Rich wrote:
> I am seeking trying to determine if cable broadband might work for me.
> Right now I have Qwest DSL but the connection is not very fast. I live
> in an apartment and have cable TV already in the living room, so I
> have a cable outlet in the living room. The problem is I have a
> desktop computer in the master bedroom and that room does not have a
> cable outlet, and the cable company says they won't install an outlet
> in the master bedroom. I'm wondering if I can use the cable outlet in
> the living room, with a splitter for the TV as well, and just use
> wireless throughout the apartment without having any computer
> directly connected to the internet cable. In other words, can I use
> a router for wireless connected to the cable outlet in the living
> room and just use my computers with wireless connections, or must the
> computer in the living room be connected direct to the cable internet
> connection? I'd like to be able to make a completely wireless
> connection and have the benefit of the faster cable internet
> connection, but not if the Ethernet cable must be connected to one of
> the computers. I hope I am making myself clear. Any help you can
> provide will be much appreciated. Thank you.
It depends on the construction of the house. Ours is an older one with
brick/load bearing walls/plaster and lathe with a metal screen, and foil
backed insulation.. Sort of like living in a faraday cage..
While the cable (now fios) is only at one end of the house, we couldn't get
a reliable wireless signal to the areas we wanted the laptops at, so we went
with powerline networking
See an overview at
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...g.aspx?for=All
At
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...essPoints.aspx
They give details on their powerline wireless access point....
Basically, for about $130, for two units, one plugs into the modem or
router, the other plugs into almost any electric outlet (usually on the same
transformer, very rare to ever have multiple drops for one home/apartment),
and transmits the signal over the powrline at 54 Mbps, to the second unit
which is it's own access point.. Can be used directly off the cable/dsl
modem, or in my case, I have it plugged into my linksys wireless router
instead (giving me two networks)..
Beauty of it is, no cables, no wiring, just plug the stuff in, and when you
move unplug it and take it with you.. However there is a bad part, it costs
a bit more than just a wireless router (probably $50-$60 more)... Don't
know what your economic circumstances are, but it was the best extra few
bucks I ever spent.. During the nice months of the year, I just plug it in
to one of the exterior ac sockets and use my PDA and laptops in the back
yard.