Newbie would like wireless advice please

I need to set up a wireless network to my new office in the extension.
Cables are not an option.

At the minute I have 2 PCs, one broadband connection (tiscali - usb
modem) and one printer in my house, connected by crossover cable and
all works well.

I'm moving both PCs and the printer to the office in the extension
which will not have a phone line.

Questions:

1. Is all I need a third PC in the house, with a wireless adsl modem
and router combo to replace the modem? Or just a router without a
built-in modem? Obviously I realise I'll need 2 PCI wireless cards in
the 2 PCs in the office.

2. Does this third PC need to be a decent spec or will any old thing
do the job?

3. Is using fax software to send faxes from the office PCs to the pc
in the house a realistic proposition? Can received faxes be
automatically sent to the printer in the office?

4. Anything else obvious I've missed?!

Many, many thanks in advance.

On 24/02/2005 jonathansmith1962 wrote:

> I need to set up a wireless network to my new office in the extension.
> Cables are not an option.
>
> At the minute I have 2 PCs, one broadband connection (tiscali - usb
> modem) and one printer in my house, connected by crossover cable and
> all works well.
>
> I'm moving both PCs and the printer to the office in the extension
> which will not have a phone line.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1. Is all I need a third PC in the house, with a wireless adsl modem
> and router combo to replace the modem? Or just a router without a
> built-in modem? Obviously I realise I'll need 2 PCI wireless cards in
> the 2 PCs in the office.
>
> 2. Does this third PC need to be a decent spec or will any old thing
> do the job?
>
> 3. Is using fax software to send faxes from the office PCs to the pc
> in the house a realistic proposition? Can received faxes be
> automatically sent to the printer in the office?
>
> 4. Anything else obvious I've missed?!
>
> Many, many thanks in advance.


You need a combined Wireless Access Point/Modem/Router which will plug
into your main 'phone socket, you don't need another PC unless you need
it for something else.

If you can run to a Draytek Vigor 2600G it has a USB printer port built
in so any PC on the network can print to that printer. There are other
makes of course but I'm using the Vigor 2600G with a HP 990 printer so
I know that combination works and the WAP has a decent range.

You set up the WAP/Modem/Router using a browser (IE is best, some have
problems with Firefox). For setting it up it's best to wire the PC to
it temporarily, trying to actually set it up over a wireless connection
is not a lot of fun :-)

Wireless can be a bit of a black art, if you can get wireless PCI cards
with an external aerial it may help to ensure you get a good signal.

No experience on the fax side of things, sorry.


--
Jeff Gaines
Posted with XanaNews 1.17.2.7

> You need a combined Wireless Access Point/Modem/Router which will plug
> into your main 'phone socket, you don't need another PC unless you need
> it for something else.
>
> If you can run to a Draytek Vigor 2600G it has a USB printer port built
> in so any PC on the network can print to that printer. There are other
> makes of course but I'm using the Vigor 2600G with a HP 990 printer so
> I know that combination works and the WAP has a decent range.
>
> You set up the WAP/Modem/Router using a browser (IE is best, some have
> problems with Firefox). For setting it up it's best to wire the PC to
> it temporarily, trying to actually set it up over a wireless connection
> is not a lot of fun :-)
>
> Wireless can be a bit of a black art, if you can get wireless PCI cards
> with an external aerial it may help to ensure you get a good signal.
>
> No experience on the fax side of things, sorry.

Thanks for all that Jeff.
I need the PC because there cannot be a phone line in the extension,
therefore faxes will have to be sent/received via a third PC in the
house which is connected to the phone line via a modem.

On 24 Feb 2005 09:36:31 -0800, (E-Mail Removed)
(jonathansmith1962) wrote:

>Questions:
>
>1. Is all I need a third PC in the house, with a wireless adsl modem
>and router combo to replace the modem? Or just a router without a
>built-in modem? Obviously I realise I'll need 2 PCI wireless cards in
>the 2 PCs in the office.

ditch the USB modem and get a combo modem/router/wireless jobbie

>2. Does this third PC need to be a decent spec or will any old thing
>do the job?

no PC required.

>3. Is using fax software to send faxes from the office PCs to the pc
>in the house a realistic proposition?

if there was a 3rd PC you may be able to find some network fax sharing
software that is reliable. Or you could use an external email->fax or
web->fax service to do it for you.

>Can received faxes be
>automatically sent to the printer in the office?

receiving and printing would be practical if there was a 3rd PC. You
may also wish to consider migrating to a fax->email service to cut out
the paper and allow collection from anywhere.

>4. Anything else obvious I've missed?!

telephony in the office ?

Phil
--
spamcop.net address commissioned 18/06/04
Come on down !

> >Questions:
> >
> >1. Is all I need a third PC in the house, with a wireless adsl modem
> >and router combo to replace the modem? Or just a router without a
> >built-in modem? Obviously I realise I'll need 2 PCI wireless cards in
> >the 2 PCs in the office.
>
> ditch the USB modem and get a combo modem/router/wireless jobbie
>
> >2. Does this third PC need to be a decent spec or will any old thing
> >do the job?
>
> no PC required.
>
> >3. Is using fax software to send faxes from the office PCs to the pc
> >in the house a realistic proposition?
>
> if there was a 3rd PC you may be able to find some network fax sharing
> software that is reliable. Or you could use an external email->fax or
> web->fax service to do it for you.
>
> >Can received faxes be
> >automatically sent to the printer in the office?
>
> receiving and printing would be practical if there was a 3rd PC. You
> may also wish to consider migrating to a fax->email service to cut out
> the paper and allow collection from anywhere.
>
> >4. Anything else obvious I've missed?!
>
> telephony in the office ?
>
> Phil

Thanks Phil.
Re #4 - DECT!