Wireless signal to cable?
 

Where I am staying is providing Wireless internet for me. This is a corporate apt that I will be in for a few months.

Unfortunately my VoIP phone service needs to have a hard-wired ethernet cable to get the signal.

Is there any type of adapter I can get which would take the wireless signal and do whatever is necessary for me to get it to be read by my VoIP box? i.e. something that converts wireless to cable or an adapter I plug into my VoIP box to receive the wireless signal?

Not sure where to even start looking, or what to look for.

Thank you.
MapleLeaf

You need a wireless bridge. Something like this. Which VOIP box do you have?

Thanks, that looks like what I need.

My VoIP box is a D-Link DG-102s. Would I need to find a bridge that works with that model or will any bridge do?

I think that should work, since I assume all it's doing it acting as a transparent bridge. I confess I'm not sure, though - it does specifically mention SIP, which isn't what your VOIP box uses. Maybe someone more knowledgeable (like SpaceBass) could chime in.

Yep, everyone is right on... a bridge should work fine. You can probably use your laptop as a bridge even, just turn on internet connection sharing...could be some NAT issues though.

An easy option is to get a linksys wireless router and flash it with dd-wrt (after I just slammed it in another thread :D ). Dd-wrt will allow the linksys to function as a bridge...works well too.

As far as VoIP is concerned, as long as its a true bridge, then you shouldn't have any problems at all- at least in terms of connecting to the network. Now, if the network is protected by NAT (which is most likely is) and there is no provision (IE pinhole, port forward, etc) for the VoIP adapter, then you may have issues with one way audio. I know absloutly nothing about that dlink VoIP thingy but if it does use SIP then you will probably have issues behind a firewall. If its a Skype adapter you'll be fine as skype traverses firewalls rather well (and very cool too I might add).

If its SIP, and you have audio issues, you might go back to the idea of using your laptop as a brige...just VPN into the network where your VoIP server lives and then bridge to the ethernet port on the laptop then plug the phone into your that port (may require a crossover cable)...and it will certinally require the stars to be aligned...a lot of VPN software doesnt allow bridging at all.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out!

These solutions would work, but there are other options as well. I don't know what VoIP provider you use, but Vonage offers their V-Phone for $40. It plugs into your PC via USB and you plug a headset into the V-Phone and make your calls.

Alternatively, there is the StarCom F1000. That's a WiFi-enabled phone that can connect itself to the wireless network. If your provider has those annoying portal page re-routes to connect (like at most hotels that offer free WiFi), this might not work.

Both of those are Vonage devices, but I'd imagine similar products are available with other providers. They might one or both be compatible with other providers with the right settings.

I am by no means an expert in this, but I think you should be able to use your laptop for this (assuming it has wireless and a network port) using Internet Connection Sharing.

SmilingBoy.

if you forgo a router, you'll need a crossover cable for this to work.

I thought this is not necessary anymore since Gigabit Ethernet?

SmilingBoy.

Totally depends on the NIC in question. All apples, for instance, have auto-sensing ports as do most switches. On the other hand, I've never seen a Dell with a NIC that will auto-switch.

Thank you for the great ideas, but this is coming across like Greek to me.

I am a rookie when it comes to techno stuff (well at least like this).

If I use my laptop as a bridge, how do I do that?

All I receive is a wireless signal (quite strong), don't know how to make the laptop a bridge.

As for switching providers, rather not do that. I have a prepaid 2 yr plan with a company in Toronto that is really, really cheap... don't want to switch if I can make this work.

If this is too much to guide me through here, spacebass would you be willing to guide me via email or a phone call? About to go into meetings for the afternoon, but otherwise should be ok timewise.

Maybe your provider offers a softphone (i.e. a program similar to Skype that you use with a headset), which you could install directly on your PC?

SmilingBoy.

I thought auto-sensing is part of the 1000BaseT specification, but might be wrong...

SmilingBoy.

I could be totally wrong too...if thats the case then that was a smart move by someone!

Glad to try and help any way I can...rather swamped at work today though. If you can wait a bit I'll see if I can put something together tonight in detail.
Also check out SmilingBoy's idea and look into a softphone.