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WireLess Network at Home?? #243806
12/09/07 06:53 PM
12/09/07 06:53 PM
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soot Offline OP
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Does anyone have a wireless network at home to give me some advice in buying one?

My dad wants to buy my mom a new notebook "and" setup a wireless network at home so she can take her notebook into the living room to surf the net. They have a cable setup to the internet...with the box back in the den with their new desktop.

Are we asking for trouble if we try to mix a wire and wireless?
Should we get a wireless card for the desktop and have both machines wireless?
Is there a hassle-free wireless router on the market?

Did I forget anything?

Dano


Dan

To learn, read...To know, write...To master, teach...To live, play games & listen to whale music Stay Smart & Stay Safe
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: soot] #243822
12/09/07 07:20 PM
12/09/07 07:20 PM
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Any of the well-rated wireless routers at Newegg should work.
I'd recommend one that can do WPA2 security.
***Here*** is the results of a search for WPA2 capable routers sorted by Best Rating.
You can read the user reviews for these.

There is no problem with combining wireless and wired connections.

If you get a wireless card for your desktop, you'll have to decide where to put the antenna.

Wireless connections are not as fast as wired connections.
For web browsing it won't make much difference.
For downloading large files, it will.

Metal in your walls and floor (from pipes, electrical wiring, etc.) will block or partially block wireless signals, resulting in slower speeds. Wireless signals can bounce off metal objects, which allows you to receive signals you couldn't otherwise, but can also cause interference that can slow your signal. You'll probably need to experiment with the placement of your wireless router in order to get the best signal reception.

Here's an article on setting up a home wireless network.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,1276145,00.asp

Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: Jenny100] #243855
12/09/07 08:28 PM
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Thanks Jenny100 thumbsup


Dan

To learn, read...To know, write...To master, teach...To live, play games & listen to whale music Stay Smart & Stay Safe
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: soot] #243871
12/09/07 09:02 PM
12/09/07 09:02 PM
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I can only tell you that if both computers are in the same room the download speeds seem to be the same. But my desktop and notebook are not very far apart. I use the notebook when my desktop is busy with another chore mostly.

I also have an older computer 2 rooms away and I don't seem to have any problems with it, using a wireless PCI card in it.

Did you know that you can buy a USB wireless adapter now and it can be moved from computer to computer if you wanted? I couldn't do it because my old is running Win ME and the USB adapter won't work in ME. But I would have loved the convenience of it. About $30-$50 at Walmart & Office Depot. Might go on sale this month too.

luck Linda


So many games, so little time.
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: raylinstephens] #244465
12/10/07 10:38 PM
12/10/07 10:38 PM
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Hmmm, a USB wireless adapter...now that sounds doable. I'll have to check this out yes

Thanks Linda wave

thanks Dano

========================================================

Update...

Turns out my mom already has a Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless router, so it looks like all I'll need to buy is a USB wireless adapter for her notebook to get her up and running

Linksys says this router should work with the newer USB G type adapters

Wish me luck laugh

Last edited by infernoj13usa; 12/31/07 12:10 PM. Reason: stacking

Dan

To learn, read...To know, write...To master, teach...To live, play games & listen to whale music Stay Smart & Stay Safe
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: soot] #245959
12/13/07 11:22 PM
12/13/07 11:22 PM
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soot,

I have a Linksys adapter and hate it. mad It changes the way the computer starts up and shuts down, it also messed up the system restore. Do a google search for GTGina.dll and you'll see many people had problems after installing the adapter. cry I uninstalled it and will never use it again. wave


<3 I am in love with Norman Reedus/Daryl Dixon <3
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: TLC] #245970
12/13/07 11:57 PM
12/13/07 11:57 PM
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soot
thats exactly the setup that i have now
desktop pc in the dining room runs off the cable modem and wifi laptop in the lounge
when i bought my laptop i bought the wifi router at the same time from the same shop and got £10 discount off the router
works a treat, i am very pleased with it, and it was easy for me to set up too


What are we? Women - What do we want? We don't know - When do we want it? Now
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: ] #254524
12/30/07 12:56 PM
12/30/07 12:56 PM
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Hi soot..

I use a USB netgear wireless adapter...Also if you buy a notebook that has an on board satellite...You don't need anything else to buy..Hubby has a Toshiba satellite notebook..It routes off of the Cable modem on the desktop. Also i might add you need a router on the desktop..so you can use the notebook..

Most cable companys you can't route into their systems..they have security locks on it...So you will need a router base.

luck

Last edited by Darleen2003; 12/30/07 12:58 PM.

Luv Dar


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Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: Darleen03] #254535
12/30/07 01:16 PM
12/30/07 01:16 PM
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Soot, you may want to rethink using that router your mom already has. It is 802.11 b which is the slower data rate. It also has very weak security. As Jenny said, you really should look for at least WPA2. Security will be a very big issue if she lives in a populated area.


It's spring. My life is weeds.
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: Draclvr] #255583
01/01/08 10:52 AM
01/01/08 10:52 AM
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Happy New Year everyone...

Am not successful in getting the "wireless" devices (notebooks) up and running when I "secure" the wireless network.

Everything works as advertised when I have an open, unsecured network...

But as soon as I turn on security to control access to the network ... I get a "Limited or No Connection" message...for whatever reason the notebooks are generating 'default' MS Window's IP addresses (192.168...) which are not in the range of the wireless router's DHCP range...so can't access the network. I've tried releasing the IP addresses and rebooting but the notebooks keep generating those default IP addy's frown

headscratch

Boy you've got to love technology hardwall


Dan

To learn, read...To know, write...To master, teach...To live, play games & listen to whale music Stay Smart & Stay Safe
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: soot] #255619
01/01/08 11:56 AM
01/01/08 11:56 AM
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Soot,

I hope someone has an answer for you. We haven't been able to get a secured network connection with our Linksys wireless either and we've had it for over a year. frown


<3 I am in love with Norman Reedus/Daryl Dixon <3
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: TLC] #255684
01/01/08 01:19 PM
01/01/08 01:19 PM
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The notebooks must be getting those IP addresses from your router by DHCP. Are you able to set static addresses for the notebooks that are within the proper range? Or can you set the range on the router?

Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: Jenny100] #255796
01/01/08 03:35 PM
01/01/08 03:35 PM
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Me too TLC ... unfortunately this arena lies outside of my PC expertise

Jenny100, from all that I've read the IP addresses I'm getting are being assigned by Windows XP and not the router...the linksys router uses a different block of addresses. I can increase the size of the addresses, but not to the range the router uses.

grin...you've got to love technology


Dan

To learn, read...To know, write...To master, teach...To live, play games & listen to whale music Stay Smart & Stay Safe
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: soot] #255806
01/01/08 03:57 PM
01/01/08 03:57 PM
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southeast USA
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Windows XP can't assign IP addresses other than those starting with 169 (which is what you get if your computer can't get a network address from anywhere).

Click Start, Control Panel
Double-click Network Connections
Right-click the icon for your Local Area Connection (the one that corresponds to your wireless connection)
Click Properties
Scroll down to Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
Double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) (or highlight it and click the Properties button)
What does it say on the General tab?
If it says Obtain an IP address automatically you are getting the address from the router.
If it says Use the following IP address and something is typed in, you have a static IP set and that is your problem. You either need to be getting the address from your router (assuming the router is set to hand out the correct IP addresses) or you need to have a static address that is within the router's range.

Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: Jenny100] #265267
01/19/08 08:00 PM
01/19/08 08:00 PM
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Thanks Jenny100 ... I've copied these notes and will "reattack" the next time I visit home yes

thumbsup


Dan

To learn, read...To know, write...To master, teach...To live, play games & listen to whale music Stay Smart & Stay Safe
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: soot] #265287
01/19/08 08:59 PM
01/19/08 08:59 PM
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For what it's worth soot, I bought an inexpensive Linksys wireless router and was confused by the instructions so I just went to the Linksys website Here and step by step it set me up. Then it told me to put something on a jumpdrive and take the jumpdrive to my notebook and voila! I was set and secure on both computers. Whatever it told me to put on the jumpdrive I have now been able to set up my stepson and sister when they visited me last year with their notebooks. All secure connections.

luck Linda

BTW, I recently had problems with a computer set up in an adjoining building and Linksys walked me through changing the channel too. But I found out the culprit with my waning signal was my telephone with cordless extension. Even though 5.8 mhz it was inteferring with the signal.


So many games, so little time.
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: raylinstephens] #265339
01/19/08 11:42 PM
01/19/08 11:42 PM
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I'm totally impressed with your knowledge, Jenny. If I ever need to set up a wireless network in my home, you're my gal smile I'm totally clueless with all those confusing acronyms they use. I've tried Googling just to try and get a better understanding of it all, but the acronyms throw me every time. I guess I need a wireless network tutorial for dummies (with pictures for the big words) if I ever need to use one.

Or maybe it's one of those things you need to have in front of you to understand it smile

Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: raylinstephens] #271835
01/31/08 09:50 PM
01/31/08 09:50 PM
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Thanks Linda...I'll will re-attack this on my next visit wave


Dan

To learn, read...To know, write...To master, teach...To live, play games & listen to whale music Stay Smart & Stay Safe
Re: WireLess Network at Home?? [Re: soot] #271859
01/31/08 11:28 PM
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Soot,

We finally dumped Linksys and switched to DLink a few weeks ago. We were able to set it up and secured easily! yay We never could get a secured connection with the Linksys and it was always dropping the connection. frown wave


<3 I am in love with Norman Reedus/Daryl Dixon <3
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