Wireless Network Beginner

[Linkin' Park]

Hiya

Well ive been trying to setup a wireless network in my home and im a bit confused.

Ive been looking around and i found you need a access point and a wireless network card in the other pc. Ive been told you can use the network with just 2 network cards? Is this true becuase it would save alot of money becuase the access points are expensive

Also is it possible to share an internet connectio between 2 comps when the main pc is switched off?

The main pc has the adsl modem with the phone line, but the other pc is nowhere near the line and doesn't have a modem, is there anyway to share this connection without having the main pc on or would i have to turn it when i wanted to use the internet on the other computer??

Many thanks

[meese]

The easiest way to do what you want would be to get a wireless router. You would locate the router near your adsl modem and main pc. The main pc can be wired directly to the router. The the remote pc would need a wirless nic. This way you don't need one pc on all of the time.

[VHockey86]

If you're going to use Internet Connection Sharing (windows ICS), then the "host" computer (the one thats plugged into the connection first) has to be on, no way around it with that kind of a setup.

Id recommend just getting a router with wireless. You can get a D-link 614+ quite cheap after rebates (like 40 dollars I think). Its a router w/ a 4 port switch + wireless. This will give you
a) better security because its a NAT system (network address translation)
b) No need to have a "main PC" turned on
c) more flexibility and room for expansion
d) Less of a "ping" time with a router than you'd have running through an ICS gateway.

[Chuckiechan]

VHockey86...

Just how far is the range likely to be with such a system? Is 75 yards ok?

[VHockey86]

Originally posted by Chuckiechan
VHockey86...

Just how far is the range likely to be with such a system? Is 75 yards ok?

Thats too far with this type of equipment, especially if theres walls and stuff inbetween. They are rated for I believe 150ft.. and thats like an optimal range. I use a Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless router in my house, but its only distances of like 60ft tops that I use it.

You could try it... but Id suspect 75 yards wouldnt give you a connection.
With another access point halfway inbetween ud prolly be alright

[Linkin' Park]

cool thanks for the replys

are routers hard to set up? ive never had before only a hub when using my network

[meese]

You shouldn't have any problems. Just like connecting a hub and the configuration is straight forward.

[Linkin' Park]

ok excellent

So i take it the router has a power supply it self which powers the adsl modem so the main pc doesn't have to be switched on?

[VHockey86]

powers the adsl modem? your modem should have an independent power supply, but itll look like this


house phone line ---> ADSL Modem --> "WAN" (wide area network) Port of router

Router LAN Ports: (Wired connections)
1) --> CPU 1
2) --> CPU 2
3) --> CPU 3
4) --> CPU 4

Wirelesse Antennae on router then communicate with either PCI Wireless card or wireless PC Card (laptop)

Router has its own independent power supply, all computers are independent as far as needing to be on, even wireless.

Its all very easy to setup.

[Linkin' Park]

just checked, nope, my modem has one wire for the phone socket and one wire for the use, no power supply at all