Question : Can I convert a wifi router to an access point?

I've been told by a few experts that most wifi routers will behave exactly like an access point - if I just turn off DHCP.

Is this true and is it easy in most, (Linksys, Netgear or Dlink), wifi routers?

Most Access Points cost retail $130+, while most wif routers cost less than $80. If true, this is a way to save alot of money.

Thanks.

Answer : Can I convert a wifi router to an access point?

Just in the last few months I've done at least a dozen as various friends have obtained a 2nd router from Vonage -- so we converted their current wireless router's to Access points.  With both Netgear & Linksys, the IP passthroughs have been problematic -- with EVERY Netgear (may be the worst offender) and one of the Linksys routers (I don't recall the model, but it was an 802.11b, so it had to be a couple years old).  I've not had any issues with USR or Belkin -- the Belkins have an "Access Mode" setting, so they're particularly easy.

When you do encounter a problem - and if you do enough you will - you can "watch" the DHCP server's network table, and when you turn on a wireless client you'll "see" the IP being assigned, but the IP won't make it to the wireless device.  Plug in a wired connection to the same "Access Point" (reconfigured router) and all will work perfectly.  I've exchanged numerous e-mails with both Netgear & Linksys about this, but all they ever suggest is setting it the way I've already got it configured, or upgrading the firmware (which I've always got upgraded to the most current before I contact them).   In any event, the "fix" is to do what I noted above -- and all works perfectly after you do that.  I also always have the wireless connections set to use at least 128-bit security, but this has no impact on the issue - turning this off doesn't change the strange behavior.