Actiontec GT701D is a wired router with built-in ADSL 2/2+ modem. What available options you can connect to building a wireless network in home or small offices?
In this article:
- Overview
- Connection options for WLAN
- Setting Up
What does Actiontec GT701D Do?
Actiontec GT701D is an ADSL modem with routing capability, meaning you can share your broadband internet connectivity with up to one class C subnet up to 253 computers using wired connection with multiple LAN Switches.
Main features:
- ADSL 2/2+ compliant modem with routing function
- Speeds up to 24Mbps downstream
- Powered by eco-friendly green technology
- One 10/100Mbps Ethernet port
Generally a single computer is connected to the Actiontec GT701D. Now, what are my options to extend the network either wired or wirelessly? Can I connect a wireless router?
Expanding with LAN Switch
With a single fast Ethernet port available, as general you have two options in expanding the internet connectivity: adding one or more wired LAN Switches and adding a wireless access point for creating a wireless network. Adding a LAN switch is easy, just use twisted network cable (UTP) and connecting one end of the cable to the Ethernet port of the Actiontec GT701D and the other end to one of the switch ports. That’s all, you don’t need to worry of configuring the IP address of the clients because your Actiontec GT701D includes DHCP server which is enabled by default.
Expanding Wirelessly
Actiontec GT701D is a router, meaning you don’t need a wireless router to connect for building a wireless network. Even though some wireless routers allow you connect the router to another router by changing or disabling couple of features of the wireless router such as the UPnP feature, but each manufacturer has their own instruction to do so. But there are some wireless routers which can be configured as the wireless router or as the wireless router such as Buffalo wireless routers. For example Buffalo Wzr-Hp-Ag300h wireless N600 dual band router a high power wireless router and access point.
So, the easiest way bridging the Actiontec GT701D to a WLAN is by adding a wireless access point for example you can use D-Link DAP-1360 wireless range extender.
Click here for guidelines in building a wireless network using DAP-1360 range extender.
Figure 1 shows Actiontec GT701D connects to a wireless router (Wzr-Hp-Ag300H) in wireless access point mode.
Fig 1 Actiontec GT701d diagram
You can also consider of expanding your network wirelessly using the TP-Link TL-WA901ND. TP-Link TL-WA901ND is an affordable wireless N300 access point with multi operation modes including wireless AP, clients, bridge and WDS bridging.
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