Wired home network.

All the rage is wireless.


I have relatively easy access to install wire from 1st floor to 2nd floor.
I currently use broadband cable.

What hardware do I need to get in order to connect two upstairs pc with two
downstairs PC's.
the main access I would like is for all four to have internet broadband
ability. I am not terribly interested in file sharing, but that would be
okay, as long as I can restrict access to some directories...

thanks

"NoName" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:wMadnZ2dnZ2MDdnhnZ2dnbIPYt-dnZ2dRVn-(E-Mail Removed):

>
> All the rage is wireless.
>
>
> I have relatively easy access to install wire from 1st floor to 2nd
> floor. I currently use broadband cable.
>
> What hardware do I need to get in order to connect two upstairs pc
> with two downstairs PC's.

What you need is a NAT router one that has the wire Ethernet connection and
also has a wireless access point (WAP) function too.

http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-NAT.asp

You should try to get a *G* version wire/wireless router that does logging
so that you can watch connections to possible dubious remote Internet IP(s)
by LAN machines behind the router by using something like Wallwatcher.

http://www.sonic.net/wallwatcher/#Routers

> the main access I would like is for all four to have internet
> broadband ability. I am not terribly interested in file sharing, but
> that would be okay, as long as I can restrict access to some
> directories...
>

Access restrictions are based on the O/S such as a NT based O/S like XP to
restrict access to Share folders on the machine by other machines on the
LAN (Local area Network).

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/w...fisecurity.htm

Duane

NoName <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> All the rage is wireless.
>
>
> I have relatively easy access to install wire from 1st floor to 2nd floor.
> I currently use broadband cable.
>
> What hardware do I need to get in order to connect two upstairs pc with two
> downstairs PC's.
> the main access I would like is for all four to have internet broadband
> ability. I am not terribly interested in file sharing, but that would be
> okay, as long as I can restrict access to some directories...

Assuming you want all four PCs to have wireless, put a wireless access
point on each floor, configure them for "roaming" (same SSID, different
channels), and connect each via Ethernet cable to a router near the
cable modem. Configure the file sharing options and firewall on each PC
and use the strongest form of wireless encryption supported by all your
hardware and operating systems.

NoName wrote:

> All the rage is wireless.
>

It may be "all the rage", but it is not as good as wired: not as fast
(if that matters), and certainly not as secure.
--
Cheers, Bob

"Neill Massello" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1h1ame8.r327b31lgfykgN%neillmassello@earthlin k.net...
> NoName <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> All the rage is wireless.
>>
>>
>> I have relatively easy access to install wire from 1st floor to 2nd
>> floor.
>> I currently use broadband cable.
>>
>> What hardware do I need to get in order to connect two upstairs pc with
>> two
>> downstairs PC's.
>> the main access I would like is for all four to have internet broadband
>> ability. I am not terribly interested in file sharing, but that would be
>> okay, as long as I can restrict access to some directories...
>
> Assuming you want all four PCs to have wireless, put a wireless access
> point on each floor, configure them for "roaming" (same SSID, different
> channels), and connect each via Ethernet cable to a router near the
> cable modem. Configure the file sharing options and firewall on each PC
> and use the strongest form of wireless encryption supported by all your
> hardware and operating systems.



Thanks to all who responded..

Speed is possibly important, but security is more important to me.
I don't doubt that a wireless home network is faster than cable modem
(broadband). So any faster speed wouldn't be terribly necessary. I am not
moving extremely large files from downstairs to upstairs. Though I do have
large capacity external harddrive for that, if necessary, again, not very
fast.

I am pretty ignorant here, on the home network subject.
What hardware would I need? where would it be located?
All pc's are less than three years old two are less than one. and all run
Windows XP home.

> Speed is possibly important, but security is more important to me.
> I don't doubt that a wireless home network is faster than cable modem

Have you looked at the powerline networking options? No wireless, just
plug a unit into each mains socket and that then has an ethernet port on
it.

David.

NoName <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I am pretty ignorant here, on the home network subject.

There's lots of jargon -- and even some nonsense and superstition --
connected with wireless networking. You might find it helpful to get one
of the introductory books on the subject before you start buying
hardware. I'm partial to Engst and Fleishman's Wireless Networking
Starter Kit <http://www.wireless-starter-kit.com/>, but there are
several others.

I am looking for wired home network.


"Neill Massello" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1h1d4zi.1vangcf11ti9c0N%neillmassello@earthli nk.net...
> NoName <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> I am pretty ignorant here, on the home network subject.
>
> There's lots of jargon -- and even some nonsense and superstition --
> connected with wireless networking. You might find it helpful to get one
> of the introductory books on the subject before you start buying
> hardware. I'm partial to Engst and Fleishman's Wireless Networking
> Starter Kit <http://www.wireless-starter-kit.com/>, but there are
> several others.
>

I am aware the technology exists. THAT might be a good choice. I simply
wish to stay away from wireless, from a security issue, yet wish to connect
four or five PC's or an occasional laptop via wired circuit to share
broadband internet (cable modem).

Who are the vendors? are there many to choose from? who's is more user
friendly, and robust.
What works and what doesn't?

do i need router? switch?
again, i have two PC's downstairs and two PC's upstairs.
and there are a few friends who have laptops and my wife's work laptop
(which could connect via wire) to "black box" that allows access to my cable
modem/port.



"David Taylor" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) d.com...
>> Speed is possibly important, but security is more important to me.
>> I don't doubt that a wireless home network is faster than cable modem
>
> Have you looked at the powerline networking options? No wireless, just
> plug a unit into each mains socket and that then has an ethernet port on
> it.
>
> David.

> I am aware the technology exists. THAT might be a good choice. I simply
> wish to stay away from wireless, from a security issue, yet wish to connect
> four or five PC's or an occasional laptop via wired circuit to share
> broadband internet (cable modem).

Odd that you're asking in a wireless newsgroup!

> Who are the vendors? are there many to choose from? who's is more user
> friendly, and robust.
> What works and what doesn't?

Dunno, never used them myself but Google helps
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...tworking&meta=

> do i need router? switch?

Don't know, what do you already have that connects you to the Internet?
All that the powerline network dongles will do is save you running a
piece of wire so if you have a couple of machines upstairs then a small
switch and likewise downstairs unless the router there already has a few
ports spare. If not, another switch downstairs.

> (which could connect via wire) to "black box" that allows access to my cable
> modem/port.

If you just have a cable modem right now, then you'll need a cable
router (or any router that provides NAT to the LAN side).

So you'll go:-

[Cable modem]--[switch]--[powerline]-------[powerline]--[switch]

The left hand switch is optional depending on how many ports there are
on the router.

David.