The WAN port is assumed to be a mandatory part of a router.
However, this is not always the case and it’s best to be aware of why that happens. This will ensure you do think about the type of router that’s used in the setup based on what is being connected to it.
It is common for there to be no WAN port on the router depending on the direction you are going in.
If there is no WAN port on the router, there is an internal output port instead. This means the LAN port will have to be configured into a WAN port if the change is required. Otherwise, the router is not going to have an explicit WAN port.
It’s best to be aware of this beforehand if you wish to use the WAN port.
Otherwise, there are other ways to transform the LAN port into a WAN port. This will come with specific cables that need to be connected to the port to create the WAN port you are hoping to use.
This article is going to take a look at what to do when there is no WAN port on a router.
Table of Contents
Steps If There’s No WAN Port On The Router
1. Check The LAN Port
The router likely has a LAN port.
This is going to be the starting point for what you are running.
In general, all routers tend to have a port designed to help with customizing the setup. This means there will be an internal output port that is designed to act as a wireless access point.
It is this port that you are going to use to optimize the setup and create the access point you’re looking for.
When you find the LAN port, you are then going to begin working on setting up the WAN connection.
2. Disable DHCP Server On The Router
You are going to do this by going to the main interface for the router.
Each router has a specialized interface that is designed for this purpose. It allows you to play around with the settings and designated what each port does.
Go to this interface and disable the DHCP server.
This is a must to make sure you can create a wireless access point as soon as you want. Until you do this, you are not going to create the port you are looking for.
Some routers also let you convert the port to WAN through the settings.
3. Plug DSL Cable Into The Existing Port
You will now take a DSL cable and plug it into the port.
The DSL cable is going to help establish the connection with the internal output port. The goal here is to make sure something is linking to the output port, which in this case is going to be the DSL cable.
Once again, this is assuming you have put in the time to change the settings through the main interface.
Since the conversion has been made in the settings, you can begin to work on using the DSL cable.
4. Turn On Wireless Access Point Through Main Interface
The last step is to turn on the wireless access point through the main interface.
In general, you should be able to go through the settings and create the access point. If not, some are going to do it automatically but this will depend on the existing settings.
As you look to use the internal output port, you will have to be diligent with the settings.
When the settings are right, the connection is going to work out as you want it to.
Do All Routers Have A WAN Port?
Some routers do not have a WAN port. Instead, they have a specialized internal output port, which can be changed to act as a wireless access point. To do this, turn off the DHCP server, plug a DSL cable into the port, and turn on the wireless access point.
Final Thoughts
These are the steps to follow if there is no WAN port on a router.
If there is no WAN port on a router, it likely has an internal output port instead. This means you have to turn off the DHCP server through the main interface for the router, plug a DSL cable into the port, and turn on the wireless access point.
This is required to create the access point you are hoping for.
Doing anything else is not going to cut it and you are not going to see the type of results that are required.
Be thorough when it comes to working through the router’s settings. This is the only way to get the router to work.
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