I wasn’t thinking of plugging them into the phone line … but you may be able to use them as a wireless bridge or access point.
Google using your router model as a wireless access point … or wireless bridge.
what is the reason you can’t plug your NAS box into the router … not enough sockets ?, or too far away ?
To far away, and only have one VGA monitor which I use for dual-monitors on the lappy, but I also use it as the monitor for the NAS
Well like I said, see if you can use one of your other routers as a wireless bridge or wireless access point then.
and a switch isn’t going to be of any use to you then.
The switch would because we (i.e. Me & my mums partner) agreed that the router should be brought upstairs and out the road of the kids downstairs.
The sky box in their room uses an RJ11 cable which runs from the telephone socket downstairs so I’m gonna buy a RJ11 coupler and that’ll bring the router upstairs.
We then plan to drill through the walls and run a cable from my room to theirs where the router will be, which will give the switch a function.
Their room is only 3/4 metres away anyway so I’m well within the 15metre limit.
I’m pretty sure I tried using the cable router as a wireless access point and couldn’t. I did make a thread about it on here somewhere.
At the very least you should be able to use the routers 4 ethernet ports in place of a switch … so no need for one of those.
but “most” routers have an option for using it as a bridge … what is the make/model, and I’ll see what I can find.
As far as I can remember it’s a Netgear CG3101D.
The router does have a “modem” mode.
Just done a bit of research on my old router, turns out that the router actually runs Linux, which is unsurprising but anyway, the “modem mode” which it has is supposed to be a bridge mode.
However, when using the modem mode though, it says I need to have it connected to the VM network… a bit odd if you ask me and not a “true” bridge.
Surely there must be some commands I can do via a terminal and manually disable the firewall & NAT settings on it?
EDIT: Further research shows that people were able to SSH into the router and manually put it into bridge mode. However VM quickly rolled out an updated firmware to disable SSH.
HOLY CRAP!!! I managed to SSH into the router! It seems the update was applied after firmware version R25. My router has R19. This is looking good!
Keep at it Robin … and let us know how you get on. 
I’ve only got so far. I tried to write to the router, but when I restarted it canceled the writing. 
See below:
[spoiler]ally@bally-laptop $ ssh admin@192.168.100.1
admin@192.168.100.1’s password:
CG3101D>
CG3101D> 330250000 Hz…
234250000 Hz…
226250000 Hz…
218250000 Hz…
Found energy at 218250000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
210250000 Hz…
202250000 Hz…
194250000 Hz…
186250000 Hz…
Found energy at 186250000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
178250000 Hz…
170250000 Hz…
162250000 Hz…
154250000 Hz…
Found energy at 154250000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
146250000 Hz…
138250000 Hz…
130250000 Hz…
122250000 Hz…
Found energy at 122250000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
114250000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
106250000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
98250000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
858750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
850750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
842750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Found energy at 842750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
834750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
[00:08:53 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 533
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
CG3101D> 826750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
818750000 Hz…
810750000 Hz…
Found energy at 810750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
802750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
794750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
786750000 Hz…
778750000 Hz…
Found energy at 778750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
770750000 Hz…
586750000 Hz…
402750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
331000000 Hz…
339000000 Hz…
330750000 Hz…
338750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
330250000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
762750000 Hz…
754750000 Hz…
746750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
[00:09:22 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 562
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
CG3101D> Found energy at 746750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
738750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
730750000 Hz…
722750000 Hz…
714750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Found energy at 714750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
706750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
698750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
690750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
682750000 Hz…
Found energy at 682750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
674750000 Hz…
666750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
658750000 Hz…
650750000 Hz…
Found energy at 650750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
642750000 Hz…
634750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
626750000 Hz…
618750000 Hz…
Found energy at 618750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
610750000 Hz…
602750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
594750000 Hz…
586750000 Hz…
Found energy at 586750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
578750000 Hz…
570750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
[00:09:51 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 591
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
CG3101D> 562750000 Hz…
554750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
546750000 Hz…
538750000 Hz…
530750000 Hz…
586750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
402750000 Hz…
331000000 Hz…
339000000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
330750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
338750000 Hz…
330250000 Hz…
522750000 Hz…
514750000 Hz…
506750000 Hz…
498750000 Hz…
490750000 Hz…
[00:10:17 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 617
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
482750000 Hz…
CG3101D> 474750000 Hz…
466750000 Hz…
458750000 Hz…
450750000 Hz…
442750000 Hz…
434750000 Hz…
426750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
418750000 Hz…
410750000 Hz…
402750000 Hz…
394750000 Hz…
386750000 Hz…
378750000 Hz…
370750000 Hz…
362750000 Hz…
354750000 Hz…
346750000 Hz…
338750000 Hz…
330750000 Hz…
322750000 Hz…
314750000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
Found energy at 314750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
306750000 Hz…
298750000 Hz…
290750000 Hz…
586750000 Hz…
402750000 Hz…
[00:10:46 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 646
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
CG3101D> 331000000 Hz…
339000000 Hz…
330750000 Hz…
338750000 Hz…
330250000 Hz…
Logging event: CAP unable to make C-NAPT mapping. No WAN IP address available
282750000 Hz…
274750000 Hz…
266750000 Hz…
Found energy at 266750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
258750000 Hz…
250750000 Hz…
242750000 Hz…
234750000 Hz…
Found energy at 234750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
226750000 Hz…
218750000 Hz…
210750000 Hz…
202750000 Hz…
Found energy at 202750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
194750000 Hz…
[00:11:13 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 673
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
CG3101D> 186750000 Hz…
178750000 Hz…
170750000 Hz…
Found energy at 170750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
162750000 Hz…
154750000 Hz…
146750000 Hz…
138750000 Hz…
Found energy at 138750000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
130750000 Hz…
122750000 Hz…
114750000 Hz…
106750000 Hz…
98750000 Hz…
859000000 Hz…
851000000 Hz…
843000000 Hz…
Found energy at 843000000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
835000000 Hz…
827000000 Hz…
819000000 Hz…
586750000 Hz…
402750000 Hz…
331000000 Hz…
CG3101D>
CG3101D> [00:11:46 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 706
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
CG3101D> 339000000 Hz…
CG3101D>
CG3101D> 330750000 Hz…
CG3101D>
CG3101D> cd338750000 Hz…
CG3101D> cd 330250000 Hz…
811000000 Hz…
803000000 Hz…
795000000 Hz…
CG3101D> cd
Active Command Table: CM DOCSIS Commands (CM)
CM
CG3101D> cdFound energy at 795000000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
787000000 Hz…
CG3101D> cd non-vo779000000 Hz…
CG3101D> cd non-vol
Active Command Table: Non-Volatile Settings Commands (non-vol)
CM → non-vol
CG3101D/NonVol> 771000000 Hz…
763000000 Hz…
Found energy at 763000000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
755000000 Hz…
747000000 Hz…
739000000 Hz…
731000000 Hz…
Found energy at 731000000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
723000000 Hz…
715000000 Hz…
707000000 Hz…
[00:12:13 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 733
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
699000000 Hz…
CG3101D/NonVol> Found energy at 699000000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
691000000 Hz…
CG3101D/NonVol> cd rg
Active Command Table: Residential Gateway NonVol Commands (rg)
CM → non-vol → rg
CG3101D/NonVol/Residential Gateway NonVol> 683000000 Hz…
675000000 Hz…
667000000 Hz…
Found energy at 667000000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
659000000 Hz…
651000000 Hz…
643000000 Hz…
635000000 Hz…
Found energy at 635000000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
627000000 Hz…
619000000 Hz…
611000000 Hz…
603000000 Hz…
Found energy at 603000000 Hz.
Frequency was not from native pattern. Clearing energy frequency.
595000000 Hz…
587000000 Hz…
579000000 Hz…
402750000 Hz…
CG3101D/NonVol/Residential Gateway NonVol> wan_feature_config capt_skip_dhcp true
Passthrough mode - Skip WAN DHCP feature is enabled.
NOTE: You must write the settings and reboot for this change to take effect!
CG3101D/NonVol/Residential Gateway NonVol> 331000000 Hz…
339000000 Hz…
330750000 Hz…
[00:12:44 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 764
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
CG3101D/NonVol/Residential Gateway NonVol> 338750000 Hz…
330250000 Hz…
571000000 Hz…
563000000 Hz…
555000000 Hz…
547000000 Hz…
539000000 Hz…
531000000 Hz…
523000000 Hz…
515000000 Hz…
CG3101D/NonVol/Residential Gateway NonVol> rg_enable false507000000 Hz…
499000000 Hz…
491000000 Hz…
483000000 Hz…
475000000 Hz…
467000000 Hz…
459000000 Hz…
451000000 Hz…
443000000 Hz…
435000000 Hz…
427000000 Hz…
419000000 Hz…
CG3101D/NonVol/Residential Gateway NonVol> rg_enable falsewrite
Setting default location RG enable to 0
NOTE: You must write the settings and reboot for this change to take effect!
CG3101D/NonVol/Residential Gateway NonVol> 411000000 Hz…
403000000 Hz…
395000000 Hz…
387000000 Hz…
[00:13:12 01/01/1970] [DHCP Server Thread] BcmDhcpServerThread::ThreadMain: (DHCP Server Thread) Callback request expired:
timerDuration secs = 1
current time secs = 792
elapsed time secs = 1
Lease with clientId: htype=0, value=00 a0 d1 ab 4e d1 Ip address: 192.168.0.2 has been offered to client!
CG3101D/NonVol/Residential Gateway NonVol> 379000000 Hz…
371000000 Hz…
363000000 Hz…
355000000 Hz…
347000000 Hz…
339000000 Hz…
586750000 Hz…
Write failed: Broken pipe
[/spoiler]
Have you looked into the possibility of flashing it back to the Netgear firmware ? … which is likely to have bridge mode included.
I’ve looked into the possibility of flashing it to the Open-WRT or DD-WRT firmware which is open-source and seems to be pretty popular. However I didn’t think about the default Netgear firmware. I think it’s a special unit produced specifically for VM only.
EDIT - I’ve found the “source code for programmers” on the Netgear site. It’s available for the router which is a CG3101D.
http://support.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2649/~/gpl-open-source-code-for-programmers
Google flashing the Netgear firmware back onto it … I did that with an old Sky router which was really a Netgear DG834G (now using the Netgear firmware) … so it may be possible.
Open-WRT and DD-WRT are only for a particular chipset.
Apparently you can’t flash it to Netgear firmware as it would brick it because the modem which it is joined with would disconnect the account. But I’m an ex-Virgin customer so I don’t see how that would effect me. Besides if I brick the first one I’ve always got a back-up. 
I wonder if I still have my old D-Link router that TalkTalk supplied years ago… hmm. Would need to dig around, but I’m pretty sure I tossed it when I moved house last year. 
Yes it would brick it as a VIRGIN router … but you don’t want it to connect to Virgin any more do you ?
Me old Sky router can’t be used for Sky any more (without flashing it back), but works for any other ISP
Depending on the model … the D-Link may be a WRT
No I don’t want to connect to Virgin anymore, but the only code I’ve found is the one listed above on the programmers page with open-source code.
Sadly I’ve thrown the D-Link out, shame really. However, I did find a couple of blank CDs and a Virgin wireless USB adapter.
I really need to keep a log of which hardware I have. :
Heh … the wireless adapter is helpful … and does it work with the NAS box and Linux ?
Its dead. Isn’t recieving any power from main USB ports. I’ll try it with a Windoze PC.
EDIT: Its fecked.
EDIT 2: Karmic seems to connect to the lappy using the Link-Local option, but no net access.
Any particular reason (other than the monitor) that you can not place your NAS near the router and plug it in direct?
If none then just install webmin http://www.webmin.com/ (it should be in the repos.) on your NAS
and from then on you can administer it from your browser on your laptop (no need for monitor sharing)