Home networking(ish)
Author
Discussion

Psychobert

Original Poster:

6,318 posts

280 months

Thursday 7th October 2004
quotequote all
Have a reasonable PC running 2.2Mbps adsl through a PCI modem and a new laptop with only a 56K dialup but the facility for a wireless link. I'd like to hook the laptop up to piggyback it off the existing link, any ideas how to do this?

The laptop is work's and they've got as far as suggesting a usb adsl modem + router + access point in one is needed, (with a minimum of 128 bit wep encryption, but preferably wpa). I'm sure there are some VPN issues to deal with, but they reckon with my existing ISP thats not an issue.

So, how reliable and fast is wireless and any advice on which box of tricks to buy to do this?

If wirless is not the way to go, (not a big thing for me, but does mean I can surf when ignoring the TV in the lounge), what are the other options? The office is only 20 feet or so from the lounge so not a huge distance for the wirelss link to cope with..

slinky

15,704 posts

273 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
A NIC for the PC, connected to a wireless access point should do the job.. nice and simple and not too expensive...

Do you really need all of the encryption enabling? It is an overhead that isn't really needed unless you've got hacker nextdoor neighbours or have SERIOUS security worries...

It seems that everyone is mad on security these days, when, as long as you're firewalled from the net, you haven't really got anything to worry about...

slinky

arcturus

1,497 posts

287 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
Or alternatively a wireless NIC for the desktop such as the Netgear WG311.

VPN doesn't come into it unless you want to connect the laptop via the internet to your works network.

I find wireless very reliable (within the range parameters of the eqpt) and it will be more than fast enough for surfing the net. (upto 54Mbps for the wireless link as opposed to 2.2Mbps for your internet link)

Wireless speed will drop off as range increases though. I get around 1 to 2 Mbps at 50 metres, but full speed 54 Mbps within the same office as the wireless access point.

>> Edited by arcturus on Friday 8th October 09:23

Plotloss

67,280 posts

294 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
Wireless NIC in the desktop and run the wireless in both in Ad Hoc mode.

Enable WEP encryption as there are a lot of people out there with wireless who will be able to share your DSL if you leave it unauthenticaed.

Enable ICS on the desktop and roberts your fathers brother.

Job done.

Psychobert

Original Poster:

6,318 posts

280 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
Need the encryption as I want to connect the laptop to the work system.. The level of security they suggested would be ok for our VPN. Security levels on our new system will be pretty tight.

So, a wireless NIC.

Erm. Network interface card perchance? Anyone suggest one with the right level of security and if you know of one that seems reliable with plus net that will help..

Plotloss

67,280 posts

294 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
They will all be WEP compliant, just choose one from a well known manufacturer.

Psychobert

Original Poster:

6,318 posts

280 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
Thanks.. Wil;l take a look and see what I can find..