WPS via cable?

[ladybug]

Hi! So I have a router that supports WPS(with a WPS button). I need to use it for an old device(don't tell me not to use it I have my reasons and I AM AWARE it's less secure), however it's a TP-Link router which has its wireless radio disabled and is now acting as a switch. It's connected to a Deco M4 mesh router and it doesn't have a WPS button. If I press the WPS button on the TP-link router switch will my device be able to connect even if the router itself is not transmitting? Like will the WPS be transmitted via the Deco? If not can I use WPS on the deco form the settings or  something?

[kirashi]

2 hours ago, ladybug said:

Hi! So I have a router that supports WPS(with a WPS button). I need to use it for an old device(don't tell me not to use it I have my reasons and I AM AWARE it's less secure), however it's a TP-Link router which has its wireless radio disabled and is now acting as a switch. It's connected to a Deco M4 mesh router and it doesn't have a WPS button. If I press the WPS button on the TP-link router switch will my device be able to connect even if the router itself is not transmitting? Like will the WPS be transmitted via the Deco? If not can I use WPS on the deco form the settings or  something?

If the TP-Link router has its wireless radio disabled, pressing the WPS button (on the TP-Link router) shouldn't do anything at all. WPS is used to "automagically" (when it works) pair a compatible wireless client device to a compatible router, modem with WiFi capabilities, or WiFi access point.

 

You would need to enable wireless on the TP-Link, hardwire the old device (that you have not yet shared the details of with us) into the TP-Link router, or connect the old device to the wireless broadcast from the Deco M4, though I understand this may not be possible if the old device is too old.

[mariushm]

The WPS button does nothing without wireless enabled... when you press the button, the device basically sends a  broadcast on wireless radio, like a shout, a ping, a beat drum, whatever you want to call it, with some information about the wireless network (and repeats it for a few seconds).

Your device (phone, network card) picks up this broadcast and uses the info in the broadcast to connect to the wireless network. with radio disabled ... it won't work.

[ladybug]

11 hours ago, mariushm said:

The WPS button does nothing without wireless enabled... when you press the button, the device basically sends a  broadcast on wireless radio, like a shout, a ping, a beat drum, whatever you want to call it, with some information about the wireless network (and repeats it for a few seconds).

Your device (phone, network card) picks up this broadcast and uses the info in the broadcast to connect to the wireless network. with radio disabled ... it won't work.

 

11 hours ago, kirashi said:

If the TP-Link router has its wireless radio disabled, pressing the WPS button (on the TP-Link router) shouldn't do anything at all. WPS is used to "automagically" (when it works) pair a compatible wireless client device to a compatible router, modem with WiFi capabilities, or WiFi access point.

 

You would need to enable wireless on the TP-Link, hardwire the old device (that you have not yet shared the details of with us) into the TP-Link router, or connect the old device to the wireless broadcast from the Deco M4, though I understand this may not be possible if the old device is too old.

ok thanks, well I will enable the wireless on the tp-link then. Will that technically require me to reroute my network through it and stop using the deco or it's fine like this and I can still use both?

[kirashi]

4 hours ago, ladybug said:

ok thanks, well I will enable the wireless on the tp-link then. Will that technically require me to reroute my network through it and stop using the deco or it's fine like this and I can still use both?

You can technically use both routers - it's just that anything connected to the TP-Link will have what's known as double NAT. This is completely fine if all you need is an internet connection for the "old device" - double NAT is only really a problem if you need to open ports for hosting a game server or similar.

[ladybug]

5 hours ago, kirashi said:

You can technically use both routers - it's just that anything connected to the TP-Link will have what's known as double NAT. This is completely fine if all you need is an internet connection for the "old device" - double NAT is only really a problem if you need to open ports for hosting a game server or similar.

ok thanks! It's actually for my 2DS(Nintendo) and I don't think it has another way to connect to my router, let me know if I am wrong but yeah I will give it a try. Let me know if there is another way to connect it, but the Nintendo settings didn't really have lots of options and finding an access point did not work

[kirashi]

4 hours ago, ladybug said:

ok thanks! It's actually for my 2DS(Nintendo) and I don't think it has another way to connect to my router, let me know if I am wrong but yeah I will give it a try. Let me know if there is another way to connect it, but the Nintendo settings didn't really have lots of options and finding an access point did not work

I figured it would be an old Nintendo product. No, I'm not going to tell you not to use it - there are actually quite a few people I know with older handheld consoles who want to connect them to WiFi for various reasons. Pretty much every one of them keeps an older router around specifically for this purpose because running an older WiFi network is really the only easy way to get these older devices connected.

[Alex Atkin UK]

9 hours ago, ladybug said:

ok thanks! It's actually for my 2DS(Nintendo) and I don't think it has another way to connect to my router, let me know if I am wrong but yeah I will give it a try. Let me know if there is another way to connect it, but the Nintendo settings didn't really have lots of options and finding an access point did not work

WDS is definitely not required for the 2DS, I've always had WDS disabled.  However it would still be recommended to use it on the TP-Link on a different channel to the main WiFi and turn down the transmit power on that router, to mitigate the security implications and prevent it slowing down the main WiFi.

[ladybug]

Hey, so just one extra comment. Turns out the Deco also has WPS so I enabled that and was able to connect my 2DS so it's good. Thanks for the replies!