Wireless Network...word up

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
G

GSOYF

Senior member
Nov 20, 2001
510
0
0
I am getting ATT broadband internet access at home, and want to connect 2 computers to it. Instead of getting a hub and running rj45 through my house I have looked into using a wireless network, but I know nothing about wireless networks.

I have been told that I need 2 different "wireless cards" for the computers. Is this true?? Do these cards eliminate the need for an ethernet card?? does the cable modem connect directly to the wireless card??

If anyone has any information as to how these setups work I would appretiate it.

Thanks
GSOYF
 
S

sohcrates

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2000
7,949
0
0
You need a wireless router or a wireless access point.

Cable modem connects to that.

You have a couple options for wireless cards. Regular PCI type wireless network cards, USB versions, and for laptops, pcmcia versions.

I usually suggest USB adapters because you can get the antenna's away from the computer for better reception.

Do a few searches in the networking forum here (perhaps for the word "wireless") and you'll find tons of threads with similar questions.

Also check out AT FAQ: What do i need for wireless networking?
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
you need a wireless access point or router that hooks up to the cable modem via cat5. It sends out the wireless signal. You then need a wireless NIC in every computer you wish to be hooked up. That replaces the normal ethernet nic they would have.
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
wireless isnt cheap.. its really nice though.

i have a d-link wireless router and 3 wireless computers and 2 wired computers hooked up to it. works great.
the main problem with wireless is transferring large files between computers. it took me over an hour to transfer a CD iso from my laptop to my desktop over the wireless lan.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,102
462
136
Someday if/when I get a laptop (yeah right) I'd love to have a WiFi setup.

Orinoco Gold here I come!
 
G

GSOYF

Senior member
Nov 20, 2001
510
0
0
rallispec

let me run this one by you...I need a wireless router (which connects to modem via a cable) then the two wirless cards that will recieve their feed from the wireless router....I believe that I understand.

wireless isnt cheap.. its really nice though.
...that is my next question..how much do all these items cost...I see wireless cards for 50 bucks....or are those $hit?? I would need to purchase another ethernet card & a hub anyway, so how much more is going the wireless way??


...also..how does the bandwidth compare to using wires....is it decreased at all with wireless??
 
B

Beau

Lifer
Jun 25, 2001
17,730
0
76
www.beauscott.com
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Someday if/when I get a laptop (yeah right) I'd love to have a WiFi setup.

Orinoco Gold here I come!
Click to expand...

Good choice. Done lots of work with Orinoco gold/silver.

WiFi isn't THAT expensive to do. Especially if you use something like the Linksys brands. I'd personally wait until WiFi 802.11A goes more mainstream with transfer rates @ 54mbps over 2.5ghz.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,102
462
136
Originally posted by: Beau6183
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Someday if/when I get a laptop (yeah right) I'd love to have a WiFi setup.

Orinoco Gold here I come!
Click to expand...

Good choice. Done lots of work with Orinoco gold/silver.

WiFi isn't THAT expensive to do. Especially if you use something like the Linksys brands. I'd personally wait until WiFi 802.11G goes mainstream with transfer rates @ 54mbps over 2.5ghz.
Click to expand...

Thanks, after spending HOURS scouring AT posts, reading reviews, and UseNet postings I've determined that I'll definitely use Orinoco gold PC card and USB but I'm still uncertain as to which AP I'll get, torn between Linksys, Netgear, SMC, D-Link, Agere and Orinoco. Obviously want the best bang for my buck but everyone recommends something different!
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
Originally posted by: GSOYF
rallispec

let me run this one by you...I need a wireless router (which connects to modem via a cable) then the two wirless cards that will recieve their feed from the wireless router....I believe that I understand.

wireless isnt cheap.. its really nice though.
...that is my next question..how much do all these items cost...I see wireless cards for 50 bucks....or are those $hit?? I would need to purchase another ethernet card & a hub anyway, so how much more is going the wireless way??


...also..how does the bandwidth compare to using wires....is it decreased at all with wireless??
Click to expand...



wireless router is about 100 - 150 for a decent one, and its going to cost about 70 - 80 dollars per wireless card for each computer you want to hook up. I'd try and stick with the name brand ones, (d-link / linksys) one time i got one of those cheap ones and it was terrible. Constantly disconnected me from the internet and would never pick up a good signal.

bandwidht is fine: dsl or cable only go 1.5mb/s wireless goes 11mb/s so thats not a problem at all...
 
B

Beau

Lifer
Jun 25, 2001
17,730
0
76
www.beauscott.com
Originally posted by: GSOYF
rallispec

let me run this one by you...I need a wireless router (which connects to modem via a cable) then the two wirless cards that will recieve their feed from the wireless router....I believe that I understand.
Click to expand...
Yes.

A Client card for each machine, plus a central access point.
Something like the Linksys WAP11 would work quite well for your AP - $134.99 @ CDW
2 x Linksys PCMCIA Client Card - $82.28 @ CDW
If you intend on using the PCMCIA cards, you'll need a PCI adapter for each- $45.99 @ CDW
 
B

Beau

Lifer
Jun 25, 2001
17,730
0
76
www.beauscott.com
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: Beau6183
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Someday if/when I get a laptop (yeah right) I'd love to have a WiFi setup.

Orinoco Gold here I come!
Click to expand...

Good choice. Done lots of work with Orinoco gold/silver.

WiFi isn't THAT expensive to do. Especially if you use something like the Linksys brands. I'd personally wait until WiFi 802.11G goes mainstream with transfer rates @ 54mbps over 2.5ghz.
Click to expand...

Thanks, after spending HOURS scouring AT posts, reading reviews, and UseNet postings I've determined that I'll definitely use Orinoco gold PC card and USB but I'm still uncertain as to which AP I'll get, torn between Linksys, Netgear, SMC, D-Link, Agere and Orinoco. Obviously want the best bang for my buck but everyone recommends something different!
Click to expand...

Personally, I don't like to mix and match. I'd stick with Orinoco. Depending on how large of an area you're trying to cover, they can fit your needs. Their SOHO AP is nice and easy to use, but their AP-500 is a nice upgrade as well. I consider the ability to hook larger/more powerfull antenna's to the AP-500 well worth the extra $$$ and a good advantage over all the other brands.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,102
462
136
Originally posted by: Beau6183
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: Beau6183
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Someday if/when I get a laptop (yeah right) I'd love to have a WiFi setup.

Orinoco Gold here I come!
Click to expand...

Good choice. Done lots of work with Orinoco gold/silver.

WiFi isn't THAT expensive to do. Especially if you use something like the Linksys brands. I'd personally wait until WiFi 802.11G goes mainstream with transfer rates @ 54mbps over 2.5ghz.
Click to expand...

Thanks, after spending HOURS scouring AT posts, reading reviews, and UseNet postings I've determined that I'll definitely use Orinoco gold PC card and USB but I'm still uncertain as to which AP I'll get, torn between Linksys, Netgear, SMC, D-Link, Agere and Orinoco. Obviously want the best bang for my buck but everyone recommends something different!
Click to expand...

Personally, I don't like to mix and match. I'd stick with Orinoco. Depending on how large of an area you're trying to cover, they can fit your needs. Their SOHO AP is nice and easy to use, but their AP-500 is a nice upgrade as well. I consider the ability to hook larger/more powerfull antenna's to the AP-500 well worth the extra $$$ and a good advantage over all the other brands.
Click to expand...

It's only for a 2 level (basement & ground level) house, approximately 2,000 sq feet, I just want something which is reliable, has good throughput (signal strength) and secure ... basically I want the Honda/Toyota or Acura/Lexus of WAP's preferrably under $200 retail.
 
B

Beau

Lifer
Jun 25, 2001
17,730
0
76
www.beauscott.com
Originally posted by: RossMAN

It's only for a 2 level (basement & ground level) house, approximately 2,000 sq feet, I just want something which is reliable, has good throughput (signal strength) and secure ... basically I want the Honda/Toyota or Acura/Lexus of WAP's preferrably under $200 retail.
Click to expand...

What kind of material is in the walls of the apartment? Steel studs or wood? How thick is the floor?

That $200 cap is gonna knock the AP-500 out as it costs $400 + the cost of a client card. However, the RG-1000 should suffice you just fine in that environment, though you'll still probably have dry spots where there are more obsticles in the way of the transmition. ($179 @ CDW@work)
 
H

hoihtah

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2001
5,183
0
76
while it is convenient to go wireless...
i'll continue to go with which ever is faster.

i don't mind wiring every room in my place...
as long as i know that it'll bring me the speed that i need.

i currently have 3 pcs at home.
main rig
imac
htpc.

i transfer video files and mp3's across them three...
so until i get a laptop..., i'm holding out.
hoping that by that time... it'll be somewhat faster.
 
B

Beau

Lifer
Jun 25, 2001
17,730
0
76
www.beauscott.com
Originally posted by: hoihtah
while it is convenient to go wireless...
i'll continue to go with which ever is faster.

i don't mind wiring every room in my place...
as long as i know that it'll bring me the speed that i need.

i currently have 3 pcs at home.
main rig
imac
htpc.

i transfer video files and mp3's across them three...
so until i get a laptop..., i'm holding out.
hoping that by that time... it'll be somewhat faster.
Click to expand...

Same here. I'll wait 'till I get a laptop, then I splurge for a 54mbit 802.11A setup.
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
the 802.11a kind of sucks. its fast, but doesnt go as far, and is much more effected by objects.
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
rossman.. be carefull when going between floors. I helped my Girflreind do a wireless network in her house.

Had the router upstairs, and a computer downstairs, just through one floor - and it had about a 60% signal loss.
 
B

Beau

Lifer
Jun 25, 2001
17,730
0
76
www.beauscott.com
Originally posted by: Rallispec
rossman.. be carefull when going between floors. I helped my Girflreind do a wireless network in her house.

Had the router upstairs, and a computer downstairs, just through one floor - and it had about a 60% signal loss.
Click to expand...

That's to be expected. But if you are using it primarily for a 'net connection, it'll be a marginal loss. LAN connection, however, it will be very inconvenient.
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
Originally posted by: Beau6183
Originally posted by: Rallispec
rossman.. be carefull when going between floors. I helped my Girflreind do a wireless network in her house.

Had the router upstairs, and a computer downstairs, just through one floor - and it had about a 60% signal loss.
Click to expand...

That's to be expected. But if you are using it primarily for a 'net connection, it'll be a marginal loss. LAN connection, however, it will be very inconvenient.
Click to expand...


exactly, becuase even though she only had 40% of the signal, 40% of 11mb/s is still way more than the 1.5mb/s that you would be getting from the cable modem. so thier isnt a noticeable loss in speed.
 
A

AU Tiger

Diamond Member
Dec 26, 1999
4,280
0
76
The absolute cheapest way to go wireless would be the following setup:

Main computer - Regular network card attached to cable modem via Cat5
- Wireless network card to communicate with second computer
- Setup Internet Connection Sharing

All other computers could use wireless cards to communicate with your main computer.

But, I would recommend a Wireless broadband router if you can afford it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom