wire - less network

[Chrisio]

Im going to set one of these up, what do I need I have a laptop and a desktop. can I get a wireless network card in both pcs or do I need a access point on the desktop. How do I share the internet connection on the desktop the modem is plugged in via the eithernet port.

Ur help is most welcome.

Cheers
Chrisio

[dglienna]

you need a wireless router that will connect to your router. the desktop will connect via the wired side of the wireless router, while the laptop will connect over the air. there are 2 speeds to choose from 802.11 B and G.
While G is newer and faster, B is cheaper. Most routers have 4 ports for desktop computers. I have a Linksys B router, and i'm happy with it.

[Dave Sell]

Just wanted to add that 2 machines with wireless cards do not need a 3rd wireless piece of equipment to communicate. Apparently, the 2 machines can talk directly to eachother if the wireless cards are set up to operate in something called ad-hoc mode.

I've never done it or tried it, but it is possible.

[Shaggy Hiker]

While you could go with Ad hoc, most routers come with ports for connecting modems, DSL modems, cable modems, etc. Consider not just what you want to do now, but what you will likely do in the future. If you will soon be adding a third computer, or expect to do so, the router is probably a better idea than the ad hoc, though ad hoc would get you going faster and cheaper in the short term.

[dglienna]

I didn't get things working when I tried without a router.

[System_Error]

I would go with wireless G. I think B is becoming obselete.

[dglienna]

they are only obsolete with they break. g is compatible with b. is there anything coming out that is faster, or for that matter, different/new?

[System_Error]

g is compatible with b? do you mean b is compatible with g?

[dglienna]

the latter. I have G in my laptop, but only a B router. that's why I was considering the upgrade.

[System_Error]

Yep. When we were first thinking about getting wireless, everyone was telling us to get b. But, we went ahead and got g, and I've been very satisfied with it.

[Dillinger4]

Both b and g in the 802.11x family operate in the 2.4 Ghz range. 802.11b cards will connect to a 802.11g access point, but only at a maximum of 11 Mpbs. 802.11g cards can't connect to an 802.11b access point. Id go with g since it has a higher maximum throughput 54 Mpbs.

[System_Error]

G is the most sensible to go with, if your buying it right now. I haven't seen very many stores lately that carry a good supply of B anymore, and G isn't too much more than B(if i remember correctly).

[dglienna]

I think they're twice as much, roughly. $60 for the B and $129 for the G,but they have a rebate.

[JPicasso]

We had a dsl modem hooked up to a 4-port router and worked reasonably well via a 25 foot cable that was run under doors and down the hall, into a different room.
All computers shared the same modem.

We then wanted to go upstairs/ anywhere so we bought a wireless accesspoint that plugs into the router. Works almost the same.

Starting from scratch, I'd get the
wireless access point/ router using 802.11g

You can even get a wireless router that comes with one wireless card for your computer.

Go for it dude.

[dglienna]

how much is a wireless access point? I may pick one up for my buddies apartment. There must be 50 apartments within range of his router

EDIT: No cheaper than a router.

[Kasracer]

802.11g cards can't connect to an 802.11b access point.

G and B are compatable both ways. B -> G AP and Vice versa.

G is the most sensible to go with, if your buying it right now. I haven't seen very many stores lately that carry a good supply of B anymore, and G isn't too much more than B(if i remember correctly).

It might be benificial to go with 802.11a since it operates on the 5GHz range so it'll receive little interferance. People in apartment builds are starting to have issues where there is so much 802.11b/g traffic that they can't even connect to their own router where 802.11a operates above both frequencies.

Another posibility could be Pre-N technology which can operate at 108mbps and gives you a much larger range. The problem is that it hasn't been certified quite yet so it's propritary technology and uses the same range as 802.11b/g.

how much is a wireless access point? I may pick one up for my buddies apartment. There must be 50 apartments within range of his router

Check out newegg.com

[System_Error]

g IS NOT compatible with b. If your worried about interference you can always change the channel, add security or whatever.

I got my wireless g broadband router for about 40 - 50 bucks. I know it was actually less than the wireless card!! I think I paid like 55 or 60 for the card.

[System_Error]

a would not be a bad idea as kasracer suggested. Especially if your in an apartment. It has less range and I believe it is even faster.

[dglienna]

My laptop has a G card, and I connect to my B router just fine.

[System_Error]

How are you doing this?

Is there someway you turn down the frequency of your card?

I'm interested in this, please let me know how your doing this.

[dglienna]

OIC. It's a Brodcom 802.11 b/g wireless adapter. Built into a HP Pavilion laptop.

[Kasracer]

a would not be a bad idea as kasracer suggested. Especially if your in an apartment. It has less range and I believe it is even faster.

802.11A is the same speed as G. As for the range though, I'm not sure.

How are you doing this?

Is there someway you turn down the frequency of your card?

I'm interested in this, please let me know how your doing this.

Both 802.11B and G operate on 2.4GHz so the frequency is the same. The two speeds should be able to operate with any 2.4GHz wireless AP.

Can you not connect to an 802.11B AP with an 802.11G card? If so, what kind of AP is it and what kind of card is it?

OIC. It's a Brodcom 802.11 b/g wireless adapter. Built into a HP Pavilion laptop.

9 out of 10 wireless 802.11G cards are labeled as B/G cards to avoid confusion. G cards should have no problem connecting to a B AP and vice versa. I've tried this myself and never had any issues.

[System_Error]

My grandma has b and I never could connect to it. She has two desktop's, the one closest to the modem uses a switch, and then there is a broadband router that helps the other desktop connect to the internet hooked up to the switch.

I never could connect to it, so maybe you can help me.

[JPicasso]

how much is a wireless access point? I may pick one up for my buddies apartment. There must be 50 apartments within range of his router

EDIT: No cheaper than a router.

It made more sense to me at the time to get an access point, and not touch the router settings.
If I was doing it all over, I'd buy the pack that had the wireless router and a wireless nic all in one for about $120.

EDIT:
Actually, I wouldn't do that. but I would do that if I was in this guy's position.
We use an external wireless thingie that plugs into the USB port.
5 computers at home and only two people. we don't need everything
hooked up at once. go figure.

[Kasracer]

My grandma has b and I never could connect to it. She has two desktop's, the one closest to the modem uses a switch, and then there is a broadband router that helps the other desktop connect to the internet hooked up to the switch.

I never could connect to it, so maybe you can help me.

Unless it's a smart, layer 3 switch form Cisco, I doubt the internet is hooked up into the switch unless she has more than one ip form her ISP.

That being said, do you know the exact hookup? Is it

switch
|           |
router    pc1
|
pc2

?

Also, do you know the models and/or brands of the router/switch/wireless card?

[System_Error]

Ok, lets see if I can explain this! We'll call the computers, computer1 and computer 2.

both of these computers are desktops...at least the ones she has..
computer1 is hooked up to a switch...
the switch is hooked up to the modem...
That's it for that one..
the router is hooked up to nothing except the wall to get power...
computer2 has some kind of wireless usb devide hooked up to it that gets the crap from the router...

all of the equipment is linksys.. the switch is linksys, but that's all I know about that thing. The router is wireless b. My wireless card is wireless g.

Now, I didn't set this network up, so please don't ask why it's like this. I don't know myself!

Let's see if I can come up with a pic:

   modem                router
       |
    switch
       |            
    computer1          computer2 w/ wireless usb.

[dglienna]

the router has to be connected to the switch.

[Kasracer]

The modem should connect to the router. From there, connect the switch and PCs. You can get internet access through a switch, however; this would require multiple IP addresses from her ISP which she probably doesn't get unless she has business DSL or something similar.

[dglienna]

it wasn't connected in the diagram, but it must be connected. right after the modem is best, unless you have internet connection sharing on the pc and the network card going to the router

[System_Error]

Nope, the router is not connected to the modem. It is downstairs near computer2. The modem connects to the switch and the switch to computer1. Computer2 has some kind of usb wireless thingy..

Do you think whoever set this up didn't know what they were doing?

[JPicasso]

Should be like this:

Computer 1
|
Router
|
Modem


Computer 2
|
USB wireless thingiee


Computer 1 would be where you would access the router and setup it's parameters.
Computer 1 would also be where you set the router's wireless security up.
Computer 2 would just get access to internet, but you will need to setup the security WEP to match the wireless router.

HTH

put the switch in a closet somewhere and in 6-7 years, pull it out and laugh at it's outdatedness

[System_Error]

Well, see this is my grandma's wireless network, and I myself could never understand why whoever set it up, used a switch.

[dglienna]

what is sending the wireless signal? the switch? (doubtful). it sounds like the basement router is a wireless router, but if it isn't connected to the switch, you would not have internet access. if the switch is wireless, then the basement router and computer could get access. Try IPCONFIG /ALL on both computers, and see what the GATEWAY is on each. Also, the IP address of each. I'd be interested.