REQ Help: How connect laptop wirelessly to four computer network?

Hi,

I have four home computers connected to a wired router and a cable
internet feed.

My laptop has a working wireless card.

Is there some hardware that will allow my laptop to connect wirelessly
to my wired network?

Thanks,
MHL

MHenry wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have four home computers connected to a wired router and a cable
> internet feed.
>
> My laptop has a working wireless card.
>
> Is there some hardware that will allow my laptop to connect wirelessly
> to my wired network?
>
> Thanks,
> MHL

You're joking right? Among the dozens of others made by other manufacturers,
I just picked up a 3rd Linksys WRT54G at walmart for $43.99... If they have
em on sale at Wal-mart, you KNOW they have been around for a long time....

No, I am not joking. I am not network savvy.
Hi, PeterPan,

Are you saying I could replace my wired router with a wireless router?
Wouldn't I then have to get wireless cards for my four desktops?

Whatever ways there are to do this, I would like to just keep my wired
router for my four desktops ( ' cause its working) and somehow get the
connection to the laptop wirelessly,.

I thought I heard you could buy an adaptor that plugs into an
electrical socket, and into which you plug an internet cable from a
wired router which then converts the wired internet connection to a
wireless one you could then pick up with a wireless ready laptop.

MHenry

On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 23:35:09 -0700, "Peter Pan"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>MHenry wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have four home computers connected to a wired router and a cable
>> internet feed.
>>
>> My laptop has a working wireless card.
>>
>> Is there some hardware that will allow my laptop to connect wirelessly
>> to my wired network?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> MHL
>
>You're joking right? Among the dozens of others made by other manufacturers,
>I just picked up a 3rd Linksys WRT54G at walmart for $43.99... If they have
>em on sale at Wal-mart, you KNOW they have been around for a long time....
>

In that case, I'll make a suggestion.. Look at the Linksys wrt54g (you can
get em real cheap at places like walmart, recomennd em all the time, and
never had a problem)

For tech specs
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper

Basic/relevant excerpt:
Product Features

Wireless-G Broadband Router

All-in-one Internet-sharing Router, 4-port Switch, and Wireless-G
(802.11g) Access Point
Shares a single Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired
and Wireless-G clients
Wireless data rates up to 54Mbps -- 5 times as fast as Wireless-B (802.11b),
but also interoperable with Wireless-B devices (at 11Mbps)
Advanced security: Wi-Fi Protected AccessT (WPA), wireless MAC address
filtering, powerful SPI firewall


It is a combo wired AND wireless router.. for $50 or so, it replaces the
wired router but ALSO has wireless in the same box. In your case, you can
have your cake and eat it too.. (don't really eat it though, the plastic
will get stuck in your teeth)

Like what you heard about AND has wireless built in... Some basic
acronyms.. you may have heard WAP/Router .. a WAP = Wireless Access Point,
so when you see WAP/Router it is a Wireless Access Point and a Router in the
same box. Think everything you want in one box for under $50 (They do also
have a WRT54GS but it costs more and the speedbooster ((the s at the end of
the model number)) doesn't work any faster-at the s speed- with everyones
computers...



MHenry wrote:
> No, I am not joking. I am not network savvy.
> Hi, PeterPan,
>
> Are you saying I could replace my wired router with a wireless router?
> Wouldn't I then have to get wireless cards for my four desktops?
>
> Whatever ways there are to do this, I would like to just keep my wired
> router for my four desktops ( ' cause its working) and somehow get the
> connection to the laptop wirelessly,.
>
> I thought I heard you could buy an adaptor that plugs into an
> electrical socket, and into which you plug an internet cable from a
> wired router which then converts the wired internet connection to a
> wireless one you could then pick up with a wireless ready laptop.
>
> MHenry
>
> On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 23:35:09 -0700, "Peter Pan"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> MHenry wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I have four home computers connected to a wired router and a cable
>>> internet feed.
>>>
>>> My laptop has a working wireless card.
>>>
>>> Is there some hardware that will allow my laptop to connect
>>> wirelessly to my wired network?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> MHL
>>
>> You're joking right? Among the dozens of others made by other
>> manufacturers, I just picked up a 3rd Linksys WRT54G at walmart for
>> $43.99... If they have em on sale at Wal-mart, you KNOW they have
>> been around for a long time....

MHenry <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>I have four home computers connected to a wired router and a cable
>internet feed.
>
>My laptop has a working wireless card.
>
>Is there some hardware that will allow my laptop to connect wirelessly
>to my wired network?

You have two choices:

1. If your router and cable modem are one conglomerated box, or you
wish it preserve your existing unspecified model router, then you can
add what is called a "wireless access point". More on this later.

2. If your unspecified router is ancient, and your cable modem is
separate, and you wouldn't mind replacing the router, then what you're
looking for is called a "wireless router".

A "wireless router" is actually a "wireless access point" with a wired
ethernet router inside the same box. You can purchase a wireless
router, and ignore the router section, effectively converting it into
an access point. Therefore, since the "wireless router" can do
everything the "wireless access point" can do, and actually costs
less, I suggest buying a "wireless router".

One possible complication is that your unspecified model laptop might
have an odd or old wireless device. This will not prevent it from
operating with any random wireless router or access point. However,
you will not get spectacular performance and range.

There are many vendors and devices worth considering. I suggest you
dig through:
| http://www.tomsnetworking.com/wireless_tn/index.html
for reviews, prices, and see if anything looks appealing. I also
suggest you educate yourself on the basics at:
| http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2006/0...king_ntk_2006/
which will be helpful at interpreting the buzzwords and acronyms.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Hi, Jeff

On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 09:10:25 -0700, Jeff Liebermann
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>MHenry <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>
>>I have four home computers connected to a wired router and a cable
>>internet feed.
>>
>>My laptop has a working wireless card.
>>
>>Is there some hardware that will allow my laptop to connect wirelessly
>>to my wired network?
>
>You have two choices:
>
....omitted...
>
>2. If your unspecified router is ancient, and your cable modem is
>separate, and you wouldn't mind replacing the router, then what you're
>looking for is called a "wireless router".

I have a Netgear RT314 separate from my cable modem (Motorola SB4220
SURFBoard) which I believe qualifies as ancient. But it works, so I am
not eager to replace it.

>
>A "wireless router" is actually a "wireless access point" with a wired
>ethernet router inside the same box. You can purchase a wireless
>router, and ignore the router section, effectively converting it into
>an access point. Therefore, since the "wireless router" can do
>everything the "wireless access point" can do, and actually costs
>less, I suggest buying a "wireless router".

If I do as you suggest, purchase a wireless router and ignore the
router section, converting it to an access point, how will my desktops
connect to the internet? I don't think any of them are wifi ready.
>
....omitted...
>
>There are many vendors and devices worth considering. I suggest you
>dig through:
>| http://www.tomsnetworking.com/wireless_tn/index.html
>for reviews, prices, and see if anything looks appealing. I also
>suggest you educate yourself on the basics at:
>| http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2006/0...king_ntk_2006/
>which will be helpful at interpreting the buzzwords and acronyms.

I did spend some time on the web site you recommended, but I probably
have to re-read it a few times to get reasonably comfortable with how
this all works.

Thank you very much for your help.

MHL

MHenry <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>I have a Netgear RT314 separate from my cable modem (Motorola SB4220
>SURFBoard) which I believe qualifies as ancient. But it works, so I am
>not eager to replace it.

The SB4220 is capeable of DOCSIS 2.0, so it's definately worth
keeping.

However, the Netgear RT314 is about as ancient a router that can still
be useful. It has two problems... a general lack of features and a
slow processor which limits thruput to about 2.0Mbits/sec. I would
certainly consider replacing the RT314 with a wireless router
combination.

However, I have a dilema. I usually recommend seperate boxes for the
router and the wireless access point. That's because the router wants
to live near the cable modem and where all the wires come together.
That's usually in a closet, under a desk, or buried somewhere where
the mess of wires are well hidden. However, the wireless access point
wants to live up high in the open, where it can have the best view of
the house or office. These are mutually incompatible. If you
purchase a wireless router to replace your RT314, you will have to
deal with a compromise between these two requirements. It's also
about twice as expensive to purchase two boxes when a conglomerated
wireless router will do the job in one box. Your decision.

>If I do as you suggest, purchase a wireless router and ignore the
>router section, converting it to an access point, how will my desktops
>connect to the internet? I don't think any of them are wifi ready.

Same as they do now. Through a wired ethernet connection to the back
of the wireless router. All of them have 4 port ethernet 10/100
switches. When you convert the wireless router to an access point,
the switch still works. Note that most access points do NOT include
the ethernet switch feature.

>>| http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2006/0...king_ntk_2006/
>I did spend some time on the web site you recommended, but I probably
>have to re-read it a few times to get reasonably comfortable with how
>this all works.



--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558