need advice for setting up network

I have an established ethernet network through cat5 cable in my
building. I recently acquired a small office in the building next door.
I want to be able to link a machine over there to the network in the
main building. As it is not feasible to lay a cable across to the other
building, that machine will have to be wireless.

I've never done anything with wireless lan setups before.
I want to be able to retain the wired network and somehow link the
machine with a wireless network card into the existing network.
Is this possible? Is there some sort of gizmo I can plug into an
ethernet hub which will receive the wireless traffic from the remote PC
and integrate it seamlessly into the existing network.

Also the remote machine's physical distance from the main network
"straight through the walls" is approximately 20-25 metres... is that
too far to expect a satisfactory signal from a wireless lan card?

Any help appreciated

Fred


fred

This isn't all that complicated. All you need to do is grab a wireless
router and patch it to your existing ethernet hub/switch via LAN ports.
Assuming you already have a DHCP server, gateway, etc., you disable these
features on the wireless router, since they are redundant. Patching may
require a crossover cable, or a standard cable will do if one of the units
has an uplink port, or supports MDI/MDIX.

You could also just buy a wireless access point, but they tend to be much
more expensive (min $80, often higher). But the basic AP features available
in a typical consumer model of router is usually more than adequate.
Purchasing a cheap wireless router vs. a dedicated access point could save
you considerable expense. Of course, you could just replace your existing
wired hub/switch/router with a wireless router (most have at least 3-4 LAN
ports). But if you want to continue using your existing huh/switch/router,
then patching a wireless router/AP to it is a simple solution, and will add
LAN ports in the process.

As far as quality of reception, the only way to know is try it. There's
always the possibility of local issues/interference. But in general, 50-75
ft. is not going to be an issue, you may simply not get the optimal
performance. And you can always choose one of the new MIMO wireless routers
which extends range quite a bit. I use an 802.11g router across two floors,
a staircase, a couple walls, about 50 ft., and reception is decent
(18-22mbps). I recommend a wireless router w/ detachable antenna so you can
optionally purchase a high-gain directional antenna, should reception prove
a problem. Some models, like those from Belkin, have a permanently attached
antenna, yuck.

But overall, this is pretty simply setup, much less complicated than you
might have expected.

HTH

Jim


"fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:437894c5$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have an established ethernet network through cat5 cable in my
> building. I recently acquired a small office in the building next door.
> I want to be able to link a machine over there to the network in the
> main building. As it is not feasible to lay a cable across to the other
> building, that machine will have to be wireless.
>
> I've never done anything with wireless lan setups before.
> I want to be able to retain the wired network and somehow link the
> machine with a wireless network card into the existing network.
> Is this possible? Is there some sort of gizmo I can plug into an
> ethernet hub which will receive the wireless traffic from the remote PC
> and integrate it seamlessly into the existing network.
>
> Also the remote machine's physical distance from the main network
> "straight through the walls" is approximately 20-25 metres... is that
> too far to expect a satisfactory signal from a wireless lan card?
>
> Any help appreciated
>
> Fred

This isn't all that complicated. All you need to do is grab a wireless
router and patch it to your existing ethernet hub/switch via LAN ports.
Assuming you already have a DHCP server, gateway, etc., you disable these
features on the wireless router, since they are redundant. Patching may
require a crossover cable, or a standard cable will do if one of the units
has an uplink port, or supports MDI/MDIX.

You could also just buy a wireless access point, but they tend to be much
more expensive (min $80, often higher). But the basic AP features available
in a typical consumer model of router is usually more than adequate.
Purchasing a cheap wireless router vs. a dedicated access point could save
you considerable expense. Of course, you could just replace your existing
wired hub/switch/router with a wireless router (most have at least 3-4 LAN
ports). But if you want to continue using your existing huh/switch/router,
then patching a wireless router/AP to it is a simple solution, and will add
LAN ports in the process.

As far as quality of reception, the only way to know is try it. There's
always the possibility of local issues/interference. But in general, 50-75
ft. is not going to be an issue, you may simply not get the optimal
performance. And you can always choose one of the new MIMO wireless routers
which extends range quite a bit. I use an 802.11g router across two floors,
a staircase, a couple walls, about 50 ft., and reception is decent
(18-22mbps). I recommend a wireless router w/ detachable antenna so you can
optionally purchase a high-gain directional antenna, should reception prove
a problem. Some models, like those from Belkin, have a permanently attached
antenna, yuck.

But overall, this is pretty simply setup, much less complicated than you
might have expected.

HTH

Jim

"fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:437894c5$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have an established ethernet network through cat5 cable in my
> building. I recently acquired a small office in the building next door.
> I want to be able to link a machine over there to the network in the
> main building. As it is not feasible to lay a cable across to the other
> building, that machine will have to be wireless.
>
> I've never done anything with wireless lan setups before.
> I want to be able to retain the wired network and somehow link the
> machine with a wireless network card into the existing network.
> Is this possible? Is there some sort of gizmo I can plug into an
> ethernet hub which will receive the wireless traffic from the remote PC
> and integrate it seamlessly into the existing network.
>
> Also the remote machine's physical distance from the main network
> "straight through the walls" is approximately 20-25 metres... is that
> too far to expect a satisfactory signal from a wireless lan card?
>
> Any help appreciated
>
> Fred

The advice is good. Distance could be a problem and the newer preN routers
from Belkin and Linksys have a noticeable
greater range than the G router. I recommend going the N route. Adding the
new wireless router to your existing router would work as "Jim" suggests.
Place it as close to the window/wall facing the office as you can. As Jim
says, disable DHCP on the 2nd router and configure it as a router and not as
a gateway.
Costs a bit more, but should be worth it. You don't even need an N adapter
in the computer to pick up on the extended range. A G card will work OK.
However, I do recommend going with a router and adapter from the same
company. In theory any one should work, BUT, should you need help, Belkin
will blame Linksys and vice versa.



"Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:uk5ef.130$yp6.105@fed1read07...
> This isn't all that complicated. All you need to do is grab a wireless
> router and patch it to your existing ethernet hub/switch via LAN ports.
> Assuming you already have a DHCP server, gateway, etc., you disable these
> features on the wireless router, since they are redundant. Patching may
> require a crossover cable, or a standard cable will do if one of the units
> has an uplink port, or supports MDI/MDIX.
>
> You could also just buy a wireless access point, but they tend to be much
> more expensive (min $80, often higher). But the basic AP features
> available
> in a typical consumer model of router is usually more than adequate.
> Purchasing a cheap wireless router vs. a dedicated access point could save
> you considerable expense. Of course, you could just replace your existing
> wired hub/switch/router with a wireless router (most have at least 3-4 LAN
> ports). But if you want to continue using your existing
> huh/switch/router,
> then patching a wireless router/AP to it is a simple solution, and will
> add
> LAN ports in the process.
>
> As far as quality of reception, the only way to know is try it. There's
> always the possibility of local issues/interference. But in general,
> 50-75
> ft. is not going to be an issue, you may simply not get the optimal
> performance. And you can always choose one of the new MIMO wireless
> routers
> which extends range quite a bit. I use an 802.11g router across two
> floors,
> a staircase, a couple walls, about 50 ft., and reception is decent
> (18-22mbps). I recommend a wireless router w/ detachable antenna so you
> can
> optionally purchase a high-gain directional antenna, should reception
> prove
> a problem. Some models, like those from Belkin, have a permanently
> attached
> antenna, yuck.
>
> But overall, this is pretty simply setup, much less complicated than you
> might have expected.
>
> HTH
>
> Jim
>
>
> "fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:437894c5$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I have an established ethernet network through cat5 cable in my
>> building. I recently acquired a small office in the building next door.
>> I want to be able to link a machine over there to the network in the
>> main building. As it is not feasible to lay a cable across to the other
>> building, that machine will have to be wireless.
>>
>> I've never done anything with wireless lan setups before.
>> I want to be able to retain the wired network and somehow link the
>> machine with a wireless network card into the existing network.
>> Is this possible? Is there some sort of gizmo I can plug into an
>> ethernet hub which will receive the wireless traffic from the remote PC
>> and integrate it seamlessly into the existing network.
>>
>> Also the remote machine's physical distance from the main network
>> "straight through the walls" is approximately 20-25 metres... is that
>> too far to expect a satisfactory signal from a wireless lan card?
>>
>> Any help appreciated
>>
>> Fred
>
>