Questions on setting up a home wireless network.

[Vets]

I already used the search function and it just generated more concerns about security.
In a couple of weeks I will finally have high-speed internet access through a satellite. No more slow dial-up.
I need to hook up two computers, my desktop and my laptop.
I was told that I'll need an ethernet connection.
I'm guessing that I'll need to get an ethernet card or a USB ethernet connection for the desktop, a router/switch, and a wireless PC card adapter for the laptop. Does anyone out there have any recommedations on what to get/what to avoid/ how to set this up right?
Both the desktop and laptop have Windows XP as the OS.
Neither is set up for wireless. The laptop has an ethernet port and the desktop doesn't yet.
I appreciate any help/advice on how to get this done right the first time. Thanks.

[sfotex]

Are you just going to surf the web with your network, or try to push streaming media, etc?

Anyways, I'd say the typical web surfer type setup is get a wireless router, and 100-bit ethernet cards for your desktops (assuming they're close to each other and near the satelite 'modem') Ethernet cards are dirt cheap (under $10) if you are computer savy and don't mind cracking open the cases, if not usb adapters might be a safe alternative. Dbl check your desktops, most have built in ethernet on the motherboards nowadays. Pick those up and get a a PCMIA wireless card for the laptop. Again, if your just surfing the web spending money on faster wireless is a lost cause because you'll bottleneck on broadband speed, not wireless speed.

If you're just surfing the web, moving small files around go cheap, if your streaming porn or moving large files alot you can start to worry about the speed on the wireless connections, gigabit cards/routers, etc.....

[El Chupacabra]

If your laptop doesn't have a built-in ethernet connection, I have a PCMCIA network adapter card you can have, free. It's for a wired connection, not wireless though.

[Cirquerider]

A wireless router is the key. It can be hardwired as a 10/100 ethernet to the desktop, and used with a wireless card for the laptop. Security is fairly easy. Most routers allow you to secure the network and use a key code. If you are remotely located, its not too important, but if you have nearby neighbors, they can get on your wireless connection and potentially slow you down a bit. With sattelite, you are still using phone lines for the uplink, so probably not a big deal. There are some really good security articles here.

I really like Netgear and Linksys routers, with D-Link being close. Very compatible, and easy to keep current. For you, get a 4 port ethernet switch and wireless G, then use a wireless PCMCIA card for your laptop, or use a built in wireless. Many routers come with a PCMCIA card (have a Costco nearby?). For the desktop a PCI Network card will cost less than $30. Get a good quality ethernet cable like Belkin. There is a wireless N standard emerging, but not finalized. These routers also operate in B and G, so they should remain compatible. IMO, not worth the extra money, but there is a noticible range boost.

The routers are easy to setup. Select a mainstream brand and follow the instructions.

[RootSkier]

How old is your laptop? Almost all of them have come with built in wireless for awhile now. (Or I could be wrong about that).

[RShea]

Ok, I have a few questions then can give you the a full recommendation. First the satellite connection as you state is Ethernet. Is this wire going to be installed and brought into the house near the desktop computer? If so then the router can probably sit next to the desktop system and it can go into the router via a standard Etherent wired connection. Depending on how old the desktop is, it could already have the ethernet built in ( look on the back for a larger 8 pin version of a telephone style plug, if could be on the main board and near the rear USB or sound connectors or it could need a card installed if none exists. (Look in the device manager under the hardware devices for a network connection list).

Second question is the on the laptop computer- does it have a wireless network card built in (again look at the device manager or the original specs when you purchased it- many newer ones it is standard). If it does not then you will need a card (usually the PC Card versions if you have a free slot) or if you have to get an external USB version (not as nice since you have it hanging down off the computer.

Last question is what is the distance between the location of the router and where the laptop will be used mostly? And how many walls or floors are you going through?

The items you will need most likely are a new Wireless (WiFi) 802.11G version of the wireless routers out there are the most popular. I like Linksys, SMC, and a few other brands out there but there are many different brands sold. These should run about $50 or so (maybe less with a rebate or good back to school special advertisements). You probably do not need the newer N style (not yet approved as a standard and you are only dealing with 2 systems), and the satellite will be slower than anything other than sharing a printer or a few files between the 2 computers.

Once you answer the other questions, I'll give you a complete shopping list. cables, cards etc. If the 2 computers are name brands- give the brand and model too.

[fez]

my concern is with the sattelite. it may be broadband down, but most are dial up upstream. i dont know if the satelite company has a modem that integrates that so you can just have ethernet to a second router that will handle the wireless or if you actually need to attach a modem to the computer. if that is the case it will get much more complicated.

[Hutch]

If it's Direcway, cancel now!!!

[Vets]

Thanks for all the responses.

Here are a few answers to help you help me:

I double checked my desktop and it does have an ethernet connection as part of the motherboard (one less thing to buy.)
BTW -
- The desktop is a Medion, 2Ghz P4, 512Mb RAM, Windows XP. It is about 3 years old. I'm guessing that these computers are better known in Europe than the US. So far I have been pretty happy with it.
- The laptop is a VPR Matrix, 1.7Ghz, 512Mb RAM, Windows XP. It is about 3 and a half years old. I will need to buy a wireless PCMCIA card for it.

The satellite company I am going with is called Wildblue. I was told that their satellite technology does not need a phone line and will have 512K download speed and 128K upload. They will install the dish, wiring, and their satellite modem.

The distance between the router location and the laptop is about 30 feet.

I may get a second desktop sometime in the future. I would also like to have wireless available if a friend visits and brings their own laptop.

[RShea]

So you need an Ethernet cable (commonly called a patch cable) to reach the router from the desktop computer and run it wired off the ethernet. You also need some brand of PCCard (some also call them PCMCIA cards) wireless wifi card (802.11B at a min.- if a deal can be found on these older style cards or better is 802.11G series - they work at 2.4 GHZ) and a wireless router- probably again a wifi 802.11G model (you may even want to check with the satellite companies tech support to see if they have a recommendation on one that they know works with their dish connection. ) Then start with the set-up of the router and enable the wifi security either WPA or WEP code and install the PCCard into the laptop, it then should find the routers signal and require you to enter the security code or method you set up.

[Vets]

RShea, Thank you. I have been looking at the wide selection of wireless "flavors" that are out there and it can be slightly confusing.
I'll also double check with their tech support too.
Cirquerider, I went to Costco yesterday to see what they had to offer. They had two wireless packages. One was a Netgear 108G wireless router w/ a USB 2.0 adapter for $99.99. (WTGTB111TNA) The other was a D Link 108G wireless router w/ what appeared to be a PCMCIA card for $159.99 and a $30 rebate. (DWL952)
Are either of these the way to go?

P.S. sfotex, Where did you get that avatar?

[Buzzworthy]

Vets, I work in an industry that I walk people through a setup just like the one you are talking about. I would be happy to help you through this.

From experience, stay away from Netgear. They are pretty much bottom of the line. Dlink is better, and I prefer Linksys, higher end wireless router (actually called an access point).

I also wonder if the modem the sat. company is providing also can act as an access point. My DSL modem did when I was in Ogden.

Yes, you will need a PCMCIA Wireless Card and Cisco/Linksys are great. I used the Cisco Aironet 350 series card and loved it.

I would recommend a WEP code over a WPA. Easier. Can pick 10 or 26 digit security code to keep poachers out.

802.11 G encompasses both A and B. Really can't go wrong here. I have a B card and works fine.

30 feet should be no problem at all. 802.11b will go 350 feet at max BPS, 54.

Feel free to pm me or splat has my number.

[RShea]

Vets, I work in an industry that I walk people through a setup just like the one you are talking about. I would be happy to help you through this.

From experience, stay away from Netgear. They are pretty much bottom of the line. Dlink is better, and I prefer Linksys, higher end wireless router (actually called an access point).

I also wonder if the modem the sat. company is providing also can act as an access point. My DSL modem did when I was in Ogden.

Yes, you will need a PCMCIA Wireless Card and Cisco/Linksys are great. I used the Cisco Aironet 350 series card and loved it.

I would recommend a WEP code over a WPA. Easier. Can pick 10 or 26 digit security code to keep poachers out.

802.11 G encompasses both A and B. Really can't go wrong here. I have a B card and works fine.

30 feet should be no problem at all. 802.11b will go 350 feet at max BPS, 54.

Feel free to pm me or splat has my number.

You state that 802.11G encompasses both A and B- that is not completely correct. 802.11A is a different frequency than the 802.11B/G. 802.11G is the same speed as 802.11A but that is all there is in common- each use different transmission frequencies. Very few cards and routers handle both 802.11A and B. The 2.4 ghz sequence is 802.11B (11 mbps), then 802.11G (54 mbps) then 802.11N which is out there (at 108 mbps) but not approved and usually called Pre-N because the standard is not yet set and approved.

[Buzzworthy]

You state that 802.11G encompasses both A and B- that is not completely correct. 802.11A is a different frequency than the 802.11B/G. 802.11G is the same speed as 802.11A but that is all there is in common- each use different transmission frequencies. Very few cards and routers handle both 802.11A and B. The 2.4 ghz sequence is 802.11B (11 mbps), then 802.11G (54 mbps) then 802.11N which is out there (at 108 mbps) but not approved and usually called Pre-N because the standard is not yet set and approved.

Yes, waiting for N. But G does do both A and B and there are access points that will handle both very easily. I will have to look at what we have, I know it is Cisco and is G.

[Vets]

Update.

RShea and Buzzworthy,
Thanks again.
When I called the satellite people they said that Linksys would be the best to go with. US Robotics would be a second choice. G is the flavor. I may post and/or PM if I need help setting it up.

[RShea]

Yes, waiting for N. But G does do both A and B and there are access points that will handle both very easily. I will have to look at what we have, I know it is Cisco and is G.

Buzzworthy, what do you not understand about 802.11G being a 2.4 ghz transmission and 802.11A being 5 ghz and the 2 are not compatible unless the router and cards support both, side by side with dual chips and frequencies?

Take a look at these links to get the idea out of your head that 802.11G does both 802.11B and 802.11A (the only thing 802.11a and 802.11g have in common are the max transmission speed of 54 mbps):

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerwork...y/wi-ieee.html
http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/w...11standard.htm

Note the 2nd link and I'll quote: 802.11a supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a regulated frequency spectrum around 5 GHz. This higher frequency compared to 802.11b limits the range of 802.11a networks. The higher frequency also means 802.11a signals have more difficulty penetrating walls and other obstructions. Because 802.11a and 802.11b utilize different frequencies, the two technologies are incompatible with each other. Some vendors offer hybrid 802.11a/b network gear, but these products simply implement the two standards side by side (each connected devices must use one or the other).

[RShea]

Update.

RShea and Buzzworthy,
Thanks again.
When I called the satellite people they said that Linksys would be the best to go with. US Robotics would be a second choice. G is the flavor. I may post and/or PM if I need help setting it up.

If the tech persons at the satellite company are familar with the Linksys then that would be my first choice. US Robotics is a good company (owned by 3Com) and they make good modems, but I do not have any personal experience with their line of wireless and the support they offer.

[Vets]

Further Update:

I went shopping yesterday and found a pretty good deal on what I needed at Best Buy. I found a Linksys Wireless G Broadband Router with Speedbooster (WRT54GS) for $69.99 on sale ($20 off) and a Wireless G Notebook Adapter with Speedbooster (WPC54GS) for $59.99 on sale ($10.00 off.) They also even gave me a free $5.00 gift card for making the purchase.

BTW - It says it is also compatible with standard wireless G and standard wireless B.

The satellite installer is scheduled to be here on Friday. I am looking forward to high-speed.