Wireless

[Kliro]

Hey, I get my internet through my NTL stb, I want to have it going to at least two pcs, but dont want cables all over the house, can someone tell me exactly what I would need to connect two pcs to the net wirelessly?

Thanks in advance

[Chris W]

you would need a wireless router- i use a linksys WRT54G and a wireless card in each of the computers.

From www.dabs.com or www.insight.com you can often buy kits which include a cable router and a couple of wireless pc cards. Is it laptops or desktops that you will be using?

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by Kliro

Hey, I get my internet through my NTL stb, I want to have it going to at least two pcs, but dont want cables all over the house, can someone tell me exactly what I would need to connect two pcs to the net wirelessly?

Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

you would need a wireless router- i use a linksys WRT54G and a wireless card in each of the computers.

I've got a WRT54G too. Very good router. £55.54 at Amazon.co.uk

And for the PCs:

e.g.

Linksys Wireless-G PCI card

or

Linksys Wireless-G USB adapter

or, for a notebook/laptop - Linksys Wireless-G Notebook Adapter


Also, as MB said above, Dabs & Insight are good suppliers (& may be cheaper than Amazon). (btw, I'd avoid EBuyer).


Oh, & here's a very useful thread on wireless security - definitely a recommended read: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=8435

[Frank]

And if you have a WRT45G then you can pick up some nice Sveasoft firmware (GPL) over @ http://wrt54g.streamfire.net/

And if you buy it from Amazon please use the site Amazon link as it contributes towards our server costs.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...rowse/-/468294

[DrAwesome]

Originally Posted by Matt D

I've got a WRT54G too. Very good router. £55.54 at Amazon.co.uk

And for the PCs:

e.g.

Linksys Wireless-G PCI card

or

Linksys Wireless-G USB adapter

or, for a notebook/laptop - Linksys Wireless-G Notebook Adapter

Sorry to go OT
What happened to the cable forum Amazon link?? is it not used needed anymore??

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Kliro

Hey, I get my internet through my NTL stb, I want to have it going to at least two pcs, but dont want cables all over the house, can someone tell me exactly what I would need to connect two pcs to the net wirelessly?

Thanks in advance

If one of your pcs is close enough to the NTL STB you could hard wire that to the router via network cable. This would reduce the overal cost as both PC's wouldnt need to be wireless. This is how mine is set up now.

[zovat]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

If one of your pcs is close enough to the NTL STB you could hard wire that to the router via network cable. This would reduce the overal cost as both PC's wouldnt need to be wireless. This is how mine is set up now.

This is definately worth looking at, but would require that the main PC is on whenever you wanted to use the CM from your other PC.

Also I would ALWAYS recommend securing your nnetwork.

see this :http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx document for how to set up in XP with an ad-hoc (no WAP or router) network.

Personally, the extra cost of using the WRT54G (yes, I have one as well ) is minimal - you need one less card, and the PCI cards are normally the more expensive. Also the router allows for future expansion, and does not rely on MS connection sharing (which I have always found to be a bit flaky).

In terms of security - if you get a router, a MINIMUM security (IMO) is to have the ESSID hidden, and the network MAC locked. Anything less is just making the network free to anyone nearby who wants it.

I would personally use 128bit WEP, as most cards support this.

HTH

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by zovat

This is definately worth looking at, but would require that the main PC is on whenever you wanted to use the CM from your other PC.

Also I would ALWAYS recommend securing your nnetwork.

see this :http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx document for how to set up in XP with an ad-hoc (no WAP or router) network.

Personally, the extra cost of using the WRT54G (yes, I have one as well ) is minimal - you need one less card, and the PCI cards are normally the more expensive. Also the router allows for future expansion, and does not rely on MS connection sharing (which I have always found to be a bit flaky).

In terms of security - if you get a router, a MINIMUM security (IMO) is to have the ESSID hidden, and the network MAC locked. Anything less is just making the network free to anyone nearby who wants it.

I would personally use 128bit WEP, as most cards support this.

HTH

Sorry I think you misunderstood what I meant. I didnt mean use internet connection sharing, I meant hardwire one computer into the router (If its close enough) and have the other computer connect to the router wirelessly
Very good points about the security though

[zovat]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Sorry I think you misunderstood what I meant. I didnt mean use internet connection sharing, I meant hardwire one computer into the router (If its close enough) and have the other computer connect to the router wirelessly
Very good points about the security though

Fair enough - Just re-read, and realised my error

Definately worth hardwiring one if it is close enough - after all - the switch is 100M and the WiFi either 11M (B) or 54M (G) so wired will always be quicker on the local net (althoug the CM will allways be the slowest device )

[Kliro]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Sorry I think you misunderstood what I meant. I didnt mean use internet connection sharing, I meant hardwire one computer into the router (If its close enough) and have the other computer connect to the router wirelessly
Very good points about the security though

Thanks for this, the pc Im on now has a cat 5 cable running through the cellar for, so can be hardwired, will the WRT45G let me hardwire it? Because that seems to have the kind of price I like

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Kliro

Thanks for this, the pc Im on now has a cat 5 cable running through the cellar for, so can be hardwired, will the WRT45G let me hardwire it? Because that seems to have the kind of price I like

yes it will, all routers unless specified will have 4 or more ports to hardwire your machine to.
though I would reccomend This router personally, it is listed as ebuyer value router but is actually made by a company called origo. It's cheap, fast, easy to set up and im using one right now it also supports Wireless G turbo mode so if you buy turbo wireless cards when your building your setup your wireless LAN will be able to run at 108Mbps

[Kliro]

Hmm could I use this router, hardwire one pc in, and then use this to connect the other pc?

(The router looks purty )

[nffc]

Can't we sticky this as it seems to be a common question?

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Kliro

Hmm could I use this router, hardwire one pc in, and then use this to connect the other pc?

(The router looks purty )

you could but the network card is only 11mbit and your router is 54mbit, they are compatible but it seems like a waste buying a 54mbit router just to use with an 11bit adapter. I also wouldnt reccomend usb.

[SMHarman]

I wouldn't say it was a waste as it will mean that you have the faster speed for future additions to your wireless network, however buying all new kit I would buy all of it at 54mb g speeds as teh cost difference is not significant.