Hi. I just got an access point, but I am kind of new to the whole wireless lan concept, so I was wondering if someone could clear things up for me. I'd like to know if I can use the Access Point and the ADSL modem that I have so that I can connect from my laptop from anywhere in my house. If I can, could someone provide some details?

When asking a question about hardware it is always a god idea to include the model number of the hardware in question. It helps to make an accurate assessment of the situation.

However, without that information the answerer is probably not. You may also need a switch, probably.

Stuart

You'd want to have a router, not a switch. Luckily, a SOHO router with 4 LAN ports is essentially a switch with NAT/DHCP and a firewall added to it so that would cover all your bases.

The access point would require and IP address (preferably provided by DHCP on your SOHO router) and need to be plugged into the router in order to get that address. It would look as follows:

ISP >> modem >> router >> AP + clients (both wired and wireless)

why we need a router to connect ADSL modem to AP ...ADSL modem have LAN port at the back , which can connect to AP with straigth cable..??

Thanks / Regard
mike

>> ADSL modem have LAN port at the back <<

Unfortunately they don't if that is what you have. If there is more than one port there must be a switch incorporated. As you cannot connect a modem directly to a switch and expect to share a single IP address there must be NAT involved as well which is the function of a router.

This is why I asked for model numbers in post one as some people refer to a combined modem/router/switch device as simply a modem which is a bit misleading.

Knowing the model numbers avoids having to guess what was meant.

Stuart