Joined: Sun 08-17-2003 10:36PM Posts: 330 Location: UIUC
Source: Off Campus
Alright, so heres the deal. I'm back at home for summer and *tear* I have dial up AOL so I've been spending all my time trying to convince the parentals to get cable internet. I've almost convinced then except my Dad only wants to pay to have it insalled into the family computer (in the basement) However I'd like it to be available to my computers upstairs as well. Since I don't feel like going though the hassle of running wires in the house so that leaves Wireless. So the question is...what all will I need to buy? I'm hooking up:
1 Desktop in the basement
2 Desktops upstairs
1 Laptop
I'm trying to find the cheapest way to do this since everything will come out of my pocket. Possibly using a wireless link to get it upstairs into a wired hub since all my computers have NIC's but none of which are wireless. But I'm not sure what all I'd need to buy to do that.
I'm open to suggestions on both the best and cheapest ways to do this. Thanks.
Joined: Sun 03-31-2002 10:08PM Posts: 707 Location: Over your shoulder
Source: Off Campus
I'm thinking getting a wireless 802.11b router for upstairs...plug the 2 desktops in to it as well as the laptop. Then get a USB wireless adapter. On your Dad's machine, share the wireless adapter to the others and run Internet Connection Sharing through it. Router will be about 40 - 50 and your adapter will be 20 - 40 bucks...depending on rebates. Only two pieces of hardware to buy. Use the router as a switch. I'm sure you'll have a use for it later on.
Basically what I've done for the parents back home...they got 2 machines.
_________________ Phil the Lame goat is a stupid fucking 'tard
c : enter : push push push
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
I wouldn't be caught dead with a necropheliac... -- Ebay auction
i'd recommend going with a wireless g network. I have wireless b at home, and it works fine....sometimes. A little more speed would be awesome. I have trouble downloading sometimes, so whenever i do a big dl/ul i jack into the router.
_________________ Aw man, I shot Marvin in the Face!
I believe that the distance you can be away from a 'g' router is quite a bit less then a 'b' router.
I run a wireless network at my house. I have a 'b' router for a few years now. I just recently bought a 'g' pci card for my windows machine and it doesn't seem to have as good of reception. This could just be a weak antenna on the pci card.
Since you are looking to save money I would suggest going with 802.11b. 802.11g is pretty expensive right now. I would also think by the time you wanted to move onto something better, new versions will be out that is better then 'g'.
Go with wireless-b unless you plan on transfering large files between systems you can't wire into the router. Wireless-b is 11mbps, while most cable modems run in the 256kbps to around 1.5-3 mbps, so your cable modem won't be able to pull speeds necessary to come anywhere close to maxing the router out.
In case you're curious, wireless-g is 53 mbps.
_________________ PI equals four, and I can prove it...
"I'll attract them with my human call.... 'I'm so wasted, I'm so wasted!'" - Dryad, Night Elf, Warcraft III Reign of Chaos
don't mean to bust your bubble, but 802.11g is 54 mbps.
i know... ooh a 1 mb diff. i'm tired.
And there is enhanced G ---
As of CES, all the major wireless chipmakers' entries—Atheros' Super G, Broadcom's Afterburner and GlobespanVirata's Nitro XM—are now public, with the companies touting maximum raw data rate numbers of 108, 125 and 140Mbps respectively.
---
but it's a marketing hype and you'll never use that much.
When you finally cut off from AOL, it's probably a good idea to reformat the machines it was installed on. AOL infects PC's much like viruses do. It can be near impossible to eliminate completely.
Also, save yourself the trouble and call your credit card/bank directly and tell them to stop allowing AOL to charge to your credit card/bank account. Don't bother with telling the AOL Customer Disservice monkeys to cancel your account. They won't do it, even though they are legally required to do so.
Joined: Sun 08-24-2003 3:47PM Posts: 1049 Location: Behind YOU!
Source: Off Campus
How "upstairs" are you? If we are talking second floor (one floor above ground level or first floor) you'll need to do things differently from a first floor and basement (one floor below ground level) install. If your installing the network on a basement and first level installation, I'd install a good wireless router on the first floor and get a directional USB Wireless device for the computer in the basement. Then regular wireless adapters for the remainder of the computers. If your running multiple floors, say a basement and second floor install, your best bet would be to run a single network wire to the basement, install a wired router there and then get a wireless AP for your room. Even a 10-baseTX network will be more than fast enough to allow for full speed from a cable modem to each computer. While many of these new wireless technologies are very powerful, they ususally don't like going through floors, or traveling verticly in general. I don't think you'll be able to install an AP between floors and have good experience unless all the computers were on lined up verticaly and had antennas that could all be oriented parallel to the floor.
_________________ "Why is it that we must always choose between certain death and probable death?" ~ Clank, Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Joined: Sun 08-17-2003 10:36PM Posts: 330 Location: UIUC
Source: Off Campus
To clarify "upstairs" would be the second floor, i.e. Basement>1st>upstairs. And from what you're saying it's going to be difficult to use wirless between floors? Umm...crap. If thats the case then I'll probably have to do some figuring as to how to do this.
wireless in my house stretches pretty damn far. I am on the second story, and the router is on the first on the complete opposite side of the house....and it's not that small of a house.
_________________ Aw man, I shot Marvin in the Face!
As long as you don't go completely cheap on the components don't worry so much about the distance if it's just 2 floors. It's stretches pretty well. Hell i remember Allan had one next to me that could be used in the lounge without any problems ever. That's through 3 TJ North walls and my room with 3 computers running and his room with god knows how many computers running. I think he could even use it in the bathroom, but i'm not sure.
Joined: Sun 08-24-2003 3:47PM Posts: 1049 Location: Behind YOU!
Source: VPN
Just remember that radio waves, like ripples in a pond, will spread out as they travel, If you took your computer to a room above the AP, you would likely not get a good signal, if one at all. If course, there is some reflection of the signal due to walls and ceilings, plus some improvised signal conductors which would include low-voltage unshielded wires and such. These can help, but they can also hinder. Mostly they are real bad about creating hot-spots/dead-spots in a wireless coverage area. While I'm not saying it's impossible for Drummer0316, it will take planning and maybe some testing to get a wireless network with desirable results.
I installed a network in an old home, when I tested some wireless equipment, I found the construction of the house such that 802.11g was only able to travel through one wall. So I built a wired network with the ability to move to gigabit with minimal expense in the future. Overall the price was much lower, and the speed is much higher. The rooms are small enough that a reasonable sized network cable can reach the entire room; and overall cost was much lower compared to the cost of a wireless network. Plus, we already have the infastructre here if we wish to make a room wireless, all we have to do is get an AP and plug it in.
_________________ "Why is it that we must always choose between certain death and probable death?" ~ Clank, Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum