Setting up a small wireless LAN

[Nebben]

I'm thinking about setting up a wireless LAN for a couple of computers, but I admittedly know little about wireless networking.

How much would it cost for me to get a basic hub/switch and 2-3 NICs? Any brands to look for / avoid? Are there any 'starter kits' for this purpose?

What are the real-world transfer speeds like compared to traditional ethernet?

And finally, are my computers going to go nuts when I use my cordless phone, microwave something, or flush the toilet? 😛

 

[JackMDS]

You should really define better what you intend to do.

What OS?

Share Internet?

Do Wireless?

Put them in the bathroom?

Or may be you would like to read?

Link to: AnandTech - FAQ. Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

Link to: AnandTech - FAQ. Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

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

The pages above were written by me a while ago. Ignore the prices and the Hardware recommendations, stick to the principles.

Link to: Diagram of Broadband Connection with Cable/DSL Router.

Log to this page it has a lot of links to instructions to Windows Network Settings, and Sharing.

Link to: Windows Network - Installing & Sharing.

:sun:

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Nebben
I'm thinking about setting up a wireless LAN for a couple of computers, but I admittedly know little about wireless networking.

How much would it cost for me to get a basic hub/switch and 2-3 NICs?

Not all that much. Top costs for standard LinkSYs equipment most people use at home would be about $60 per item (router, NIC, etc)

Any brands to look for / avoid? Are there any 'starter kits' for this purpose?

I'd go with LinkSys since they are the best brand out there and most reliable.

What are the real-world transfer speeds like compared to traditional ethernet?

No different really for browsing. For transfering files however it's quite a bit slower.

And finally, are my computers going to go nuts when I use my cordless phone, microwave something, or flush the toilet? 😛

Most phones and such these days won't interfere with the wireless network. And you can always change the channel the router uses to try to find one that interferes less with other items than other channels do.

And of course if this is a business you will definitely need to do things like Not broadcast the SSID, use 128bit WEP or even WPA encryption. And if it's a small office throw in some MAC filtering to top it off.

 

[Nebben]

I'm intending on sharing my main PC's internet connection with a second PC. I may add a 3rd later, but for now I just need two PCs involved.

Is it possible to just buy one NIC for each computer and directly connect them through wireless? (Like a wireless crossover cable?) Or is a hub or switch an absolute requirement?

 

[SpunkyJones]

Originally posted by: Nebben
I'm intending on sharing my main PC's internet connection with a second PC. I may add a 3rd later, but for now I just need two PCs involved.

Is it possible to just buy one NIC for each computer and directly connect them through wireless? (Like a wireless crossover cable?) Or is a hub or switch an absolute requirement?

Get a home router, it will make your life much easier, and will probably cost as much as a crossover cable.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: NebbenIs it possible to just buy one NIC for each computer and directly connect them through wireless? (Like a wireless crossover cable?) Or is a hub or switch an absolute requirement?

Given the price differential between Wireless Cable/DSL Routers and Wireless Client cards, it is a silly thing to do.

Going Ad-Hoc Wireless, and using software NAT might save $5 and would result in "crappy" Network.

:sun:

 

[Nebben]

I'm not sure if I'm coming across quite how I mean to.

I'm trying to find out whether it's possible to have:

Computer A:
- One wireless card

Computer B:
- One wireless card

And directly connect those two cards, much like you would connect two computers directly using two regular NICs and a crossover cable.



Rather than:

Computer A:
- One wireless card
Computer B:
- One wireless card
And also purchasing a wireless hub, router, or switch (C), and then having Computers A and B connect to each other through C.

Either way I'd be buying two cards, one just knocks off the cost of the hub/router/switch in the meantime, as I don't need more than 2 computers connected.

What I'm reading tells me I probably MUST have the "C" unit, but I haven't seen a definite 'no'.

Is it possible?

 

[JackMDS]

The answer depends on the Nature of your Internet connetion.

What is it?

:sun:

 

[Nebben]

The internet connection is cable... why?

I just want to know if it's possible for me to connect the two computers via wireless LAN in the way specified...

I already am sharing the connection using traditional ethernet cards.

 

[JackMDS]

You probably did not bother to read the Links in my first post.

If you have Interent Cable connection with External Ethernet Modem.

1. You should buy a Wireless Cable/DSL Router (some 802.11g go on sale for $20).

2. You connect your main computer with a Wire to the router.

3. You buy a Wireless card stick it to the second computer and configure the Network.

This kind of connection is Faster, much more stable, much more secure, and provide a real network that is very easy to add more computers to.

Your way might work but will not be stable and can work only with two computers.

However if you want to persist with your way.

This is the way it is done with Internal DialUp the principle would be the same Cable Internet.

Link to: Making the Wireless Home Network Connection in Windows XP Without a Router.

:sun:

 

[Nebben]

I did read the links you posted, but they didn't address my question asked in my first followup:

Is it possible to just buy one NIC for each computer and directly connect them through wireless? (Like a wireless crossover cable?) Or is a hub or switch an absolute requirement?

I know perfectly well how to share an internet connection, either through a cable/dsl router or through using an extra NIC on one system, and have done both. However, I do not want to buy a wireless router unless it is REQUIRED. That is what I was asking --

Is the wireless router required for the two cards to communicate, or can they communicate directly?

I'm having some trouble understanding why nobody seems to understand the reason I want to know that this works... because it will save me about $60!

In the future, if I desire to have extra computers connected, then I'll buy a router and will change my network. In the meantime, I want to know how much it's going to cost me to connect my $5 surplus PC to the internet while it's located in another room, and if I should drill holes through the walls and use a standard network setup or not.

But thanks for the replies.

 

[JackMDS]

Quote from the link in my last post.

We'll start with a single computer that already has a wired Ethernet broadband connection to the Internet.

Then we'll build the ad hoc wireless network in three steps:

1. The first step will be to install an wireless card in the main computer and configure it as a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) wireless connection.

2. The second step will be to install a wireless card in a second computer.

3. To complete the network and provide connectivity to the Internet, Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) will be enabled on the host.

As you read through the procedures below, note that the accompanying images are captured from both the host and client computers and that the screen shots of the host computer contain a silver title bar, while the client computer screen shots contain a blue title bar.

end od Quote.

The key word above is Ad-Hoc.

:sun:

 

[Nebben]

I read the link, that's what I was looking for. Thanks.

Given the price differential between Wireless Cable/DSL Routers and Wireless Client cards, it is a silly thing to do.

Going Ad-Hoc Wireless, and using software NAT might save $5 and would result in "crappy" Network.

That's why I thought I was being misunderstood, because I don't know where you got the $5 from. It's more like $60, which is a pretty big difference...

I wasn't familiar with the term 'Ad Hoc' so I didn't know what you meant.

Got my question answered, thank you, and good night.