Can you Recommend a Wireless Router?

[ikaika1]

Hi, I need some suggestions on this set up. Ive got someone with an Apple connected to a cable modem. They have a printer attached to this computer as well. Upstairs, they have a laptop that needs internet access and a printer. Is it possible to wirelessly network these two devices and share the printer and internet? I've done something like this before on a w2k based system, but since I dont deal in apples, I need some advice. What am I going to need if this is possible? Does the apple have built in ICS like W2k/98SE/ME? Whats the best wireless network out there that would be compatible with this setup?

 

[Tsaico]

I don;t know abouth the wireless part, but I do know that if you get a router, you can share the internet connetion like you would normally. Since many of the wireless ones work very similar to a regular nic, I would imagine the rest would be rather simple.

 

[ikaika1]

I don't quite follow your reasoning. With a router I would have to have the cable modem connected to it and the two computers connected to the router with ethernet cables. If I were to run a wireless network how would I go about connecting the wireless network to the Router? Wouldnt the router need to be able to transmit information over the wireless network to the two wireless network cards? Is that possible?

 

[DRGrim]

How about a wireless router?

A bunch of companies make them.

 

[ikaika1]

Ok, thats fine I suppose, but can anyone actually reccomend me a wireless router? One that will work in this situation? Or would it just be smarter to slap a 200$ W2K server box together and just go pure Wireless with the box as the router?

 

[mmaki]

You need an Apple Airport base station. It is a 802.11b compliant bridge, meaning you can hook it directly to your cable/DSL or hub or router. It has a DHCP server and can accomodate (I think) up to 255 hosts. I have a test one set up in my office and it works great. The nice thing about the Airport is your Macs should configure easily with it, although I have not used any Macs with it. The is lots of info out there on configuring them for Win boxes. The are also other vendors (LinkSys is one) coming out with what look like a little more powerful base station, at least they claim. These are all about $250 - $300 in addition to the $125 PCMCIA card you need (and $40 adapter for a desktop). But it works. Better than dragging cable through the ceiling!

 

[Jagshere]

SMC barricade rocks!(For a Windows based system anyways!) Easy setup, DCHP server,and a print server! Also includes a com port for an external modem so when our reliable broadband isnt working, you have instant backup to yur LAN!Im using a linksys wireless pcmcia card from my laptop right now!