wireless G home network...how?

[Ent]

hi, i've been told about these wireless G network before but haven't yet tried it.

and now i've been told i too can get a wireless G network done at home so i won't need miles worth of cables no more.

the question im asking is.....how can this work? i have never tried to fix/work on computers befor so im one of those '' i'll pay ya to do it for me mate ''.

now i wish to install this wireless G network in my home, and how do i go about it?

i know i need a Router, 4 PCI wireless G cards ( 3 desktop and 1 laptop ).....but what eles?
and how is it possible to go online without the need to logon to my broadband account in every computer?

or is it leaving one computer on 24/7 which has logged on to the BroadBand account and the other 3 computer can go online at any moment?

i've asked the people in the computer shop but they weren't much help....as i have a way to block IT gibury

and....thanks in advance for any help.....( mental note to self....buy a book about computers )

Ent

[Howsie]

I have one of these Wireless G Routers that acts as my access point. It connects directl to my NTL supply cable and then shares the connection to any authorised computer. For my laptops that don't have built in WiFi I use these PCMCIA Wireless G card and these for the desktops. PCI Wireless G card

I'm plugged into an NTL set top box and share my 1.5mb bandwith all over the house and all the way down to the bottom of the garden to the shed (don't ask) which is 140ft away.

Its a doddle to set up and cheap to boot.

You need to decide if you are going to use only 802.11g around the house but the product I've listed will also interoperate with 802.11b (so you can leech your neighbours bandwidth if they haven't turned on WPA )

[BlueFin]

It's very easy, not alot of know required but when things don't work understanding TCP/IP etc is benefical.

I did some research before I went out and bought a 802.11g network. Most of everyone recommended the Netgear DG834 including the magazines. Easy to setup and includes a firewall and encryption technology (WEP) with a host of other cool features, and most places are bundling them with extra PCMCIA cards.

If you have 3 desktops then you'll need 3 USB or internal PCI cards and not PCMCIA cards (unless you have slot for theese in the desktops). I'd suggest if the desktops are near the router then use a cables to connect (if you have 100 Mb ethernet cards installed).

In esseance the router will be acting as your gateway into the internet and those computers behind the router (your desktops and latop) will be able to share the gateway, and DSL is always connected to your router.

Hope that helps.

[Ent]

thx guys!

so as long as i buy something like the Linksy Router and PCI Wireless G cards then im on the right track yeah?

i've also seen a thing called Access Point which looks like the Router itself....what does these do?

In esseance the router will be acting as your gateway into the internet and those computers behind the router (your desktops and latop) will be able to share the gateway, and DSL is always connected to your router.

so do i still need to log on to my BroadBand account? ( the broadband is from AO-HELL....don't ask...im not paying ) or is it '' once router is plugged in you don't need to log on to your account to get online ''

You need to decide if you are going to use only 802.11g around the house but the product I've listed will also interoperate with 802.11b (so you can leech your neighbours bandwidth if they haven't turned on WPA )

hehehehe, i like that idear, but don't the Router and PCI card link to each other? ie, Router has info on 2 comp and that's it, anymore connetion will be stopped.

Ent

[MattPayne]

an access point is basically a hub/switch for wireless PC's to talk to each other...

a router is a device for sharing one network with another (internet with your home network in this case)

A modem connects one device to the internet....

so for easy access you need all 3 items... the modem connects to the net, the router manges the internet requests from the PCs via the Access point

you will need atleast an Accesspoint/router... a built in modem is a bonus as it reduces still the number of cables... prices range from £59 for a generic ebuyer modem/router/ap up to the dlink/lynksys then up to the draytec then the Cisco stuff etc... tbh most modem/router/aps use a version of the same operating system and you wont notice a great deal of difference exept for aestetics between the sub £100 boxes...

edit - the Linksys look nice and are a pretty good buy... you shouldnt go too far wrong with that
http://www.dabs.com/uk/Search2/Produ...phrase=linksys

[MattPayne]

Wireless networking security is another matter altogether... by default there is almost no security and anyone can connect to your setup... wht you mention is known as MAC adress filtering (Iuse it at home) every network card has a unique in the world id - yuo tell the AP to either allow or disallow a list easy... then you add some WEP encryption, change your ESSID from Linksys to a fairly random alpha numeric value, then turn off the broadcast, you the reduce the power of the AP to the minimum needed to keep the signal indoors, and then you have a moderately safe network!!!

so for someon to hack your network they would have to fool your router into beliving it was a trusted card, guess your network name, then hack the 128bit encryptin, all whilst sitting in your lounge...

[Ent]

i must be the dumbest guy on earth with computers......

right......here is a list of things i need, and please correct me coz i know i'll be wrong.

Router
Access Point
PCI Wireless G Cards for Desktop ( my laptop has wireless B/G onboard...so i guess i won't need a PCMCIA card )

and this is what i need to do :- plug in BB ( broadband ) line to Router, install PCI Cards in Desktop and install software?, setup Access Point and go online.
right?

but what happens to my AOL logon software? is it once i install my routers/access point i don't need to logon no more?

damn......no wonder people who study IT don't leave Uni till they are 25!

Ent

[Howsie]

Cheap here: http://uk.insight.com/apps/nbs/index.php?C=101&S=1009

[MattPayne]

ahh... AO-hell mmm.... now thats a little more interesting... never set that up on a router before AOL uses its own propriatory software and logons, etc...

for a normal system you type your internet access username and password into the router, which connects to the internet, then the router deals with sharing the connection - you just open a browser window on one of the other machines, and the internet magically works!!

the AOL website isnt the most helpful thing... but you do have an AOL helpline - could be worth giving them a ring, and telling them that you would like to share your connection with a wireless accessport router...

as for hardware - if you do fancy linksys the link in my other post ist the all in one modem/router/access port you then need the PCI card for the desktop

to set it all up (with a normal service provider) you would need to....

1) discard the USB BB modem
2) plug the Broadband cable into the modem/router/ap
3) plug the modem/router/ap into a PC with a network cable (this is only for the setting up) - your laptop will probably have a network socket - but disable the wireless first... control panel, network connections, right click wireless connection, disable (this isnt essential but it can help rule out a few probs that may interfere with setting up)
4) insert the setup CD from the modem/router/ap this 'should' find the modem/router/ap and allow you to enter your username and password for your internet account
5) in the control panel - internet options, connections, lan settings uncheck all boxes...
6) start internet explorer - you should now be able to connect to the internet

the modem/router/ap acts as what is known as a DHCP server - you dont need to know how it work - just that it automatically sets up computers with the info needed to connect to the internet....

Unplug the network cable from the modem/router/ap and re-enable the wireless connection (right click and 'enable') restart that PC (not totally necessary, but again it doesnt hurt to do it!) when the PC comes back up - you should have 'one or more wireless networks are available' pop up in the corner of the screen - click the ballon - it should show just one network! eg 'linksys' clcik the tick box that says 'allow me to connect, even though this is unsecured' then OK

you should now be able to connect to the internet wirelessly!! repeat the last section on the PC after you install the wireless PCI card and bobs your uncle! networked...

when you make it this far... let us know, and ill talk you through securing the connection...

it looks long, but its not really that complex..

get the bits, and give it a try

the instructions are off the top of my head, so may not be 100% right... but they shouldnt be too far out!!

edit
just found this on the Linksys website
http://www.linksys.com/support/support.asp?spid=100

which by the looks of things changes section 4 - ignore the details on the linksys site! and when you run the CD and it prompts you for username and password - enter america online for the user and leave the password blank...