Wireless Network

jeffy777 · April 28th, 2005, 08:51 PM

I've always just used a crossover cable to link my 2 desktops together and that has worked great. But now I have a laptop which came with a wireless card and I'd like to be able to use it anywhere in the house.

While I do know a bit about PCs, I don't know a whole lot about wireless networks, so I was hoping you guys could lend a hand.

I want one of my desktops to be the host soooo.....
Would I basically just need a wireless router and then a PCI wireless adaptor for the other desktop?

How does this router look:
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16833127143
I like it so far cause it's cheap! And the reviews seem positive. It's IEEE 802.11b/g with up to 54Mbps.

And would this apaptor do the job:
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16833130105
Or is it smart to get one with an external atenna?

Any advice, tips, etc. ?

justin.parker · April 28th, 2005, 09:27 PM

I'm curious to know why you want one of your desktops to be the host? If you get a router you can have the router be the host, and filter through the other computers..doing the job you (i think) ultimately want.

-Justin

jeffy777 · April 28th, 2005, 09:32 PM

Ok, so would that mean that I would need a PCI adaptor for both desktops then?

This might make things difficult, but I use satellite as my internet connection and it uses a USB modem which is hooked into my main desktop. Right now I'm sharing that connection through the crossover cable to my other desktop.

So how will I connect this connection to the wireless router? With a lan cable from the network card on my desktop?

Maybe I should ask some other people who use satellite on wireless networks.

justin.parker · April 28th, 2005, 09:34 PM

On the USB Modem is there an RJ45(ethernet) connection? All of the one's i have seen have both a USB and ethernet connection...Is yours like this aswell?

jeffy777 · April 28th, 2005, 09:52 PM

No, only USB, but it shoudl work somehow since I can share it on my other PC via the LAN network, right?

freerider · April 28th, 2005, 09:53 PM

K, quite problematic ey?
As justin said before, the usb will be a problem unless you have an ethernet connection on it.
Right now I can think of 4 possibilities.
1) You get a wireless pci card for your host computer and share internet the same way you do now. Just see the wireless card as an extra ethernet connection (will be ad hoc if I'm not wrong). This way you will have at least a pci ethernet card and a pci wireless card in your host.
2)You buy an wireless access point with preferably ethernet connections (there always be one for the uplink, you need more). Otherwise you need to buy an extra ethernet-card for you host (cable to desktop and cable to access point).
3) You buy a router and run a cable from your host to your router (not in the uplink) and from the router to the other desktop.(this way you use it as an access point/switch)
4)You buy a router and a new modem(or a router with usb connection, but these are rare). This way you can run cables to both desktops and be able to connect the laptop wireless. With this setup none of the pc's have to be on for another one to get online (and will run better, trust me).

If I where you I'd go for the 4th option. Not the cheapest, but definatly the best.

jeffy777 · April 28th, 2005, 09:57 PM

Now I'm a bit confused (like I said, I don't know a whole lot about wireless networks). I'm to ask some other satellite users what they do and then I'll get back to you guys.

justin.parker · April 28th, 2005, 09:57 PM

I agree with freerider, it all depends on how much money you want to spend though. If you want to spend the least, then you can just get a wap + nic and run it from your host...But the fourth option would probably be the best and give you the most expandability for future additions to your network.

freerider · April 28th, 2005, 10:03 PM

Oh, and forgot to mention, but I tried to put the options in the same order as the price goes. First cheapest, last most expensive.
And I can see why you're confused, but I just put the options here. If you want more info about a specific option, I'll (and other members too) be happy to explain it better, but I couldn't do that for now, cuz it would be to long.

Greetz Johan

bigfoot1942 · April 28th, 2005, 10:14 PM

get a second-hand ethernet modem (if you have ADSL it should be about $20) and buy that wireless router. You can then connect both your pc's using ethernet cable, and your laptop wireless.
$50 isnt really that expensive, and ill be way easier to use...

i wonder why you have to ask other users, theyll tell you exactly the same...

jeffy777 · April 28th, 2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfoot1942

get a second-hand ethernet modem (if you have ADSL it should be about $20) and buy that wireless router. You can then connect both your pc's using ethernet cable, and your laptop wireless.
$50 isnt really that expensive, and ill be way easier to use...

i wonder why you have to ask other users, theyll tell you exactly the same...

umm, I don't have ADSL, I have satellite.....I'm asking other people who have the same satellite modem that I do.

bigfoot1942 · April 28th, 2005, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffy777

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfoot1942

get a second-hand ethernet modem (if you have ADSL it should be about $20) and buy that wireless router. You can then connect both your pc's using ethernet cable, and your laptop wireless.
$50 isnt really that expensive, and ill be way easier to use...

i wonder why you have to ask other users, theyll tell you exactly the same...

umm, I don't have ADSL, I have satellite.....I'm asking other people who have the same satellite modem that I do.

okay, that makes sense...

i didnt get that part images/smilies/oops.gif

viilaaja@pt cruiser · April 29th, 2005, 12:13 AM

why don't you just buy that pci card only, it can do host network as well as another router. If you had only notebook and another pc connected via wifi, its easy to do link with those 2 computers. But remember to konfigure it max. safety (like mac-filter or closed network, wtih 5 diffrent 128bit passwords).

jeffy777 · April 29th, 2005, 12:14 AM

Alright I talked to some people with satellite connects like mine and this is what they told me will work:

I can buy the router I posted above and then plug in the desktop that is currnetly the host (the one that has the satellite modem hooked into it) using a standard ethernet cable. Then I need to cofigure it as a switch (disable DHCP and give it an IP address in the 192.168.0.2 - 192.168.0.254 address range).

If I buy the wireless PCI adaptor I posted above for the other desktop I will be able to connect to the satellite connection and share files with both the other computers.

Does that seem correct?

EDIT: They also suggested that I just use my existing crossover cable to connect the other desktop to the router. That way I don't need to buy any PCI cards and I'll just need to buy only the router.

bigfoot1942 · April 29th, 2005, 01:36 AM

yeah i guess thats the way to go... since there are hardly any sattellite ethernet modems around.

you dont need to change anything in you host pc's config, just plug the wireless router on the other end of the crosscable (if the router is smart enough this should work) or else you should buy a patchcable to replace the crosscable.
Next you can use a patchcable to hook up your other computer as well.

but they already told you that images/smilies/tongue.gif

Stokvis · April 29th, 2005, 07:08 AM

Well, if you are only gonne go for wireless conection from one desktop to you're laptop you can juist as well buy a wirells PCI card, or maybe even a USB one, these are far cheaer than wireless routers, and since you aren't gonna route the signale to multiple computers this should work fine.

chaos386 · April 29th, 2005, 07:34 AM

It's a lot cheaper and easier to just buy a wireless PCI card for the computer that has the internet connection. You don't need to buy a router or anything. You keep the second computer connected with the crossover cable and share the internet with the laptop using the PCI card. I do the same thing with our network.

bigfoot1942 · April 29th, 2005, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos386

It's a lot cheaper and easier to just buy a wireless PCI card for the computer that has the internet connection. You don't need to buy a router or anything. You keep the second computer connected with the crossover cable and share the internet with the laptop using the PCI card. I do the same thing with our network.

a router would make a better connection (higher quality), and it is easier to configure. and its only $30....

jeffy777 · April 29th, 2005, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfoot1942

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos386

It's a lot cheaper and easier to just buy a wireless PCI card for the computer that has the internet connection. You don't need to buy a router or anything. You keep the second computer connected with the crossover cable and share the internet with the laptop using the PCI card. I do the same thing with our network.

a router would make a better connection (higher quality), and it is easier to configure. and its only $30....

Exactly, and you never know when those extra LAN ports on it will come in handy, or if I ever get another PC it will be helpful to have the wireless router.

justin.parker · April 29th, 2005, 05:03 PM

Yep, exactly. You have to weigh whether you want a quck / cheap fix for now or have something that you can expand on later.

April 28th, 2005, 08:51 PM	#1
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	Wireless Network I've always just used a crossover cable to link my 2 desktops together and that has worked great. But now I have a laptop which came with a wireless card and I'd like to be able to use it anywhere in the house. While I do know a bit about PCs, I don't know a whole lot about wireless networks, so I was hoping you guys could lend a hand. I want one of my desktops to be the host soooo..... Would I basically just need a wireless router and then a PCI wireless adaptor for the other desktop? How does this router look: http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16833127143 I like it so far cause it's cheap! And the reviews seem positive. It's IEEE 802.11b/g with up to 54Mbps. And would this apaptor do the job: http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16833130105 Or is it smart to get one with an external atenna? Any advice, tips, etc. ?

April 28th, 2005, 09:52 PM	#5
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	No, only USB, but it shoudl work somehow since I can share it on my other PC via the LAN network, right? __________________ A man named Jeffy once said, "If laziness is craziness, then I've lost my marbles...and I don't feel like trying to find them."

April 28th, 2005, 09:57 PM	#7
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	Now I'm a bit confused (like I said, I don't know a whole lot about wireless networks). I'm to ask some other satellite users what they do and then I'll get back to you guys. __________________ A man named Jeffy once said, "If laziness is craziness, then I've lost my marbles...and I don't feel like trying to find them."

April 28th, 2005, 10:14 PM	#10
bigfoot1942 Joined: Sep 15th, 2004 Last Online: October 17th, 2007 Location: Holland Posts: 864 Rep Power: 0	get a second-hand ethernet modem (if you have ADSL it should be about $20) and buy that wireless router. You can then connect both your pc's using ethernet cable, and your laptop wireless. $50 isnt really that expensive, and ill be way easier to use... i wonder why you have to ask other users, theyll tell you exactly the same... __________________ thnx viper... youre being very helpful

April 29th, 2005, 12:13 AM	#13
viilaaja@pt cruiser Joined: Dec 5th, 2004 Last Online: 12:05 AM Location: Vantaa, Finland Age: 22 Posts: 288 Car: Pt cruiser (not really) LFS Status: Rep Power: 20	why don't you just buy that pci card only, it can do host network as well as another router. If you had only notebook and another pc connected via wifi, its easy to do link with those 2 computers. But remember to konfigure it max. safety (like mac-filter or closed network, wtih 5 diffrent 128bit passwords). __________________ only google knows, Galantti in the Gear irc channel. "no money, no funny, no life, just adsl and torrents" - c ME @34.90 € ~51.64 $ ~25.95 £ / month with no limits!

April 28th, 2005, 09:27 PM	#2
justin.parker Joined: Apr 5th, 2005 Last Online: June 27th, 2007 Posts: 129 Rep Power: 0	I'm curious to know why you want one of your desktops to be the host? If you get a router you can have the router be the host, and filter through the other computers..doing the job you (i think) ultimately want. -Justin

April 28th, 2005, 09:32 PM	#3
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	Ok, so would that mean that I would need a PCI adaptor for both desktops then? This might make things difficult, but I use satellite as my internet connection and it uses a USB modem which is hooked into my main desktop. Right now I'm sharing that connection through the crossover cable to my other desktop. So how will I connect this connection to the wireless router? With a lan cable from the network card on my desktop? Maybe I should ask some other people who use satellite on wireless networks.

April 28th, 2005, 09:34 PM	#4
justin.parker Joined: Apr 5th, 2005 Last Online: June 27th, 2007 Posts: 129 Rep Power: 0	On the USB Modem is there an RJ45(ethernet) connection? All of the one's i have seen have both a USB and ethernet connection...Is yours like this aswell?

April 28th, 2005, 09:53 PM	#6
freerider Joined: Jan 5th, 2005 Last Online: January 1st, 2009 Location: Belgium Posts: 464 Rep Power: 0	K, quite problematic ey? As justin said before, the usb will be a problem unless you have an ethernet connection on it. Right now I can think of 4 possibilities. 1) You get a wireless pci card for your host computer and share internet the same way you do now. Just see the wireless card as an extra ethernet connection (will be ad hoc if I'm not wrong). This way you will have at least a pci ethernet card and a pci wireless card in your host. 2)You buy an wireless access point with preferably ethernet connections (there always be one for the uplink, you need more). Otherwise you need to buy an extra ethernet-card for you host (cable to desktop and cable to access point). 3) You buy a router and run a cable from your host to your router (not in the uplink) and from the router to the other desktop.(this way you use it as an access point/switch) 4)You buy a router and a new modem(or a router with usb connection, but these are rare). This way you can run cables to both desktops and be able to connect the laptop wireless. With this setup none of the pc's have to be on for another one to get online (and will run better, trust me). If I where you I'd go for the 4th option. Not the cheapest, but definatly the best.

April 28th, 2005, 10:03 PM	#9
freerider Joined: Jan 5th, 2005 Last Online: January 1st, 2009 Location: Belgium Posts: 464 Rep Power: 0	Oh, and forgot to mention, but I tried to put the options in the same order as the price goes. First cheapest, last most expensive. And I can see why you're confused, but I just put the options here. If you want more info about a specific option, I'll (and other members too) be happy to explain it better, but I couldn't do that for now, cuz it would be to long. Greetz Johan

April 29th, 2005, 12:14 AM	#14
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	Alright I talked to some people with satellite connects like mine and this is what they told me will work: I can buy the router I posted above and then plug in the desktop that is currnetly the host (the one that has the satellite modem hooked into it) using a standard ethernet cable. Then I need to cofigure it as a switch (disable DHCP and give it an IP address in the 192.168.0.2 - 192.168.0.254 address range). If I buy the wireless PCI adaptor I posted above for the other desktop I will be able to connect to the satellite connection and share files with both the other computers. Does that seem correct? EDIT: They also suggested that I just use my existing crossover cable to connect the other desktop to the router. That way I don't need to buy any PCI cards and I'll just need to buy only the router.

April 29th, 2005, 01:36 AM	#15
bigfoot1942 Joined: Sep 15th, 2004 Last Online: October 17th, 2007 Location: Holland Posts: 864 Rep Power: 0	yeah i guess thats the way to go... since there are hardly any sattellite ethernet modems around. you dont need to change anything in you host pc's config, just plug the wireless router on the other end of the crosscable (if the router is smart enough this should work) or else you should buy a patchcable to replace the crosscable. Next you can use a patchcable to hook up your other computer as well. but they already told you that __________________ thnx viper... youre being very helpful

April 29th, 2005, 07:08 AM	#16
Stokvis Joined: Apr 1st, 2005 Last Online: May 29th, 2005 Location: Enschede, The Netherlands Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	Well, if you are only gonne go for wireless conection from one desktop to you're laptop you can juist as well buy a wirells PCI card, or maybe even a USB one, these are far cheaer than wireless routers, and since you aren't gonna route the signale to multiple computers this should work fine. __________________

April 29th, 2005, 07:34 AM	#17
chaos386 .sa = bad driver! Joined: Nov 8th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia Age: 22 Posts: 3,564 LFS Status: Rep Power: 62	It's a lot cheaper and easier to just buy a wireless PCI card for the computer that has the internet connection. You don't need to buy a router or anything. You keep the second computer connected with the crossover cable and share the internet with the laptop using the PCI card. I do the same thing with our network. __________________ "Shit, that's a busy table cloth." -matt2000

April 29th, 2005, 05:03 PM	#20
justin.parker Joined: Apr 5th, 2005 Last Online: June 27th, 2007 Posts: 129 Rep Power: 0	Yep, exactly. You have to weigh whether you want a quck / cheap fix for now or have something that you can expand on later.

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