802.11b Help Needed...

[Zim Hosein]

Someone must have the answer to my problems. Here's the problem, I have a desktop rig w/ an intel Anypoint II USB adapter installed. I have the updated drivers from intel and I'm letting Win XP configure my wireless settings. On my laptop, I have an inel Anypoint II PCMCIA card w/ the latest firmware installed, latest Win ME Drivers, and intel's software that lets it communicate w/ other 802.11b devices since Win ME did not have the function built in. I've made sure the info on both rigs are idential but they still cannot see each other? What did I miss? ANY help w/ be appreciated, thanks

 

[ktwebb]

If your talking about client cards, which it would seem you are, they need to be set to Ad Hoc mode. Basically peer to peer. By default they would likely be set to Infrastructure, looking for an Access Point, not other client cards. If they already are then letting windows do anything for you, much less setup your network properties, would be the first thing to start over with. Making sure the SSID is the same and that they are using the same channel (Frequency). Usually 6 is the default, 2.437 Ghz.

 

[Zim Hosein]

ktwebb, I have them set for infrastructure mode as my dektop rig is on a cable connection to the net and I wanted the laptop to access the net through it wirelessly. I'll change it to Ad Hoc mode and see what happens. As for the SSID info they are the same on both computers. You've got me on the frequency thing as I don't see that option anywhere

 

[Zim Hosein]

ktwebb, you are the best, I now have my wireless network up and running Once last question if you don't mind, if I have another computer in the house, would I be able to have it connect to this network, or is the limit two? Agains thanks for your help, I owe you one

 

[ktwebb]

No limit on Ad Hoc in terms of connections but for computer A to talk to B and C it would have to be in range of both and same for B's connection to A and C etc... Thats one of the main advantages of an Access Point. Central location for communication between nodes.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Again ktwebb, thanks for the fast response. Having the three computers in the same location shouldn't be too hard as I live in an apartment. Now that my desktop and laptop can see each other, gotta figure out how to share the internet connection.

 

[ktwebb]

Both XP and ME have built in Internet connection sharing. If its a dialup or broadband, right click on the connection in My network Places, click share and it will basically walk you through the setup. It will assign a 192.168.0.1 to the host computer and use a built in DHCP server to assign 192.168.0.2, .3 etc... to the other computer(s). Something to that affect for the IP's anyway. ICS is pretty easy to setup and use and your cheapest solution. If you have broadband then a dedicated router would be most people suggestion. If you do go that route I would purchase a Access Point/Wireless combo box.

 

[TheJTrain]

ktwebb:
If you have broadband then a dedicated router would be most people's suggestion. If you do go that route I would purchase a Access Point/Wireless combo box.

By "Access Point/Wireless combo box", do you mean a Wireless Access Point and broadband router in one box? Are those available?

Jason

 

[ktwebb]

Yes, I meant to say AccessPoint/Router and yes they are all over the place. Every major SOHO wireless MFG sells them. Linksys, Netgear, D-Link and on and on.

 

[rw120555]

Originally posted by: TheJTrain
ktwebb:
If you have broadband then a dedicated router would be most people's suggestion. If you do go that route I would purchase a Access Point/Wireless combo box.

By "Access Point/Wireless combo box", do you mean a Wireless Access Point and broadband router in one box? Are those available?

Jason

I don't know if that is what he meant, but yes, there are such devices, e.g. the Netgear MR314. 4 ethernet jacks and a WAP for around $130 or so.

 

[TheJTrain]

Got it - thanks guys! So is it correct to assume that any brand WAP/router will work with any other brand PC card? Like the Linksys WAP/router and an Orinoco (which I've read is the best) PC card?

Jason

 

[ktwebb]

802.11b is a standard so in theory all .11b equipment will play nice nice. Linksys Wireless Router/AP and Orinco cards will do nicely, though there not the best cards. They are however the best cards at a resonable price for most home consumers.

 

[TheJTrain]

Why do you say that? Just reading some other threads (like this one and this one) it seems like the Orinoco cards (by Lucent) are among the best, and the Linksys ones are not so good. Do sites like Tom's Hardware do reviews on these somewhere?

Jason

 

[ktwebb]

Orincos are excellent cards. Among the cards being sold today the Cisco 350 line offer the best range, performance and feature set but they are priced for the enterprise. Not worth it for the average consumer when you can get close to the range and performance with the Orinco cards and a fraction of the cost. To tell you the truth, out of the 10 or so clients cards I have (mostly Cisco but a few others including Orinco and Proxim) I use a 3 year old Aironet 4800 the most. When they were making these, before Cisco bought them, you would get a card every once in a while that had significantly better range than the bulk of the rest of a shipment. I run video at a quarter mile (usually a 2 Mb link at that distance) through two walls with this particular card. Its really a freak of nature. No bad words about Orinco so don't take it that way but the best cards are badged by Cisco.

 

[TheJTrain]

Ah - gotcha. I'll have to grab me one of those Orinoco cards and try it out.

Thanks!
Jason