Create a wireless network bridge

Sep 14, '02 01:04:51PM

Contributed by: skippingrock

In OS X 10.2, Apple has added the new "share your Internet connection" function, and I am sure that a lot of users are going to use it as a software AirPort basestation. But I thought, why couldn't you go the other way? So that is just what I did, created a wireless network bridge.

Here's how I did it...

  1. Wire connect your wireless base station to your WAN. This works with any 802.11b Basestation I've tried, Apple or otherwise.

  2. Wire connect any Ethernet computers to your base station for your first network node.

  3. Wirelessly connect your AirPort based computer to the wireless base station. I call this computer the "Ethernet Basestation," and it will form the point of your second Ethernet node.

  4. On the "Ethernet Basestation"0 computer, do the following:
    1. Open the Network pane in the System Preferences
    2. On the "Show:" pop-up menu, select 'Network Port Configurations'.
    3. Change the precedence order by moving 'AirPort' above the 'Ethernet' port you are going to connect your sub-net.
    4. Click 'Apply Now'.
    5. Switch to the Sharing preferences pane.
    6. Click the 'Internet' tab.
    7. Click 'Start'.
    8. A message will state "You are connected to the Internet over AirPort. This connection will be shared with computers connected to Built-in Ethernet."

  5. Connect your wired Ethernet device (or devices via a hub) to the "Ethernet Basestation". I say devices because I am thinking that they could be a printer, PS2, etc.

  6. Set the Ethernet computers to use DHCP. Reboot if you are using Mac OS 9.

  7. You're done! Surf the net on you wired Ethernet computers!
I can now have my own wired network that is connected to the Internet without stringing any wires to connect to my landlord's network or the WAN! Wired -> Wireless -> Wired again! This wiring method has a number of interesting possible uses, including:[Editor's note: Some of these uses may violate the terms of your contract for internet services; you might wish to read your paperwork before attempting to do some of these things!]

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