Help! need DSL wireless router advice

[Skypix7]

Hi:

I've got a good stable 2.4 Pentium machine (ASUS P4PE) and I want to set up DSL wireless so the 2 kids and my wife can all access DSL on their computers elsewhere in the house. Total four computers: my desktop system and 3 laptops.

I have Windows 2000 PRO, the kids have Win XP and my wife has MAC OS9 on her laptop.

Questions:

1. Should I just forget the MAC installation and focus on the XPs? She has dialup and she's content with it if need be.
2. Will going through a thick brick wall shoot us down? All the computers are within 25 feet of mine, we're just in different rooms.
3. If this is doable, is it a nightmare to configure?
4. What brand and model would you recommend?

thanks, I appreciate any insights as, although I'm fairly savvy with computer buildups, I've never done any kind of networking.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

If you have TCP/IP configured on the mac, it won't matter.

It would be easiest for you to get a wireless router than trying to use ICS in a wireless ad/hoc mode. (most come with very good directions on how to configure your network to fit soho needs.

edit: forgot the 25ft should give strong signals and you don't have to worry about that.

 

[Skypix7]

thanks lobodoba etc.

any brand recommendations? what kinds of cards do I need for each laptop?

 

[jackschmittusa]

I've had good success with D-link brand for 802.11b. Haven't tried g yet. If you want the notebooks to be able to connect to networks at other places besides your home, a PCMCIA wireless nic is best for easy portability. A USB nic has the advantage of being at the end of a cable and can be easily positioned for reception purposes. The brick wall will not be a problem unless it contains a wire mesh, as some interior brick construction uses.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

yep, I like dlink and linksys for soho, although I have yet to get a linksys setup on xp boxes that worked with wep enabled, but linksys seems to have slightly better range. I've heard micro$oft's wifi stuff is pretty good too, but haven't had first hand experience with thier stuff yet.

 

[Skypix7]

thanks all for the info, but I'm still needing the basic info: I don't grok terms like " D-link brand for 802.11b. Haven't tried g yet." , "dlink and linksys" , "ICS in a wireless ad/hoc mode", or "USB nic". so...

can someone either give me a quick basic education in what I need to enable wireless DSL for other laptops in the household, or point me to a site that has that basic info and I'll educate myself?

thanks mucho

 

[wack0]

when you buy a Linksys wireless router, it comes with a great Installation CD that is very user friendly and will walk you through the entire process of setting up all of your pc's. I really like it. Maybe this will help you in your quest, or maybe it won't.

 

[Skypix7]

thanks Wacko, I'll check it out: maybe that is all I need.