new to netowrking

[brianl0202]

ok i never set up a network before so i dont know everything im talking about. right now i have 2 computers running xp. i have one upstairs that is using a cable modem, i have one downstairs that is currently using dial-up that i want to also use my cable connection for. also have an xp laptop that i want to be able to hook up to the network. i was thinking about setting up a wireless network. so can this be done? what do i need? i need a wireless router right? what kind is best? what speed? what else do i need? how exactly do i hook everything up? thanks for any help!!

[maface]

Heres a good site to get you started http://www.practicallynetworked.com/howto/

[Vagabond]

i have Dlink 4 port router and a Dlink 4 port wireless router.. I here Dlink are not the best but hey for $10 and $5 i though i could not go wrong.. Once you get your router they have pretty good information on how to go about setting up just use the DHCP settings and the router will give ip addies to all your puters...
also will need cat5 cable if your gonna wire some...

GL

[AzKidd69]

I would reccomend a major name brand 802.11g wireless router.. and a pci wireless 802.11g card for the downstairs desktop and and a pcmia (cardbus) card for the laptop and the upstairs machine can just use the regualr ethernet ports on the router.....
would be the easiest way.....

see pratciallynetworked.com for more information abotu setting up wireless netowrks and don't forget to enable WEP on the wireless cards
BTW does the cable/dsl modem use ethernet or USB or both, because you will need the ethernet ( otherwise things get MORE complicated )

also see http://kiddspc.com/wep.html for a wep key generator

if 802.11g harware costs too much for your tastes try an 802.11g access point and just get 802.11b cards. the only difference is really that the cards are only capable of 11mbps instead of 802.11g's 54mbps