wireless network - desktop + laptop

[Banshee]

I will be buying a laptop in a few months (hopefully).

I want to share my cable connection with it.

I want to use linksys stuff. What exactly will i have to buy to get it set up?

[Banshee]

c'mon, someone must be able to help

[Scott]

Did you check Linksys website? I believe you will need a wireless router, wireless NIC's for each, and I think they require an adapter for the desktop/tower(not sure).

I looked into the same thing a one time, was going to run $500... I can put up with cables for that much money.

[cyberskye]

Wireless access Point and wireless pc card. If you don't already have a router, you can get a wireless router (combination ethernet router and WAP). Depends on whether you want your other machines to be wireless as well.

Skye

[reader]

With the wireless router, you should be able to hook your main machine with a cable...saving you money for a useless wireless adaptor card for that machine. That's assuming that you place the router with your main machine. (see below)

Then you would use either a wireless pcmcia adaptor or a wireless USB adaptor on the laptop. The USB adaptor is more versatile in most cases because 1) you can move it around to get better reception and 2) you could disconnect it from the laptop and connect to another computer in your home or office without the need of a PCMCIA card reader installed in that computer.

If you are planning to use the laptop at some distance from the main computer, you may want to locate the wireless router/switch in a central location in order to get better wireless coverage. In that case, you could also get a USB adaptor for that main machine.

Network professionals who have wireless in their homes tell me 100% throughput can be expected up to 25 feet from the wireless router in most cases. That means that it begins to degrade when you move further away or encounter metal heating ducts, pipework, electrical cabling, walls etc.

Right now, I'm wiring my back porch. If I'm not using my laptop in my home office, I can plug the network cable into a junction box and then connect upstairs on the porch. I think the entire cost for cable and outlets is less than $25. 100% throughput on the network. (Just a thought!)

[Banshee]

^^that helped a LOT, thanks.


Oh, another question...

I also see you can get wireless access points.

Do i need that too? Whats the difference between the router and a wireless access point?

[reader]

If you want to share internet access across a network you need a cable/dsl router. That shares the internet connection. If it is a Wireless Cable/DSL router, it has the WAP built in and you can link to computers with PCMCIA or USB wireless adaptors.

They also sell WAPs separately . You can hardwire a WAP (Wireless Access Point) into your network and it will make the link to a computer with a wireless adaptor. Your WAP would have to connect to the basic cable/dsl router connected to your broadband modem.

You don't need both a wireless router and a wireless access point (WAP.)

I think the Linksys product you are thinking of is a Wireless Router, which is essentially, the router with the wireless access point built into it. Check out the prices for these at pricewatch.com

The advantage of having both a basic router (e.g. BEFSR41) and a WAP (if you call paying more money an advantage!) is that you can locate the WAP in a more central area or an area closer to where you expect to be using the wireless-ready laptop. But remember, you have to hardwire the WAP into the network...so you are running cable to go wireless at another location.

Say you had your computer and DSL line in the basement. But you want to use your laptop at the swimming pool. You might put a basic 4-port DSL router in the basement. You connect your main computer with a CAT5e cable to Port 1 of the router. You connect another cable to Port 2 and run the cable up to the kitchen. There, on top of the refrigerator, you can look down on the pool. You put your WAP atop the refrigerator and now your internet-capable network is being beamed via wireless to a nice clear shot at your favorite lounge chair. In addition, the laptop works great at the kitchen table, in the den etc. etc.

Hope that isn't too confusing.