How do I add a 3rd PC to my wireless lan?

Hello,

My ISP is Comcast. I have a Comcast cable modem attached to my main
PC through an Intel Pro/1000 MT network connection. My wife's PC is
connected to the network with a 2.4 GHz Linksys Wireless-B USB network
adapter (802.11B).

I have company coming for three (!!) months soon . . . what I'd like
to do is purchase another Linksys USB network adapter such as is on my
wife's PC, then attach it to the company's PC. Then I need a simple
"How to for Dummies" which will tell me the software steps I need to
setup this network adapter so that it my company will be able to
access the internet, and it needs to do this without interfering with
my or my wife's PC.

Actually, there is probably a few "how to's" out there telling me
exactly what I need to know but I wasn't able to find one. Can anyone
help?

Hello Chris,

The original USB device was installed by Comcast and they didn't leave
the CD here. The USB device I'm about to purchase will be from an
eBay seller and it may or may not have the CD.

MrBill

On 14 Nov 2006 14:21:06 -0800, "NetSteady" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>MrBill,
>
>The linksys USB device should come with a CD that would walk you
>through the setup.
>
>Chris

On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 22:22:13 GMT, John Navas
>>and it needs to do this without interfering with
>>my or my wife's PC.
>Hard.

Why?

>Ideally you want a wireless "hotspot" type of access point.

Which tells me nothing.

>It's hard to give you advice without the secret details (all of them) of
>your wireless network.

The details wouldn't be secret if I posted them here!

Thanks for the Wiki links . . . I'm sure that all the answers to my
questions are there somewhere, but it will take me some study to
figure out where. I did mention "for dummies" in my original post!

MrBill

Hi
The content of the following links can serve as a basic tutorial concerning
Sharing Internet, and using Wireless; it is short and to the point.
The three first pages were written ages ago. You might ignore the prices,
and the specific choice of hardware, stick with the principles they are
still the same.
Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing -
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=105
Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...? -
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=48
Wireless Principles - http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=122
The whole thing should like this, http://www.ezlan.net/network/router.jpg
Wireless hardware - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Hardware.html
Wireless, Basic Configuration - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Config.html
Wireless, Basic Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"MrBill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello,
>
> My ISP is Comcast. I have a Comcast cable modem attached to my main
> PC through an Intel Pro/1000 MT network connection. My wife's PC is
> connected to the network with a 2.4 GHz Linksys Wireless-B USB network
> adapter (802.11B).
>
> I have company coming for three (!!) months soon . . . what I'd like
> to do is purchase another Linksys USB network adapter such as is on my
> wife's PC, then attach it to the company's PC. Then I need a simple
> "How to for Dummies" which will tell me the software steps I need to
> setup this network adapter so that it my company will be able to
> access the internet, and it needs to do this without interfering with
> my or my wife's PC.
>
> Actually, there is probably a few "how to's" out there telling me
> exactly what I need to know but I wasn't able to find one. Can anyone
> help?

I disagree, IMHO there is no reason why it should be hard.

Do you know the security mode you are running and the password for your
wireless connection? With this info it should be relatively simple with no
change to your wife's pc. If you don't know the password you'll need to
create a new one and set your wife's computer to the new password.

--
David Hettel

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group for everyone
to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions addressed directly to me in
E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

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"MrBill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 22:22:13 GMT, John Navas
>>>and it needs to do this without interfering with
>>>my or my wife's PC.
>>Hard.
>
> Why?
>
>>Ideally you want a wireless "hotspot" type of access point.
>
> Which tells me nothing.
>
>>It's hard to give you advice without the secret details (all of them) of
>>your wireless network.
>
> The details wouldn't be secret if I posted them here!
>
> Thanks for the Wiki links . . . I'm sure that all the answers to my
> questions are there somewhere, but it will take me some study to
> figure out where. I did mention "for dummies" in my original post!
>
> MrBill

MrBill wrote:
> Hello,
>
> My ISP is Comcast. I have a Comcast cable modem attached to my main
> PC through an Intel Pro/1000 MT network connection. My wife's PC is
> connected to the network with a 2.4 GHz Linksys Wireless-B USB network
> adapter (802.11B).
>
> I have company coming for three (!!) months soon . . . what I'd like
> to do is purchase another Linksys USB network adapter such as is on my
> wife's PC, then attach it to the company's PC. Then I need a simple
> "How to for Dummies" which will tell me the software steps I need to
> setup this network adapter so that it my company will be able to
> access the internet, and it needs to do this without interfering with
> my or my wife's PC.
>
> Actually, there is probably a few "how to's" out there telling me
> exactly what I need to know but I wasn't able to find one. Can anyone
> help?
You've left out an important piece of equipment. Remember, wireless
networking simply means that networking communicates via radio instead
of via wires (i.e., Ethernet cables). Any radio communication needs a
transmitter/receiver at BOTH ends of the link. So, the question is, to
what is your wife's wireless USB adapter connecting?

Perhaps the "Comcast cable modem" is, in fact, a combination cable modem
and wireless router, but we can't know that unless you identify it by
make/model. Assuming that you do have a wireless router and that your
wife is no actually connecting to some neighbor's wireless LAN,
connecting your guest's computer is actually quite easy and will not
interfere with either of your existing computers' access. If you and
your wife share resources on your LAN (files, printers), it becomes more
difficult but only if you want to exclude your guest from sharing.

If your guest has a relatively new laptop, it may have built-in wireless
capability and you won't need to buy anything.

Otherwise, install the USB wireless adapter on your guest's computer.
Assuming you buy a Linksys unit and that you don't get a CD, go to
Linksys http://tinyurl.com/r7x5p select the appropriate model and
download the driver. You can also download the User Guide and the Quick
Install info as well. First install the driver, then plug in the
adapter. I don't know if the downloadable "driver" includes the
complete Linksys "install wizard," but I think it does. If not, never mind.

What you need to know is whether or not Comcast configured any
encryption for your wireless network. You may be able to tell this from
looking at the list of available networks on your wife's computer. If
the network is encrypted (it definitively SHOULD be) and if you don't
know the key, you will be able to find it from the router. If there's
no encryption, you should be able to connect as soon as the USB adapter
is installed.


--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer