Newbie questions

Aim: To wirelessly connect laptop to my PC and to share the dialup
internet connection of the PC. I need a good range and would like a
speed of 54 or 108.

I know I have to get a PCMCIA wireless card for the laptop but I'm a bit
unclear about the rest of it.

Could someone please comment on these options:

Option 1: 10/100 PCI NETWORK CARD in PC connected using ethernet
crossover cable to a wireless access point. (Do I need a switch?)

Option 2: 10/100 PCI NETWORK CARD in PC connected using ethernet
crossover cable to a wireless router such as NETGEAR WGT624 108Mbps.
(would it be difficult to share the dialup connection using this??

Option 3: Wireless PCI card in PC and no router or access point. This is
the cheapest option but would it be harder to set up? Also the rear of
my PC faces into a corner of two stone walls and I guess that would
reduce the wireless range. (I'm looking for 100 m through with two walls
in the way)

Any pitfalls to avoid?

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 11:37:16 +0100, enorehtonatey
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Any pitfalls to avoid?

you are unlikely to need a crossover cable to connect a PC into a
router/hub/switch.

A USB wireless NIC would allow you to wave it around and find the best
signal.

All your options will be using ICS to share the internet connection I
guess, and that'll be the ewakest link. Once ICS gets it into ethernet
land either of 1 or 2 will work but ICS is doing most of what a
wireless router does (DHCP, routing etc) so the access point option 1
may be the best of those 2.

With 3 or the USB version you don't need the ethernet card so if you
don't already have it a USB wifi option is the simplest to install

Phil

Phil Thompson wrote:


> you are unlikely to need a crossover cable to connect a PC into a
> router/hub/switch.


But wouldn't that be cheaper than the USB wireless NIC you mention
below? - and faster? - Or do you mean it will come with a suitable cable??


>
> A USB wireless NIC would allow you to wave it around and find the best
> signal.
>
> All your options will be using ICS to share the internet connection I
> guess, and that'll be the ewakest link. Once ICS gets it into ethernet
> land either of 1 or 2 will work but ICS is doing most of what a
> wireless router does (DHCP, routing etc) so the access point option 1
> may be the best of those 2.

I can't find a 108 MBps access point, but I guess 54 would be pretty
good and the access points seem cheaper than routers and it sounds like
you are saying it would be simpler to set up, so I'm leaning towards
option 1. Thanks.

>
> With 3 or the USB version you don't need the ethernet card so if you
> don't already have it a USB wifi option is the simplest to install
>
> Phil

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 19:44:43 +0100, enorehtonatey
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>But wouldn't that be cheaper than the USB wireless NIC you mention
>below? - and faster? - Or do you mean it will come with a suitable cable??

I mean it is unlikely to need a crossover cable, as routers expect to
be patched to PCs, and yes it is likely to come with a cable.

>I can't find a 108 MBps access point, but I guess 54 would be pretty
>good and the access points seem cheaper than routers and it sounds like
>you are saying it would be simpler to set up, so I'm leaning towards
>option 1. Thanks.

108 is not a standard, so make sure you get the client kit from the
same vendor. The people offerring 108 capability are likely to do APs
to that spec too. http://www.netgear.com/products/wireless/108Mbps.php
the WG302 (may be a bit overspecifed for your needs.

54 M 802.11g gives you about 20-24 Mbps of data transfer ie 1/4 wired
100 ethernet speed.

Phil