wireless stuff

[(RIP) Kaister]

i 'think' i know what i need but i'll run it up the flagpole and see who salutes it.

We get broadband in to a broadband modem connected to the big pc with all the music on it and want to use the laptop in the living room to access the music - wired into the hi-fi.

So.....

Do i get a broadband router ( linksys WRT54G -for example )

wire the modem output to the router.
wire the router to the big pc
use a pcmcia card in the laptop at the other end ?

am i right or barking up the wrong tree ?

Is this an ad-hoc setup ?
should i do it different ?

Any hardware recommendations ?
I guess 802.11g is the best choice ?

 

[CoolCarbon]

I use one of these...........easy....DG834G http://www.netgear.co.uk/

Just plug it into the phone line spliter and I can use a PC with the cable provided or the laptop on the wireless set up.

CC

 

[unibar]

The thing to do here is to loose the modem.
With a wireless router the router will actually make the connection to the broadband supplier and not your pc, this means that you will not need to have your big pc on all of the time to get a connection on other machines (although for your sounds you will).

They're dead clever, and will supply all of the details needed to connect to your isp to whatever machine has a wireless card, so you could sit in the garden and surf with no problems.

Paul

 

[wessie]

The thing to do here is to loose the modem.
With a wireless router the router will actually make the connection to the broadband supplier and not your pc,

This is not correct. You need some sort of modem. It's just that some routers, such as the Netgear one recommended by CC, come with an integral modem.

As you've already got the modem then just buy the router. The Linksys one will be fine. Your connection set-up sounds fine.

In my house we have: cable modem from NTL (their property), Linksys BEFSW14 802.11b router, 2 desktops hard wired, 2 desktops via WiFi, 2 laptops via WiFi and a Playstation2 hard wired.

 

[richie]

Interesting this, at the moment my ADSL modem is plugged into my portable.

Can I have a wireless router/modem not connected to any PC at all and surf the net????

Or does the router need powering up through the usb cableof one of my machines????

 

[Steve]

Can I have a wireless router/modem not connected to any PC at all and surf the net????

Yes.

Or does the router need powering up through the usb cable of one of my machines????

They usually have their own mains power supply.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

thanks wessie - just don't want to go buying all the wrong bits and spend weeks trying to make it work - when it s never going to - then try to send it back after 14 days and get told its too late.

BTDT
GTTS

 

[adamski49]

In my house we have: cable modem from NTL (their property), Linksys BEFSW14 802.11b router, 2 desktops hard wired, 2 desktops via WiFi, 2 laptops via WiFi and a Playstation2 hard wired.

I have an almost identical set-up using the Linksys router connected to my NTL cable modem (my property ) and it was a doddle to set up. I had visions of sitting on the NTL helpline trying to retrieve IP addresses, PID's, and passwords but it worked straight out of the box - a very rare thing for me to encounter.

Wessie - seeing as you have the same router and sound clued up can you tell me what I should change in the control panel for securty purposes.

I've read the manual but have to confess to not fully understanding it. As an example I tried disabling the SSID broadcast but then the laptop got kicked off - confused?

Adam

 

[doubleR]

Wessie

In my house we have: cable modem from NTL (their property), Linksys BEFSW14 802.11b router, 2 desktops hard wired, 2 desktops via WiFi, 2 laptops via WiFi and a Playstation2 hard wired

I didn't know that the PS2 could be connected to the net. Any advice on whats required (s/w etc). Would like to connect it via my wifi network, get the kids out of my office.

 

[wessie]

Security on the Linksys:

Look up WEP encryption in the manual. There should be a pdf file on the installation CD. If not download it from ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pdf/befw11s4_v4_ug.pdf

We have ours set to 64 bit, using a passphrase to generate the keycodes. You can increase it to 128 bit for added security. WEP will provide a degree of security but is not hard for a determined hacker to get around.

Make sure you know how to configure WEP on each of the PCs using a wireless connection. I have a Netgear adapter in my laptop and the software supplied with this handles it using the pass phrase. If you are relying on windows to manage the wifi connection then you will need to manually enter one of the generated keycodes into the Windows setup routine.

There some stuff about WEP in the Windows help pages. It's better if you can figure it out yourself then you will be able to fix it when it breaks or the kids ferk it up.

 

[tazwick]

Check out this URL... Gives loads of info for the Home Network..

http://www.homenethelp.com/

Also I belive that your LAN network is more secure with a Router/modem combined....??? This set up normally gives you a built in firewall, also this looks (to the outside world) as a stand alone PC....But it has nothing to hack into (no files/programs ect).

But still use a good anti V and Internet security software.

I have D-link DSL 504T ADSL router. Set up was no problem and this runs 4 PC's no problem.....I believe they do a wireless version as well and this includes 4 LAN ports so you can hard wire and have wifi both together...

Tazwick