Wired and wireless simultaneously?

[gatekeeper]

With a device like the 8800NL, is it possible to use an assortment of computers with it simultaneously - say, a desktop computer that's connected to the 8800NL via a wired Ethernet connection, as well as a laptop that connects wirelessly to the 8800NL? Or would you have to keep manually switching WLAN on and off?

[Trafford lad]

i've got the 8800NL router, laptop is wired via ethernet connection and all other devices ( tablets & mobile phones etc ) are used wirelessly

hope this answers your question

[gatekeeper]

Yes okay, but in order for you to switch between using your laptop and any of the mobile devices, do you have to first go to the router and manually change the operating mode from wired to wireless? There's a WLAN push-button on the back of the 8800NL for switching off all wireless connectivity.

At the moment, I use my 8800NL only in wired mode and so I have that WLAN button in the off position. Clearly, if I were to acquire a mobile device I'd want to then use that button to enable wireless connectivity. The question would then arise as to whether, at that point, any or all of the wired ports still remain active and usable. Presumably, if they do remain active you have to be careful how you assign the ports, as I guess you've still only four to play with.

[Trafford lad]

Don't have to touch the router at all, on my laptop to switch from wired to wireless just flick the wireless switch on the laptop, and it connects wirelessly.
Everything else in the house is connected wirelessly, the only exception is the laptop which can be switched from wired to wireless at the laptop without touching the router or changing any settings within the router itself.

[Trafford lad]

If i am understanding your question correctly then the answer is yes - you can use any desktop PC / laptop wired and use any other devices wirelessly all at the same time and without touching the router, likewise if the need was to add more computers wired using ethernet cable then that shouldnt be a problem either due to the available number of LAN ports on the router.

I have a laptop wired using cat6 ethernet cable and we also have a chromebook connected wirelessly - both used and connected at the same time,without needing to touch the router.

None of this should affect wireless devices and to switch from wired to wireless then that can be done on the device / PC itself rather then having to touch the router.

FYI and for anybody elses reference - Speeds vary with the wired connection achieving up to 70Mbps down / 18.8mbps up and the wireless chrome book around 19.8Mbps down and 18mbps up.

[gatekeeper]

In the situation you've described I think it's necessary to first ensure that that WLAN switch on the back is in the 'wireless enabled' position. It looks as though, once you've done this, you can then happily use any number of wireless devices but also simultaneously use up to four wired devices. Like you say, for wireless connections it's then just a matter of switching the mobile device - or even desktop machine, if it's wired/wireless - from wired to wireless or vice versa. Thanks for making that clear. Am certainly pleased to learn that both can be accommodated at the same time.