Wireless Network? What do I need ?

[Krueger81]

Hello,

I am looking to setup a Wireless Network. I have the Followign Computers and the following Items.

- Two PCs upstairs connected together via a HUB and CAT5 Cables
- One PC downstairs not connected to the other two.

I am getting DirectPC installed and the mainbox that the USB modem goes into will be upstairs. What I am trying to find out is how I am going to be able to share the internet connection to the PC downstairs without having to run CAT5 throughout the whole house.

From my understanding if all I would need is one Wireless NIC and one Access Point. I'd rather replace the HUB that I Allready have with something wireless with RJ45 Ports on it so iinstead of having to have two piece of equipment I would only have to have one wireless one.

Let me know what you guys can come up since I am kinda confused about it.

Thanks a bunch.

Phil

 

[sohcrates]

well, i'd suggest getting a wireless router instead of a wireless access point

i'd suggest an SMC wireless router (that's what i have)

basically, you would have to use your computer hooked to the usb modem as a router, but the output of that computer would plug into wireless router and then you would be able to plug other computers into router and also get a wireless NIC for the downstairs computer.

as far as wireless NIC's for PC's, i'd really suggest a usb version because you can get the wireless nic away from the computer for the best reception


so basically, the fact that you have a usb modem sucks, cause you've got to effectively have 2 routers, but that's what i do. that way, your main computer with modem attached get's your main IP address and everything else "hides" behind it.

check out practicallynetworked.com for lots of good wireless reviews and stuff

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless LAN consists on two main components.

1. Access Point (A/P).

Access Point is the Main Transmitter/Receiver that mediate between your LAN, or main computer, to the rest of the Network.

2. Wireless Client Card.

Wireless network Card is the LAN card that is installed on all the Computers that want to join the Network.

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Most of A/P can control more then 100 computers equipped with Wireless Cards.

The basis of operation and setting on the computers is like regular LAN. The specific setting of the Wireless hardware is included with the Hardware manuals.

Most Client cards are PCMCIA, which work very well with Laptops. For Desktop, it is usually better to use USB Wireless Card. Most PCMCIA Wireless Cards with fixed antenna (stuck behind the PC) yield inferior results versus the Flexible Antenna on a USB module.

Conventional Wisdom* claims that the Orinoco Gold, is one of the best client cards.

ORiNOCO PC Card - Gold.

If you don?t have Cable/DSL Router, you can buy a Wireless Cable/DSL Router, which is a Combo unit that includes Router to share the Internet, Switch for Wired Network and A/P for Wireless clients (plus more goodies).

The SMC Wireless Barricade is considered one of the favorites.

Wireless Routers Compared


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When it comes to Wireless your mileage may varied, there are too many environmental variables that are unique to each individual setting.
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