Numpties guide to wireless network
Discussion
Hello everyone.
I can get my way around computers without too much hassle but I'm very confused!
As some of you may have seen in other posts I have a vaio laptop, an iriver h120 on its way from america and I want to set up a wireless network between four computers on a NTL 1Mb broadband connection.
I would be very grateful if someone could explain (in straight forward numpty terms) how I go about sorting myself out.
I've searched through past topics but I don't understand most of them!
I am going to get a USB 2.0 upgrade for my laptop so I can transfer my songs to my mp3 player faster. I have a vaio pcg fx702 which I think only has one cardbus slot. So how can I have both a wireless network card and usb 2.0 card in said laptop? Is there a better way of doing this? Whats the difference between PCMCIA and cardbus?
What hardware will I need for the network? Is it possible to set up a four way wireless network with 1Mb NTL broadband? Will it be slow?
I understand that it will take effort to type a response that a numpty will be able to comprehend so a link to a site which explains how to solve my problem would also be appreciated.
I can get my way around computers without too much hassle but I'm very confused!
As some of you may have seen in other posts I have a vaio laptop, an iriver h120 on its way from america and I want to set up a wireless network between four computers on a NTL 1Mb broadband connection.
I would be very grateful if someone could explain (in straight forward numpty terms) how I go about sorting myself out.
I've searched through past topics but I don't understand most of them!
I am going to get a USB 2.0 upgrade for my laptop so I can transfer my songs to my mp3 player faster. I have a vaio pcg fx702 which I think only has one cardbus slot. So how can I have both a wireless network card and usb 2.0 card in said laptop? Is there a better way of doing this? Whats the difference between PCMCIA and cardbus?
What hardware will I need for the network? Is it possible to set up a four way wireless network with 1Mb NTL broadband? Will it be slow?
I understand that it will take effort to type a response that a numpty will be able to comprehend so a link to a site which explains how to solve my problem would also be appreciated.
I've just gone through this myself and got a setup very similar to the one you're after. For the setup you describe you need one wireless broadband router, and a wireless adapter for each PC. This will cost about £100 for the router and about £40 for each card. Broadband wireless routers come in two flavours: if you're getting broadband over a phone line you need an ADSL wireless broadband router; if you are getting broadband over a cable TV line you need a cable broadband wireless router.
The wireless adapters for the PC come with USB connectors, or as a PCMCIA card. You need to choose which type of card you want for each PC.
Don't know your laptop but it would seem strange if it only has one PCMCIA slot, and also strange if the USB port is not built in (rather than taking up a PCMCIA slot). I wouldn't expect you to have any trouble finding a spare PCMCIA slot or USB port. If you really are stuck with no built-in USB port and only one PCMCIA slot then I guess you could probably get a USB adapter on a PCMCIA card, connect this to a USB hub and connect all the peripherals to that. But I would be surprised if you have to do this, more likely you have a choice of PCMCIA slots and USB ports available to you.
Presumably the other PCs will not have PCMCIA slots so you will use USB connection for them.
There are loads of different suppliers for this kit, and whoever you look at there are people who love it and others who couldn't get it to work at all. To be on the safe side I paid a little more for 3Com kit. Must say it's worked out OK, I found that going from non-networked PCs using dialup connections to a wireless broadband network was pretty painless. I'm only on a half meg connection shared between two PCs and it is fine, I guess sharing a broadband connectin is only a problem if you have several people all doing heavy internet stuff at once.
The wireless adapters for the PC come with USB connectors, or as a PCMCIA card. You need to choose which type of card you want for each PC.
Don't know your laptop but it would seem strange if it only has one PCMCIA slot, and also strange if the USB port is not built in (rather than taking up a PCMCIA slot). I wouldn't expect you to have any trouble finding a spare PCMCIA slot or USB port. If you really are stuck with no built-in USB port and only one PCMCIA slot then I guess you could probably get a USB adapter on a PCMCIA card, connect this to a USB hub and connect all the peripherals to that. But I would be surprised if you have to do this, more likely you have a choice of PCMCIA slots and USB ports available to you.
Presumably the other PCs will not have PCMCIA slots so you will use USB connection for them.
There are loads of different suppliers for this kit, and whoever you look at there are people who love it and others who couldn't get it to work at all. To be on the safe side I paid a little more for 3Com kit. Must say it's worked out OK, I found that going from non-networked PCs using dialup connections to a wireless broadband network was pretty painless. I'm only on a half meg connection shared between two PCs and it is fine, I guess sharing a broadband connectin is only a problem if you have several people all doing heavy internet stuff at once.
Thanks GreenV8s, that was very helpful.
I do have two USB1.1 slots already on my laptop but Iwant to get a USB 2.0 card with slots but I'm just not sure If I can slot this in as well as a network card. There are two slots but the problem could arise if they don't both physically fit in because the USB cards I have been looking at, have a large appendage type bit where the actual USB slots are. It might work if I can find a flat network card with no appendage.
I do have two USB1.1 slots already on my laptop but Iwant to get a USB 2.0 card with slots but I'm just not sure If I can slot this in as well as a network card. There are two slots but the problem could arise if they don't both physically fit in because the USB cards I have been looking at, have a large appendage type bit where the actual USB slots are. It might work if I can find a flat network card with no appendage.
So I need one of these
router
and one of these for my laptop
pcmcia card
or something like this (which would solve my cardbus problem)
USB adapter
how easy is it to actually get it up and running? how much do you need to mess around with the settings on windows?
router
and one of these for my laptop
pcmcia card
or something like this (which would solve my cardbus problem)
USB adapter
how easy is it to actually get it up and running? how much do you need to mess around with the settings on windows?
I see what you mean - you might not be able to use the combination of PCMCIA cards that you need. In that case, a USB2.0 hub is probably your safest bet I would have thought. This also means you can use the same type of adapter on all your PCs which simplifies things a bit.
There are several different standards for wireless cards, which give different combinations of range and throughput. The bits you have linked to are '11b' (11 Mbps) which is the slowest sort with the lowest range. I went for the '11g' (54 Mbps) which is the fastest and has greater wireless range. To give you some idea of the working range, I get 100% signal strength when the PC is 10' from the router but only 50% when it is 20' away. Ths is a lot shorter range than I've seen quoted for these wireless networks. Depending on the range you expect to use it might be worth paying slightly more for the 11g parts. I found mine through BroadbandBuyer.com, and I use the same brand router and wireless adapters just to eliminate any possible problems.
Setting it all up was pretty painless, 10 minutes to set up the router and then use 'play and pray' to install the adapter on each PC, finally change the internet options to dial when necessary rather than dial always. (With it set up like this, I can go back to dialup operation just by unplugging the wireless card and rebooting.) One thing - the wireless performance was a bit erratic until I upgraded the router to the latest firmware, I assume the particular router I used cam with slightly flakey firmware but I suggest you do this as a matter of course after you finish the installation.
There are several different standards for wireless cards, which give different combinations of range and throughput. The bits you have linked to are '11b' (11 Mbps) which is the slowest sort with the lowest range. I went for the '11g' (54 Mbps) which is the fastest and has greater wireless range. To give you some idea of the working range, I get 100% signal strength when the PC is 10' from the router but only 50% when it is 20' away. Ths is a lot shorter range than I've seen quoted for these wireless networks. Depending on the range you expect to use it might be worth paying slightly more for the 11g parts. I found mine through BroadbandBuyer.com, and I use the same brand router and wireless adapters just to eliminate any possible problems.
Setting it all up was pretty painless, 10 minutes to set up the router and then use 'play and pray' to install the adapter on each PC, finally change the internet options to dial when necessary rather than dial always. (With it set up like this, I can go back to dialup operation just by unplugging the wireless card and rebooting.) One thing - the wireless performance was a bit erratic until I upgraded the router to the latest firmware, I assume the particular router I used cam with slightly flakey firmware but I suggest you do this as a matter of course after you finish the installation.
At uni we had a wireless network between 4 PC's using a 1Mb NTL connection.
We used a NetGear Cable/DSL router. (Brought from PC World)
Simply connect the NTL Modem to the Router using an CAT5 Ethernet Cable, install the Network Cards in the PC, Install the Broadband Software and away you go.
If you need any help just ask!
We used a NetGear Cable/DSL router. (Brought from PC World)
Simply connect the NTL Modem to the Router using an CAT5 Ethernet Cable, install the Network Cards in the PC, Install the Broadband Software and away you go.
If you need any help just ask!
I have NTL and use the recomended Actiontec wireless router with it. Setup was really easy. I got mine from Dabs and comes with the USB dongle.
www.dabs.com/uk/Search2/Product+Details.htm?quicklinx=2VHG&searchphrase=actiontec
Remember, for cable you need the correct router.
HTH
Dave
www.dabs.com/uk/Search2/Product+Details.htm?quicklinx=2VHG&searchphrase=actiontec
Remember, for cable you need the correct router.
HTH
Dave
I've used a netgear modem/router for the last couple of years with no problem so I can recommend their gear. Follow this link;
www.aria.co.uk/productsList.asp?Category=31&Submit=submit
They tend to be pretty cheap with a good service.
The router you chose was 11mb/s wheras the lates ones are 108mb/s (ie much faster network speed).
www.aria.co.uk/productsList.asp?Category=31&Submit=submit
They tend to be pretty cheap with a good service.
The router you chose was 11mb/s wheras the lates ones are 108mb/s (ie much faster network speed).
What effect does the network speed have? As long as it is faster than the broadband speed will it not be fine?
Does anyone know if NTL 1Mb has download limit? Do you have to have a phone package with them or can you simply just get broadband? Will download speeds be affected by the fact the network will be wireless?
Thanks for your help everyone.
Does anyone know if NTL 1Mb has download limit? Do you have to have a phone package with them or can you simply just get broadband? Will download speeds be affected by the fact the network will be wireless?
Thanks for your help everyone.
Network speed wont be an issue for you, unless you want to actually USE the network (to copy data between your pcs for example)
in this case, with usb 1.1, you will be bored to tears, just waiting for your favourite mp3s to copy between the pair, let alone doing anything approaching intensive.
If you have no plans to copy large amounts of data over, then no worries
It should be noted, usb devices require CPU to operate, so using a USB wifi card will slow down your PC, quite a bit at times..
Its far better to have an integrated card (pcmcia or PCI)
in this case, with usb 1.1, you will be bored to tears, just waiting for your favourite mp3s to copy between the pair, let alone doing anything approaching intensive.
If you have no plans to copy large amounts of data over, then no worries
It should be noted, usb devices require CPU to operate, so using a USB wifi card will slow down your PC, quite a bit at times..
Its far better to have an integrated card (pcmcia or PCI)
chicane said:
Does anyone know if NTL 1Mb has download limit?
Not sure - their website makes no mention of it that I can see.
chicane said:
Do you have to have a phone package with them or can you simply just get broadband?
You can get braodband only. I know that Telewest gives a slight discount if you take more than one service... don't know if NTL does the same.
chicane said:
Will download speeds be affected by the fact the network will be wireless?
As alluded to above, assuming the wireless network speed is higher than the download speed of your ADSL connection and the signal strength is good, it won't be an issue.
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