Wireless Networking - Help needed.

[Scrums]

Hi all,

At home I have 2 computers - one receives Cable Broadband (living room) and is networked to the other which is upstairs in the 'office'.

The one which receives Cable is growing old, tired and grumpy and works when it feels like it. So a cheap replacement beckons - now, can I get myself a Wireless router, plug the Cable modem into that, stuff a wireless dongle into each computer and eventually make that work?

Your help, anyone's help, actually - would be greatly appreciated.

Chris.

The reason mostly for going Wireless is that Mrs scrums thinks a nice black mini box would be nicer than the current heap of scrap metal humming away in the corner of the front room. Mini desktops don't alas have a lot of space in them for extra cards etc.

 

[Argee]

It seems that you're networked via Ethernet cable at the moment, surely there will be an Ethernet port on even the smallest box? Your suggested method will work, but file transfer will be much slower than existing.

Ray.

 

[Scrums]

Yup

Linked by cable at the moment, but the small boxes only have one card slot as far as I can see, I need to get Cable (internet) in and network out.

hmmmm....

 

[RogerS]

....
The one which receives Cable is growing old, tired and grumpy and works when it feels like it. So a cheap replacement beckons - now, can I get myself a Wireless router, plug the Cable modem into that, stuff a wireless dongle into each computer and eventually make that work?

Your help, anyone's help, actually - would be greatly appreciated.

....

mmm. I don't think you go about it the way you're suggesting. I've not much experience of cable stuff but I'm assuming that you have a modem connected to the cable and only one ethernet?? socket on the back of it?

Thing is that the router also has a modem built into it and so its' input won't be able to make much sense of what the cable modem is outputting...I think...as I say, don't know that much about cable.

Are you tied to using the cable modem? Can you connect a different cable modem/router with built in wireless? Just so happens that I have one you are very welcome to have..just the cost of the postage and a small donation at your discretion to any charity of your choice if it all works out for you.

If you are tied to the cable modem then can you let us know what it outputs via? Probably USB at a guess.....nasty things modems...hope you're anti-virus/spyware/lead-lined underpants/etc are in order. Routers are much better...unless you're on a Mac maybe in which case you can relax.

 

[matt]

I have cable broadband:

Cable to house > Splitter >
1st split >>>> Cable modem > Wireless Router > PC1, PC2, Web Server, & NAS.
2nd split >>>> TV Set-top box > TV.

The point being... get a router rather than a router modem.

 

[yo_chuci]

i'm the same as matt...

cable into house and into a modem. (supplied by ntl)

out of the modem via short cat5 lead into IN port on my wireless router
(linksys wrt54g)

that gives me 4 ports to wire to and wireless.
so pc next to router is wired in...
voip phone wired in.
internet tv box wired in.. (testing from work)
std xbox wired in running xbox media center (which streams movies pics etc from the main pc.)
work laptop logs on wireless as does mobile.

very good router, very secure and good firewall built in etc.
has been improved and a new one released but a read up and you might find another make does just as well.
i got it (from canada at the time) as it was the only one that would work with xbox live which i was a beta tester for 6mths before it was launched in uk so other manufactures hadn't made anything to suit...
never faulted once.

you would then plug your upstairs comp into the router and the main (soon to be replaced) pc into router too..

warning.....

the cable connecting the 2 pc's might be a crossover cable... you'll need a straight thru cable.. check both ends to check they are wired the same...

orange/white
orange
green/white
blue
blue/white
green
brown/white
brown

 

[RobertMP]

Similar setup and router to yo_chuci here but no games boxes wired in.

Nintendo Wii uses the wireless as does any laptops in the house.

Most things now seem to autodetect the cable type so there is a good chance even a crossover cable will work fine.

Routers come with wireless security turned off for easy setup. If you don't want to share your network with anyone passing by enable security once you have seen it working.

You can connect everything wirelessly but if the cable is there then wired will be faster so why not use it.

edit... one other thing... if the cable company modem is 'tied' to the mac address of the PC it is connected to then the router can 'spoof' that mac address so no re registering with the cable co is needed.

 

[yo_chuci]

edit... one other thing... if the cable company modem is 'tied' to the mac address of the PC it is connected to then the router can 'spoof' that mac address so no re registering with the cable co is needed.

yup forgot that bit...

that was also one of the reasons i got the linksys cos the broadband provider can only see as far as the router... no futher..
same for hackers

 

[Scrums]

Thanks for your replies chaps, I must say most of it went straight over my head

I've overruled her indoors and gone for another tower 2 cd/dvd drive bays/4 pci slots/2 hd bays........much more versatile and quicker too staying wired - that's 'plumbed in' to the walls....shame not to use it.

P4 HT 3000mhz - ebay - 98 pounds delivered........now if I could only find where my pound sign has gone....bloody computers....

Chris

 

[Argee]

....now if I could only find where my pound sign has gone...

"Start" - "Control Panel" - Regional & Language Options" - "Keyboards" and set the UK as default.

Ray.

 

[yo_chuci]

shift 3