Please Help A WLAN Newbie

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xenithon

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Hi all. I am quite knowledgable about PC's and technology (a lot more than most ;) ) but am clueless about wireless networks unfortunately. The situation is this: we have a network at home between two PC's. We will be adding a third in a couple of weeks. The PC's are always on (at least the primary one with the internet connection, the others 95% of the time).

Currently the two are connected directly with an ethernet cable between their network card. The internet connection is iBurst connected to the primary PC via USB (I know this is the ADSL forum but the question is related only to the WLAN, not the internet connect I believe, right?) and Windows XP using its internet connection sharing works 100%. The third PC will be in another room about 25m away.

Instead of installing a hub and ethernet cables across the house I want to setup a WLAN. What would I need, other than 3 wireless network cards (one for each PC)? Also, could I use the ICS (internet connection sharing) of XP as is without having to change any of the settings?

Thanks in advance,
X
 
Rather simple.

Just get a wireless router with a built-in wireless access point like a Linksys WRT54G and plug the iBurst modem into the WAN port of the Linksys WRT54G and enable DHCP.

Plug a wireless card into each PC and configure the SSID and WPA-PSK password on each and viola they can all access the internet without using dodgy XP ICS or the crossover cables of your current setup.
 
Thanks for the prompt reply! Hmmm...sound great. One question though: will the Linksys WRT54G only allow the internet to be shared (using the modem connected to it) or will it also allow sharing between PC's (of files, access to folders etc.) that you get with a LAN? In other words, will it essentially be a WLAN or just a 'communal internet connection'?

Cheers,
X
 
all computers connected to the wireless router can share whatever is on their drives. HOWEVER, if your intention is sharing large files on a regular basis I would not go the wireless route, it is much slower than a cat5 connection when sharing data.
 
xenithon said:
One question though: will the Linksys WRT54G only allow the internet to be shared (using the modem connected to it) or will it also allow sharing between PC's (of files, access to folders etc.) that you get with a LAN? In other words, will it essentially be a WLAN or just a 'communal internet connection'?

Cheers,
X
Click to expand...

The Internet is accessed via the WLAN.
 
get a WRT54G plug the current two PCs into the ethernet ports and then add a wireless card to the 3rd PC
Connect the 3rd PC to the WRT via wireless. Use your current setup for internet for the 3rd PC if your current setup is working.

easy


xenithon said:
......(I know this is the ADSL forum ....
X
Click to expand...

It appears that this forum is more then just for ADSL
and a while back they got another domain name http://mybroadband.co.za
 
Hi there. No large files. Only need files sharing on the odd occasion and even then it is small files, max 100MB, and timing isn't too much of an issue for those files.

Backups will be done using an external drive connected via USB to the PC in question so won't be through WLAN.

Anyone know if I can use any wireless router with the iBurst modem or if there are only specific ones. Also, where can the Linksys WRT54G be purchases - cannot seem to find it online in SA. Is there a good equivalent Netgear product (they seem to be easily available and have good support).

Final question: is that Linksys 108Mbps or 54Mpbs?
 
Hi again. Just saw those responses now! :D

get a WRT54G plug the current two PCs into the ethernet ports and then add a wireless card to the 3rd PC.
Click to expand...

That sounds good - the two PCs and modem are already in the same room and both have network cards so will save having to buy two extra wireless cards.

Connect the 3rd PC to the WRT via wireless. Use your current setup for internet for the 3rd PC if your current setup is working.
Click to expand...

What would be better - using the current setup with ICS, and the modem connected to the primary PC; or getting rid of ICS and connecting the modem to the router so that the Internet is accessed via the WLAN?

Also, I found the Linksys here: http://www.pcmall.co.za/moreinfo.asp?sku=WRT54G. Is that the right one? Is there any benefit of getting a 108Mbps router (either Linksys if one exists, or another one such as Gigabyte or Netgear)??

X
 
Last edited:
xenithon said:
Anyone know if I can use any wireless router with the iBurst modem or if there are only specific ones.
Click to expand...

Any wireless router will work but don't buy a wireless ADSL router as most of them lack the WAN port to plug the iBurst modem in.

Also, where can the Linksys WRT54G be purchases - cannot seem to find it online in SA.

Digital Planet ???.

Is there a good equivalent Netgear product (they seem to be easily available and have good support).

WGT 624

Final question: is that Linksys 108Mbps or 54Mpbs?

The stock WRT54GS is 54Mbps which is rather adequate for real world usage.
There are other models in the Linksys WRT range that support 108Mbps if you really want it.
 
xenithon said:
What would be better - using the current setup with ICS, and the modem connected to the primary PC; or getting rid of ICS and connecting the modem to the router so that the Internet is accessed via the WLAN?
Click to expand...
Drop ICS, go the router way. If you decide to reboot the main PC, nobody else is affected. You also don't need your main pc to be on for others to surf
 
xenithon said:
What would be better - using the current setup with ICS, and the modem connected to the primary PC; or getting rid of ICS and connecting the modem to the router so that the Internet is accessed via the WLAN?

X
Click to expand...

My theory is if it's not broke don't fix.....
is the ICS working? if so use it.... if not start reconfiguring so that it will work.

I have to say ICS is not the best way but it serves the purpose.


Linksys WRT54G is 54mbits, I think the have a 108 range out. dont get hang up about speeds on wireless 108 is not twice as fast as 54.

When you add distance and walls your speeds will drop anyway to 54 if you have 108 hardware.

if you really want speed just lay a cable. ( but you said speed was not an issue)
Other nice thing about a wireless AP in the house is that when friends/family come visit and they have wireless on their PC/laptop easy to connect.

you can use netgear for your purpose... any AP brand will do.
Some APs are more equal then others

Oh yes it was meantioned...remember wireless security.... use WPA or WPA2.
that is the other thing you have to make sure your AP and wireless card can handle.... WPA
 
xenithon said:
That sounds good - the two PCs and modem are already in the same room and both have network cards so will save having to buy two extra wireless cards.
Click to expand...
Same setup here. Cat5 from the 2 PCs close to the router (You do want at least one cat5 connection to the router for config purposes) and a Linksys wireless usb connection from the other room
 
Thanks guys. I think I will get either a Linksys or Netgear 54Mbps router and a wireless network card for the 3rd PC. Other two will connect to router with ethernet cable. Modem I will try connecting to router too (won't remove ICS yet just disable it so I can test it).

If using the above setup, how do you actually connect to the internet? Would the internet info be setup for the modem via the router software? If so, where would the software be (ie. on one PC or on all of them)?

X

Edit: Luke - are you using ADSL or iBurst?
 
Last edited:
xenithon said:
If using the above setup, how do you actually connect to the internet? Would the internet info be setup for the modem via the router software? If so, where would the software be (ie. on one PC or on all of them)?
Click to expand...
You'll configure the router to connect automatically to the net (ISP user id , password, etc). That way it's always connected
 
xenithon said:
If using the above setup, how do you actually connect to the internet? Would the internet info be setup for the modem via the router software? If so, where would the software be (ie. on one PC or on all of them)?
Click to expand...

On startup the router initiates an internet session with the iBurst modem since it knows your iBurst logon details that you entered previously via the router web admin page.

Any non LAN traffic gets forwarded by your router to iBurst.
 
Cool. Thanks guys, you rock!! :D

I will be getting the gear shortly and setting things up. Will most likely set it up for the two current PC's and connect the third in a few weeks when the new PC is setup.

In case I have teething problems, expect the thread to be bumped up ;)

Have a great day,
X
 
Hi guys, me again :D

Just wanted to ask what you'd suggest between these brands for the wireless router:

- Linksys (heard good things)
- Netgear (heard good things and good local support)
- D-Link (heard bad things)
- Gigabyte (haven't heard bad things ;) )
- SMC (haven't heard anything)

Cheers,
X
 
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