Wireless Network Basics..

[yellowsnowman]

I am soon going to need a wireless network for my computers, what are only the basic things I need?

I thought I would only need a wireless router and wireless adapter cards, but then I was reading and it says I need a wireless access point ??

If one of you can clear this up for me it would be great.

 

[catalyst1]

All you need is a wireless router and wireless cards for the individual computers. Nothing more.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

Wireless access point is your wireless router. Check out some of the other posts in the networking area where I posted. There are setup instructions too.

No it won't make your connection slow. The wireless router transmits data at 54Mbps which is much, much faster than you can download off the net.

Here's my explanantion of a simple home wireless router in brief:

First purchase a wireless router
D-Link DI-524 IEEE 802.11b/g, 802.3 Wireless Router up to 54Mbps Data Rates 1x10/100M WAN; 4x10/100M LAN
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833127143

or

LINKSYS WRT54G IEEE 802.11b/g, 802.3 Wireless-G Broadband Router up to 54Mbps Data Rates 1x10/100M WAN; 4x10/100M LAN
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833124010

I've used both and these two are very good. D-Link being the cheaper one and Linysys having the name. Now if your laptop has built in wireless adapter, you won't have to get an additional wireless adapter for it. That parts done.

When you get the wireless router, it should come with a CAT5e network cable, power adapter for the router, CD and instructions. On the back of your modem, there should be a CAT5 network cable attached to it. The other end goes into the WAN or Internet port on the back of the wireless router. Usually this port is separated from the other computer ports so it's obvious.

Now you need to connect the desktop PC to the wireless router. Use the supplies cable and attach one end to the NIC from the back of the PC and the other end to Port 1 on the back of the wireless router. Physically, everything is ready to go.

It will auto detect and you should get Internet access on both PCs now. We can talk about file and printer sharing later and security implementation as well. First, you have to get your Internet sharing done.

 

[yellowsnowman]

thanks, sorry for bein lazy and not pressin the search button..

In your opinion which router would be better? They seem to have the same features but I dont know..

Also, can you suggest 2 cheap wireless network adapters?

EDIT: I've also heard that usb wireless adapters are worse than the pci cards, is this true?

 

[TRDCorolla1]

I used the D-Link one that I posted above, but I screwed up the firmware so I guess I would have to recommend the Linksys wireless router:

LINKSYS WRT54G IEEE 802.11b/g, 802.3 Wireless-G Broadband Router up to 54Mbps Data Rates 1x10/100M WAN; 4x10/100M LAN
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16833124010

Do you have a laptop as one of the PCs for your network? They need a different type of wireless adapter card. Here's the one for your desktop PC. Just buy two of these if you want to connect two desktop computers together. It's better to get the Linksys ones to match so there will be no incompatibility issue:

LINKSYS WMP54G IEEE 802.11b/g PCI Wireless Adapter up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833124115

If you want to go cheaper, you can get the D-Link wireless router to go with this wireless adapter:

D-Link DWL-G510 IEEE 802.11b/g 32bit PCI2.2 Wireless Adapter up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833127145

Honestly, D-Link looks really good. It's much cheaper, and they are very very reliable. I just threw in the Linksys so you can compare the two top wireless devices to use.

I'm not sure what the difference are between the USB adapters and the PCI ones. I'm so use to the PCI one that I never thought about the USB version. The PCI always works for me without a single problem.

 

[yellowsnowman]

ouch.. 50 dollars for the linksys adapter and 40 for the d link one? I saw ones that seemed good and were only 20 bucks with like a 10 dollar rebate!

 

[TRDCorolla1]

That must be the D-Link one. Their router and wireless card combination is dirt cheap. After you taken in all the rebate.

 

[todd3331]

look on ebay you can buy cheap usb adapters for 20$ or less that will work fine. Some stores such as walmart have package deals with the router and the adapter for around 60$

 

[Woody1]

Sounds like I'm not the only one who is having problems with my wireless router and pc card. I have a ViewSonic system that is suppose to transmit at 125 Mbps, but has never shown more than 54 Mbps. Now it is operating at only 11 Mbps, even when my laptop is setting right next to my router and receiving an Excellent signal. I have been trying to email ViewSonic about my problem since Oct. 1, and they have never returned any of my emails. Does anyone know if they have gone out of business? I wondered why they gave me a $45 rebate on my router, and a $10 rebate on my pc card. Now I think I know why.