2 questions about expanding my network

Hello group.

I have a Belkin wireless router connected to my incoming ADSL line.
It feeds 3 PC's, one Xbox and my laptop via a wirelss connection. (I get
value from my 1Meg Nildram connection)

2 questions:

The Xbox now has a Pinnacle Show Centre next to it, which also needs to be
plugged into the network to stream stuff to my telly. at present I just swap
the cable as required. (Yawn)

What hardware do I need to allow me to connect both boxes to the one cable
that goes to the router? Maybe this can't be done. I don't want to run in
another cable, as my router has no spare ports, and it was a pain to do
anyway.

Secondly, wireless signal strength isn't great in some parts of the house.
Will a wireless access point added to my network work? or can I have only
one wireless transmitting device. And where would a wireless access point
connect to anyway?

Cheers
Steve

--
#Reply address#
steve_at_steveolive_dot_co_dot_uk

"Steve O" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:417bbec5$0$112$(E-Mail Removed).. .
> Hello group.
>
> I have a Belkin wireless router connected to my incoming ADSL line.
> It feeds 3 PC's, one Xbox and my laptop via a wirelss connection. (I get
> value from my 1Meg Nildram connection)
>
> 2 questions:
>
> The Xbox now has a Pinnacle Show Centre next to it, which also needs to be
> plugged into the network to stream stuff to my telly. at present I just
> swap
> the cable as required. (Yawn)
>
> What hardware do I need to allow me to connect both boxes to the one cable
> that goes to the router? Maybe this can't be done. I don't want to run in
> another cable, as my router has no spare ports, and it was a pain to do
> anyway.
>
> Secondly, wireless signal strength isn't great in some parts of the house.
> Will a wireless access point added to my network work? or can I have only
> one wireless transmitting device. And where would a wireless access point
> connect to anyway?
>
I think the easiest solution would be for you to connect a hub and the end
of the Xbox lead and connect the Xbox, Pinnacle and another WAP to that. As
long as the new WAP is on a different channel to your Belkin (both should be
configurable).


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Steve O wrote:
> Hello group.
>
> I have a Belkin wireless router connected to my incoming ADSL line.
> It feeds 3 PC's, one Xbox and my laptop via a wirelss connection. (I
> get value from my 1Meg Nildram connection)
>
> 2 questions:
>
> The Xbox now has a Pinnacle Show Centre next to it, which also needs
> to be plugged into the network to stream stuff to my telly. at
> present I just swap the cable as required. (Yawn)
>
> What hardware do I need to allow me to connect both boxes to the one
> cable that goes to the router? Maybe this can't be done. I don't want
> to run in another cable, as my router has no spare ports, and it was
> a pain to do anyway.

You just need an ethernet switch which you plug on the end of the cable to
your router , then use two short cables to go to your X-Box and Pinnacle
thingy.

Expect to pay about a tenner for a suitable switch plus postage.
Try asking on uk.adverts.computer

> Secondly, wireless signal strength isn't great in some parts of the
> house. Will a wireless access point added to my network work? or can
> I have only one wireless transmitting device. And where would a
> wireless access point connect to anyway?
>
You could plug a wireless access point into one of the ports on your router
(or the extra switch that it sounds liek you'll be buying) and have it
running on a different channel the existing one.
--
Alex

"We are now up against live, hostile targets"

"So, if Little Red Riding Hood should show up with a bazooka and a bad
attitude, I expect you to chin the bitch! "

www.drzoidberg.co.uk
www.ebayfaq.co.uk

Cheers.
Good luck with the poker Doc.

"Graham Watson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:clgil9$glv$1$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Steve O" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:417bbec5$0$112$(E-Mail Removed).. .
> > Hello group.
> >
> > I have a Belkin wireless router connected to my incoming ADSL line.
> > It feeds 3 PC's, one Xbox and my laptop via a wirelss connection. (I get
> > value from my 1Meg Nildram connection)
> >
> > 2 questions:
> >
> > The Xbox now has a Pinnacle Show Centre next to it, which also needs to
be
> > plugged into the network to stream stuff to my telly. at present I just
> > swap
> > the cable as required. (Yawn)
> >
> > What hardware do I need to allow me to connect both boxes to the one
cable
> > that goes to the router? Maybe this can't be done. I don't want to run
in
> > another cable, as my router has no spare ports, and it was a pain to do
> > anyway.
> >
> > Secondly, wireless signal strength isn't great in some parts of the
house.
> > Will a wireless access point added to my network work? or can I have
only
> > one wireless transmitting device. And where would a wireless access
point
> > connect to anyway?
> >
> I think the easiest solution would be for you to connect a hub and the end
> of the Xbox lead and connect the Xbox, Pinnacle and another WAP to that.
As
> long as the new WAP is on a different channel to your Belkin (both should
be
> configurable).


Given that switches are nearly as cheap as hubs, I'd suggest using a switch
rather than a hub.

You can connect an access point to the network (eg plugged into the switch).
I suggest you set it to the same SSID as the AP in the router but set it to
a different wireless channel. Make sure the AP is in AP mode rather than
bridge or repeater mode! To test that the external AP is working, you could
temporarily disable the one in the router.

You might want to think about wireless security: either assign a WEP
(wireless encryption protocol) key at the APs and at each wireless device
(eg computer) or else set MAC address filtering so the APs will only talk to
computers with specific MAC addresses.