From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service. Specifically WiFi, not 4G/5G.

I am aware that USB adapters exist that can be plugged into a laptop to achieve WiFi access. Also that some routers have one (or more) USB
sockets. So can anybody suggest a router and WiFi USB adapter that will
work together?

The router will need some LAN ports and WiFi to allow clients to connect
to it.

TIA
--
Graham J
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

Graham J wrote:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service.

My Vigor 2865ac seems to have the option to use WAN2 for a 2.4GHz WAN interface, or WAN3 as a 5GHz WAN interface... sorry I'm not going to
dick about any further than that to test it ...

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

Graham J <nobody@nowhere.co.uk> wrote:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service. Specifically WiFi, not 4G/5G.

I am aware that USB adapters exist that can be plugged into a laptop to achieve WiFi access. Also that some routers have one (or more) USB
sockets. So can anybody suggest a router and WiFi USB adapter that will work together?

The router will need some LAN ports and WiFi to allow clients to connect
to it.

I needed the same a few years ago, it's call "WiFi Client" mode (by
TP-Link at least). Here's the list of possibles I made:-

^ Name ^ Price ^ LAN ports ^ Comments ^
| Edimax EW-7228APn | -u17.73 | 5 | Manual doesn't describe client mode |
| Netgear WN2000RPT | -u26.70 | 4 | Seems fairly basic |
| Solwise ECB3500 | -u71.11 | 1 | Expensive and overkill |
| Solwise Smart AP3 | -u66.84 | 4 | Ditto |
| TP-Link TL-WA5110G | -u17.33 | 1 | Seems to know about client mode |
| TP-Link TL-WA5210G | -u28.01 | 1 | Weatherproof |
| TP-Link TL-WR543G | -u16.99 | 4 | Seems basically what we want |
| TP-Link TL-WR743ND | -u14.42 | 4 | Looks the best for the price |

A TP-Link TL-WR743ND served me well for quite a while.
--
Chris Green
-+
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

Andy Burns wrote:

Graham J wrote:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service.

My Vigor 2865ac seems to have the option to use WAN2 for a 2.4GHz WAN interface, or WAN3 as a 5GHz WAN interface... sorry I'm not going to
dick about any further than that to test it ...

Thanks.

All the Vigor ac variants use their internal WiFi hardware to function
as an access point and a client simultaneously, so don't require a
separate WiFi device for the WAN connection. But they are quite expensive.
--
Graham J
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

On Mon 01/09/2025 17:52, Chris Green wrote:

Graham J <nobody@nowhere.co.uk> wrote:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service. Specifically WiFi, not 4G/5G.

I am aware that USB adapters exist that can be plugged into a laptop to
achieve WiFi access. Also that some routers have one (or more) USB
sockets. So can anybody suggest a router and WiFi USB adapter that will
work together?

The router will need some LAN ports and WiFi to allow clients to connect
to it.

I needed the same a few years ago, it's call "WiFi Client" mode (by
TP-Link at least). Here's the list of possibles I made:-

^ Name ^ Price ^ LAN ports ^ Comments ^
| Edimax EW-7228APn | -u17.73 | 5 | Manual doesn't describe client mode |
| Netgear WN2000RPT | -u26.70 | 4 | Seems fairly basic |
| Solwise ECB3500 | -u71.11 | 1 | Expensive and overkill |
| Solwise Smart AP3 | -u66.84 | 4 | Ditto |
| TP-Link TL-WA5110G | -u17.33 | 1 | Seems to know about client mode |
| TP-Link TL-WA5210G | -u28.01 | 1 | Weatherproof |
| TP-Link TL-WR543G | -u16.99 | 4 | Seems basically what we want |
| TP-Link TL-WR743ND | -u14.42 | 4 | Looks the best for the price |

A TP-Link TL-WR743ND served me well for quite a while.

Looks like this router is finished. The TP-L web site says 'end of life.'


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

Graham J wrote:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service.-a Specifically WiFi, not 4G/5G.

I am aware that USB adapters exist that can be plugged into a laptop to achieve WiFi access.-a Also that some routers have one (or more) USB sockets.-a So can anybody suggest a router and WiFi USB adapter that will work together?

The router will need some LAN ports and WiFi to allow clients to connect
to it.

OP here:

To correct my first sentence:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service (i.e. work as a client), while SIMULTANEOUSLY functioning as an access point for my wireless clients.
--
Graham J
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

On 1 Sep 2025 18:37, Graham J wrote:

Graham J wrote:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service.-a Specifically WiFi, not 4G/5G.

I am aware that USB adapters exist that can be plugged into a laptop to
achieve WiFi access.-a Also that some routers have one (or more) USB
sockets.-a So can anybody suggest a router and WiFi USB adapter that will
work together?

The router will need some LAN ports and WiFi to allow clients to connect
to it.

OP here:

To correct my first sentence:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service (i.e. work as a client), while SIMULTANEOUSLY functioning as an access point for my wireless clients.

I would build my own with a Windows machine using Internet Connection
Sharing. Use the native Wi-Fi (if a laptop) for the "WAN". I can't
quite remember if you can share through the same adapter. If not use
that USB Wi-Fi adapter to mention buying. Almost any Windows box will
do. It won't need much disk space or memory. If you want to use Wi-Fi
6 then perhaps a new, shiny box. https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/enable_disable_internet_connection_sharing.html

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

On 01/09/2025 18:37, Graham J wrote:

Graham J wrote:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service.-a Specifically WiFi, not 4G/5G.

I am aware that USB adapters exist that can be plugged into a laptop
to achieve WiFi access.-a Also that some routers have one (or more) USB
sockets.-a So can anybody suggest a router and WiFi USB adapter that
will work together?

The router will need some LAN ports and WiFi to allow clients to
connect to it.

OP here:

To correct my first sentence:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service (i.e. work as a client), while SIMULTANEOUSLY functioning as an access point for my wireless clients.

I did exactly what you want with a couple of very old TL-MR3420 3G
routers by flashing them with the OpenWrt firmware. Their website has a
long list of compatible routers.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

MikeS <MikeS@fred.com> wrote:

I did exactly what you want with a couple of very old TL-MR3420 3G
routers by flashing them with the OpenWrt firmware. Their website has a
long list of compatible routers.

I think it's going to be doable with most dual band routers where you can separate the bands - ie they operate as two separate wifi cards. Connect
the 2.4GHz to the upstream router and then provide an access point over
5GHz. Pretty much any router which supports both 2.4 and 5GHz running
OpenWRT should be able to do that.

I'm running it on an (ebay, ex-Zen) Fritzbox 7530 - not AX - and the wifi
works fine. I also ran a BT Homehub 5a which are available cheap and the
wifi works ok but it's quite old and not the fastest now.

If you want to do it with both being 2.4 or both being 5GHz, then you need a router with two physical radios in that band, and that might require the addition of an extra USB wifi stick or similar, so you'd need a router with
a USB port.

Theo
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

On 01/09/2025 17:27, Graham J wrote:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service.-a Specifically WiFi, not 4G/5G.

I am aware that USB adapters exist that can be plugged into a laptop to achieve WiFi access.-a Also that some routers have one (or more) USB sockets.-a So can anybody suggest a router and WiFi USB adapter that will work together?

The router will need some LAN ports and WiFi to allow clients to connect
to it.

I suspect a GL.iNet Beryl AX or similar will do what you're asking - https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-mt3000/
--
Bob Pullen
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

Bob Pullen <me@privacy.net> wrote:

I suspect a GL.iNet Beryl AX or similar will do what you're asking - https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-mt3000/

I'd disrecommend anything from GL.iNet. They 'run on OpenWRT', except:

- they violate the OpenWRT licence by not releasing sources
- they have closed source drivers, so even if there is an independent
OpenWRT port it can't support all the hardware (ie there's no benefit if
you want to run vanilla OpenWRT)
- they advertise 'runs OpenWrt 21.02' which is now 4 years old and contains
numerous vulnerabilties which have been patched in more recent versions.

Basically they're a Chinese ripoff merchant outside the reach of the law
from the OpenWRT folks enforcing their IP.

Theo
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

On 02/09/2025 11:22, Theo wrote:

MikeS <MikeS@fred.com> wrote:

I did exactly what you want with a couple of very old TL-MR3420 3G
routers by flashing them with the OpenWrt firmware. Their website has a
long list of compatible routers.

I think it's going to be doable with most dual band routers where you can separate the bands - ie they operate as two separate wifi cards. Connect
the 2.4GHz to the upstream router and then provide an access point over
5GHz. Pretty much any router which supports both 2.4 and 5GHz running OpenWRT should be able to do that.

I'm running it on an (ebay, ex-Zen) Fritzbox 7530 - not AX - and the wifi works fine. I also ran a BT Homehub 5a which are available cheap and the wifi works ok but it's quite old and not the fastest now.

If you want to do it with both being 2.4 or both being 5GHz, then you need a router with two physical radios in that band, and that might require the addition of an extra USB wifi stick or similar, so you'd need a router with
a USB port.

Theo

The comment "with both being 2.4 or both being 5GHz, then you need a
router with two physical radios in that band" is not correct. Those
ancient TL-MR3420 routers I mentioned have a single 2.4GHz radio and
OpenWrt operates simultaneously on the two functions. I used them
routinely to connect to a neighbour's free BT WiFi and provide
connections to any devices on my WiFi network.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.broadband

On 01/09/2025 17:27, Graham J wrote:

I'm looking for a router which has the capability to connect its WAN
port to a WiFi service.-a Specifically WiFi, not 4G/5G.

In some far flung places, WiFI is used as the IP carrier method.

I am aware that USB adapters exist that can be plugged into a laptop to achieve WiFi access.-a Also that some routers have one (or more) USB sockets.-a So can anybody suggest a router and WiFi USB adapter that will work together?

The router will need some LAN ports and WiFi to allow clients to connect
to it.

TIA

Surely be able to configure one of these like that.

https://mikrotik.com/product/hex_s_2025 - $69

I've recently been on a training course to learn about MikroTik routers
and their configuration in RouterOS, which is more at the business level
of things a'la Cisco - but not the price tag!

https://mikrotik.com/products

However, they are very flexible (anything to anything). I'll be getting
one for home when they finally do get around to finishing the upgrade of
the rest of the country to full-fibre, then do us.

YouTube: Switching to a 100% MikroTik Home Network! Part 1: MikroTik
RB5009 Router
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WEW0_XuISA
--
Adrian C
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2