Wireless Network

[jr60002]

Basically the two computers are going to be very close together for the most part. I live in a two story home but they will probably be used on the same floor. I am not as interested in sharing files (although I would like to share my printer) as I am being able to run both machines on the internet at the same time.

[Skatiechik]

Originally posted by Martin_s

In terms of a specific kit or set of parts... it changes constantly.. if you give an idea of specification... ie:

- will you want the fastest connection possible between machines for file sharing too?

- are you constrained by a tight budget

- what sort of house construction do you have? ie: 3 or 4 stories?, firewalls? etc...

 

The more info the better.

 

Can you give me some ideas too?

 

I want a 54Mbps Wireless Network, with integrated modem and firewall in the router. Haven't been able to find cheaper than £120. That was for a Netgear Router/Modem and 2 Belkin PCI Wireless cards. Would prefer a Router that has good support for firmware updates.

 

House is all stonewalls, phone socket is downstairs, computers will be upstairs.

[Cyclone]

Originally posted by boldfish

I've got a normal router connected to adsl hardwired to my pc's and a Wireless access point plugged in for the laptop.

 

how many IP addresses do you have with your adsl?

 

if you don't have one per machine, then you'll probably need to run a proxy server on one machine and have the internet connection shared that way.

 

This is a nice free proxy server (easier to set up than windows internet sharing):

 

http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/proxy.htm

 

that's not right.

your router will pick up the ip address from your service provider and will allocate local addresses via dhcp to your local machines. You could probably connect upto 255, maybe more.

 

and to answer the question again, YES it will allow multiple machines to access the broadband connection simultaneously.

[boldfish]

Ah.

 

see, I didn't set up DHCP on my router.

 

and I got static IP addresses which made stuff easier to do that way.

 

(shuts mouth and skulks off....)

 

;o)

[jonhanson]

I actually install wireless networks in most of our landlords properties, i have tried many routers, the main one to stay clear of because of hassle is the netgear dg834g, the best 2 i have found are the 3com office connect with free wireless card @ £80 from dabs, and the belkin 54g wireless adsl router @£70 from dabs, both excellent routers the network hardly ever drops.

 

if you want a hassle free wireless steer clear of the netgears.

[D2J]

Originally posted by jonhanson

The belkin 54g wireless adsl router @£70 from dabs, both excellent routers the network hardly ever drops.

 

Highly recommend this Router/Modem, I think our connection has dropped 4 times in the 8 months I've had it.. Ours is shared between 4 computers..

 

[Strix]

Originally posted by jr60002

I am pretty sure I know how to get tham all hooked up, my real question is will the Internet work on both at the same time or will I have to use one or the other??? Give me a brand name or specific router that I should look for. Thanks.

They should both work at the ame time. The reciever you plug into the adsl socket sorts out the traffic. It's only like a cordless phone (yes we can both talk at once on our cordless phones too). If you're still struggling, I can recomend a friend who is trying to set up a business in installing these things. He did ours.

 

Ps. If you have a usb port in your printer, you can 'wireless' it too. So you can hit 'print' on your laptop infront of the telly, and the printer will spring into action!!

[eviljock]

I bought a Netgear DG824M ADSL router and two Netgear MA311 PCI wireless network cards when we moved to our new home 18 months ago. Total price was about £140 but comparable stuff now is much cheaper. We have two PCs and can both use the internet simultaneously. It was simplicity itself to set up and we've never had any problems. The newer wireless stuff is much faster so file and printer sharing would be quicker although we've never had a problem on the 11MB link.

[punk]

I have the belkin model. It sucks.

 

When transfering files over the network the access point gets slower and slower as its transfering until it crawls (so bad it affects the speed of the internet - badly!).

 

The config pages then become unreachable and its really hot to the touch (and more worryingly even gives off a melting plasticy smell).

 

As I said this only starts when transfering a large file accross from one pc to another. For general day to day internet usage its been great, the range is especially good.

 

All the other reviews I've read on the model have been great so maybe I just got a bad one. Im still swapping it over for a linksys model though.

 

By the way, if you get it from amazon you get a free USB Network adapter (same price as previously stated: £70 inc delivery)

[march]

One thing to bear in mind is these routers can be pretty tricky to configure when not using a direct link from one of the PCs. They tend to be aimed at been setup from a pc plugged into it physically and then using a laptop with a wireless card. Once they have been initially setup as described by others it is fine to have only wireless devices.