"Jenny Woodruff" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> a couple more questions I thought of...
>
> I am planning on wiring one pc directly to a network with a cable
> modem, but I also want wireless 802.11b connections to 3 other
> computers - a laptop and two pcs which are both upstairs, in an old
> house with thick walls. Would the range be good enough do you think,
> or is wireless impossible in an old house?
That's impossible to answer without some information like distances from the
AP/Router and the construction of your house. Generally speaking, the more
centrally (both horizontally and vertically) you locate the AP/Router, the
better it is. It keeps the distances as short as possible.
> If we ever got a 5th computer, would it be possible to wirelessly add
> this into the network if we only had a 4 port switch?
The 4-port switch has absolutely nothing to do with how many wirless clients
you can have. It just limits you to 4 wired ports. If necessary, any one
or all of those ports could be connected to another 16-port (or larger)
switch to expand your =wired= network.
> Also, as I am a newbie I am a little confused over some stuff - like
> what do we actually need to get a wireless network?? I think I need a
> router but I am unsure of the difference between a modem, router,
> access point, switcher, hub and bridge. Am I right in saying a
> router/switch combination device is best? Which routers/switches are
> the best?
OK, very basic descriptions to follow. I'm leaving a lot of holes here, but
this is only intended to give you the general idea.
The "modem" makes the physical connection to your DSL line (actually your
telephone line) or your cable TV coax, depending on whether you have DSL or
cable. There are other methods like satellite, wireless ISP, or plain old
dialup. They all use a modem, of some sort. Typically, you rent your modem
from your service provider. If that's the case, make sure you get one with
an ethernet connection to your home network. Some modems use USB and that
makes building a home network that much more problematic.
A "router" connects your modem to your home network. It will get the
(typically one and only) public IP address from your ISP. It will provide
the interface to your ISP and translate to and from that public IP address.
That allows you to have multiple computers on the internet without paying
for a public IP for each one.
An "access point" or AP is the radio transciever for the wireless clients.
Basically, it just converts ethernet traffic from the router to radio waves
and sends them out. Of course, it receives radio waves from the clients and
translates that back to ethernet before sending it to the router. For the
most part, the AP is transparent to the whole process. Once it's properly
configured, that is.
A "switch" and a "hub" effectively do the same thing, but in different ways.
They basically receive traffic on one port and re-send it the other ports.
This only applies to the wired network. Wireless doesn't need it.
A "bridge" is typically used to wirelessly connect two wired networks.
What is best is your decision. A "wireless router" like the Linksys
BEFW11S4 is nothing more than a router, switch, and access point all rolled
into one box.
You should be able to find lots of good information at
www.practiallynetworked.com
Bob
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