I found that you basically need to turn off DHCP server. Is this all I need to do to accomplish what I want or is it more involved?
Also, if this works, can someone confirm that I would then be able to connect other clients via ethernet cables to the DIR-880L and via wireless or can the client only be connected via wireless? I ask because again, I'm reading conflicting information. Some say if you do it this way, you can only connect additional clients wirelessly. The other thing that throws me off is that I've read that if I connect it as an access point, the ethernet cable from the main router (via switch) must be connected to the DIR-880L using one of the LAN ports and NOT using the WAN port.
I know. Many questions but I'm confused so hoping someone can help me figure this out. Thanks.
