802.11b questions from a complete newbie

[TheEconomist]

I'm sure everyone hates answering stupid questions from a networking newb, but if anyone is feeling merciful, I'd appreciate it. I barely managed to get an wired network working, so I'm terrified of going to 802.11b. Nonetheless, my wife is getting a laptop and wants to be able to get online anywhere inside the condo, so here goes...

Currently, I have two desktop computers, connected via a crossover cable. My computer has an internal PCI DSL modem. The phone line comes in from the wall, straight into my computer. I use internet connection sharing (Windows XP) to share the connection with my wife's desktop computer.

I gather that one would ordinarily use a wireless router, placing it between one's external DSL modem and the network card it would plug into. However, because my DSL modem is internal, I can't do this. So what do I do? How does this work? Do I plug the network card into the wireless router instead of the other computer? (obviously I put a wireless network card in every computer that I want to be on the network, except for my own). Does the router care that it's not actually receiving the signal straight from the DSL modem, but rather from my computer's network card? Do I still use internet connection sharing? If this is the wrong way to go about this, what's the right way?

Sorry I'm so clueless. If anyone can just point me to a helpful resource, even that would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

[JackMDS]

In theory it is possible to add to your ?brew? Wireless branch.

In reality I doubt that it will ever work well.

May be you should consider buying an external DSL Modem.

I saw this here and the proprietor seems to be member of this forum.

Zoom X3 Ethernet.

Wireless Primer here:

AnandTech - FAQ. What do I need for wireless Networking?

 

[rw120555]

Life would be much simpler if you had an external dsl modem, so go that route if at all possible.

In case you can't -- I think a viable plan b would be

* Buy a 2nd nic for one of your desktops, along with a wireless access point (not router) that you plug into it.
* Since you have winxp, I think network bridging will work ok. In the 2 NIC machine, open network connections, select both NICs, choose "bridge connections". Your wireless and wired networks will then hopefully work together as one.

I haven't tried this with ics though, so save your receipts! And do try Jack's plan first, as things will probablybe much better if you can get it to work.

 

[CallTheFBI]

I have an external DSL modem and I got both our computers online sharing the Internet in a snap with a Microsoft Wi Fi base station and two wireless USB adapters. Get an external DSL modem it is so much more convienient.

 

[ktwebb]

Your already setup to go. You'd just use a regular straight through patch cable to an uplink port on a hub or switch from your LAN network card in your ICS machine, then plug your wired client PC into one of the ports and then an AP into one of the ports. Actually you can use your X-over since you already have it, you would just use a regular port on your hub/switch instead of the uplink. Many switches have autosensing ports now anyway. Anyway, you just need a 30-40 dollar hub or switch an AP and one more patch cable. Plus the wireless client cards in any client PC you want to go wireless. I

 

[rw120555]

Ktwebb is right, his solution is a bit better than mine and leaves you more flexibility if you want to add more wired machines or ethernet devices. But, ICS is a bit flakey and requires an always-on PC to act as the server. If you can do it and don't mind a little added cost, an external dsl modem + router is best. Something like the 2wire 1000w might do everything you need (your dsl provider might even offer it), but they can be a little pricey.

 

[TheEconomist]

Thanks for the suggestions, folks. My DSL provider (Bellsouth) claims that they don't allow multiple PCs to connect to a single DSL connection using a router unless I buy their home networking kit, and pay an extra fee for extra computers--and that's not even wireless. I have no idea if that's true or not, although I do have to log in to Bellsouth DSL on my machine, and if I was routing the connection to multiple computers, I'd have to log in on each of them, which I suppose they might be able to detect and stop? I don't know. I know very little about this stuff.

Question: What does AP stand for?

But in any case, what you're suggesting is this (to make sure I have it right):

The sharing computer (my desktop computer) plugs into the uplink port on a wired hub via an ordinary cat5 cable. OR I could plug into an ordinary port using my crossover cable (but I've got extra cat5 cable I could use, so I don't need to do this).
The wired client PC (my wife's desktop computer) plugs into a port on the wired hub via an ordinary cat5 cable.
An AP (is that a base station?) plugs into the a port on the hub.
The laptop connects using a PCMCIA 802.11b network card, or possibly an external USB 802.11b device.

Is that right?

 

[JackMDS]

Read the contract, and the on line disclaimers carefully. Most DSL Providers would state that they would not support the usage of other hardware; very few actually ?Forbid? it.

How do you log in? I.e. do you use PPPOE software to imitate a connection?

AP stands for Access Point (Wireless Access Point), Read the content of the link I put in my previous post.

 

[TheEconomist]

Ah, WAP and AP are the same thing. Thanks!

According to the "details" box for my login icon, it's using PPPoE, the device name is WAN Miniport (PPPoE), the server type is PPP, and the authentication is MD5 CHAP. I have no idea what any of that means, though. Like I said, I don't really know anything about networking; I just plug stuff together, run the wizards, and hope it all works.

I'm looking over the Bellsouth website again, and it does in fact say that they only support networking if you "upgrade" to the home networking plan. It doesn't say they forbid any other method of getting home networking. So would I just create a login icon on each computer? There must be some better place to read how to do all this without pestering you folks for the answers. But thanks for the answers you've given so far!

 

[JackMDS]

Well go back to my previous suggestion, the probability that software PPPOE, ICS, and Wireless will work well is close to zilch.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: TheEconomist There must be some better place to read how to do all this without pestering you folks for the answers. But thanks for the answers you've given so far!

Providers and manufactures put information to feat their commercial purposes (at times it is actually deceiving information).

Private Review Websites are a little better, but they depend on advertising.

Since people are not willing to pay for such advice you can not run a costly independent service.

It leaves forums like this to help!

 

[TheEconomist]

I would pay someone to come in and hook up our wireless network for us! I'd pay for the parts and, oh, up to $100 for the labor. I guess that's not enough for it to be profitable for anyone, though. Maybe I can get some techie friends here in Atlanta to help me out.

By "previous suggestion" you mean an external DSL modem/router, right? I guess I'll give it a try. Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

First make sure that you have in your hand an External Ethernet DSL Modem. Once you have such a modem, get a Wireless Cable/DSL Router.

The general connection should look like this: Diagram of Broadband Connection with Cable/DSL Router.

Before you take apart the current DSL look into the PPPOE software, and write down your ISP log on ID and Password.

Take out your internal DSL Modem, disable your ICS, log to the Router, and insert the ID, and Password to the PPPOE menu in the router. Once you get a credible connection uninstall the PPPOE software from you computer. Make sure that the browser is set to use LAN, and not dialup DSL.
-----------------------------------------------------------

To set Sharing between your computer:

Important in WinXP. For the propose of the initial setting, disable all software Firewall (including WinXP native
ICF); disable any active Virus scan or any other utility that might intercept Network Traffic.

If you are not concern about internal security WinXP has a fast simple method of sharing, no user permissions and no passwords.

Windows XP Simple File Sharing

WinXP Pro has an additional more secure method:

Windows XP Professional File Sharing.

XP File Sharing Trouble

 

[skyking]

What is the exact model of your internal DSL modem? This is very important, to determine which external modem to purchase. Older systems still use the CAP protocol, and there is also the DMT protocol. If you can find out any information from tech support about which modems will work, do it.

 

[StraightPipe]

I'm on bellsouth DSL, they will sell you the equipement needed at jacked up prices & even install it too, prob for that $100 (labor) you were talking about. they do allow you to share your connection though. and it would prob save you $150-300 to buy it elsewhere and hook it up yourself. I like linksys, they have great tech support (you have to hold 10-15 minutes, but then they will stay on phone for hours to give walkthrough.

 

[TheEconomist]

My main concern with doing it through bellsouth is that they charge a higher monthly fee--and after paying it for a couple of years, I would have been better off doing it myself or paying someone to do it (without Bellsouth's knowledge).

Thanks, folks! I'll see if I can figure this stuff out.