Easiest way to convert a wireless Internet signal into a wired one

September 22, 2024 3:36 PM

I need a device (wireless bridge? Ethernet bridge? I dunno) that converts a WiFi signal into a wired one. I would like it to be easy to set up.

I've found that networking gear is often complex and unintuitive, with poor or non-existent instructions. I'm looking for something that's user-friendly, simple, and easy to configure. And, of course, I would like it to be reliable. Cost is less of an issue.

In case it matters, I'm in the US.

posted by akk2014 to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

Do you want to connect 1 or more computers that do not have wifi to a wifi network (easy), or do you want to connect an existing wired network to a wifi network? (harder)
posted by zippy at 4:07 PM on September 22

A GOOD range extender will often have an actual Ethernet port, such as the TP-Link RE315.
posted by kschang at 4:08 PM on September 22 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: @zippy: I want to have a backup Internet connection for when my Spectrum line goes down, which seems to happen often. So I want to take the hotspot broadcast by my iPad and convert it into a wired connection, so I can plug an Ethernet cable into my router and have my router use my iPad as the Internet source.
posted by akk2014 at 4:32 PM on September 22

We have either the exact same TP-Link as above or a close relative, as we travel full-time and occasionally run into locked-away home routers so we can't put our normal mesh network on their ethernet port.

I haven't ever tried it with my phone's hotspot, and if I knew where it was right now I'd test that for you.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:37 PM on September 22

This is sometimes called "WiFi As WAN" Some routers support this, but many do not.

Here's an overview : https://5gstore.com/blog/2023/03/27/using-wifi-as-wan-a-cost-effective-backup-internet-connection/

Some routers may be able to access the network directly over USB, in which case you could plug your iPad into the router via USB. This is called "USB WAN".

Several Peplink models support both of these features, for example the B One

If you went this route you'd probably just replace your existing router with one of these.
posted by soylent00FF00 at 4:59 PM on September 22 [1 favorite]

I was going to suggest a wifi extender with an ethernet port as well. They're not too expensive. But I've never tried using one to turn an iPad into a wired connection, I must admit...
posted by tacodave at 2:22 PM on September 24