Networking 2 Story House with Wireless + Cables?

[scarfase99]

Ok, so here's the situation, it's a 2 story house, a desktop & notebook downstairs in an office, and then at least 3 computers upstairs in separate rooms. Impossible to put wire through floors, so wondering if there's a way to go wireless-wireless router, or wireless router-standard router?

Is it possible if there's a wireless router downstairs, to connect a wireless router upstairs to the same signal?

Is it possible to connect a router upstairs to, let's say, a computer that has a wireless card in it & then the router would share the connection would pick up its signal?

What would be a better way to go about doing this?

Thanks

 

[JackMDS]

If range permits you can put a Wireless Cable/DSL Router on your main Internet Access, and equipped the Laptop and second floor Computers with Wireless Client Cards.

Otherwise, two Wireless Routers can not converse one with the other, and you can not use two Entry Level Routers as Routers on the same LAN.

If distance permit, put a Wireless Cable/DSL Router at the source (I.e. main computer with the Internet Input.

Get Linksys WET11 (Wireless bridge), and plug it to a switch upstairs. Plug you Upstairs computers to the Switch.

Basic Wireless info here: AnandTech - FAQ. What do I need for wireless networking?

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If you use Independent Access points there are more possibilities.

Access Point Configurations:

Mode 1 - Gateway. All Entry Level Wireless Access Point (WAP) can act as Wireless Hub to connect to Wireless Clients that are installed in computers.

Mode 2 ? Bridge. Some WAPs can also be configured as a Bridge. In such a Configuration the WAP can only communicate with another WAP that is configured as a Bridge. This mode is useful to Bridge two LANs that are a part, and it is preferred to connect them wirelessly. Plug one WAP Bridge to a Switch on the first LAN, the other WAP to a Switch on the second LAN, and they are connected.

Mode 3. Client - Few WAPs can also be configured as Clients. In such a configuration they act as a ?Fancy? regular Wireless card that usually goes on a computer. Under such configuration The WAP can only communicate with a Gateway configured WAP.

Mode 4 ? Repeater. One WAP thus far (D-Link 900AP+) can work as a Repeater. It acts like a client to receive a signal from any 802.11b source (regular Router or AP), and as an AP it broadcasts to regular clients, thus enabling to extend the Wireless range.

Since it has only one Radio it alternate between Client, and AP mode, thus reduces the Speed of the extended segment by 50%.

 

[Tallgeese]

Are you trying to share a broadband connection or not?
I assume you are, but we all know what happens when someone assumes

OFFICE
* Install broadband signal and modem here
* Install wireless router here. SMC or Orinoco RG-1x00 series good choices
* Connect office dekstop and laptop with CAT5 cables (laptop with wireless PC card if mobility wanted)

UPSTAIRS
* Connect desktops with USB wireless NICs (Orinoco are excellent).
* Connect laptops with PC Card wireless NICs (again, Orinoco are excellent).

Depending on your house construction and layout...you may have difficulty getting signal upstairs.
You may want to experiment a bit with router placement, etc. An external booster antenna (easier to use one with SMC than Orinoco RGs) can help get adequate signal to hard-to-reach areas.

 

[scarfase99]

thanks for the quick responses guys.

yes, this will be used to share broadband

question: i like what u say, but the problem is cost in that usb wireless network adapters cost much more than the built in that are already there plus, i already have so much cables. would it work to set up a sh*tty old computer with 1 Wireless USB Adapter, and then another built in nic, and then connect the nic to the router & then cables going from the router to the computers?

Btw, the office is directly below one of the bedrooms, so i assume if i put the WAP on top of a bookshelf in the office the connection should be pretty good? (see, now im assuming ;-))

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: scarfase99
the problem is cost in that usb wireless network adapters cost much more than the built in that are already there

True...I suggested the wireless NICs for the upstairs because you said they are in separate rooms, and made the assumption (there's that darn word again ) that wiring between those rooms was not feasible. If you CAN wire the 2nd floor machines to a central point on the second floor, then you could use a Linksys WET11 bridge (as Jack mentioned) to connect to the wireless router downstairs. Plug a plain old switch/hub into the WET11, and then plug all the 2nd floor computers into the switch/hub and VOILA!:

plus, i already have so much cables. would it work to set up a sh*tty old computer with 1 Wireless USB Adapter, and then another built in nic, and then connect the nic to the router & then cables going from the router to the computers?

Don't like that plan for several reasons:
* POF with the SOC. Cheaper and more reliable to look at dedicated hardware.
* SOC becomes traffic bottleneck as well. Assuming Windows on the machine...Windows stinks at router/bridging
* I think you mean "switch/hub" instead of "router" in your outlined plan

the office is directly below one of the bedrooms...if i put the WAP on top of a bookshelf in the office the connection should be pretty good?

Most 802.11b equipment has no problem traversing a wood floor. Concrete floor with metal supports or mesh...different story altogether.