Wireless networking questions

I have a desktop pc with an internal PCI ADSL modem and a laptop with a USB
ADSL modem. If I buy a wireless router with built in access point and a
wireless 11mb PCMCIA card for the laptop is there anything else I need ? I
wish to use the laptop with the main pc off at times and also on of course
so I guess I need to use the now redundant USB modem with the desktop to
plug into the router so I can share and or take over the dsl connection with
the laptop. Is this correct ?

What is the benefit of a 54MB card and what is the difference ? Is 54MB WIFI
and 11MB wireless ? Is one or both backwards compatible ? Ditto with a WIFI
and Wireless router ?

"amstereofan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bsntek$bui9v$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a desktop pc with an internal PCI ADSL modem and a laptop with a
USB
> ADSL modem. If I buy a wireless router with built in access point and a
> wireless 11mb PCMCIA card for the laptop is there anything else I need ? I
> wish to use the laptop with the main pc off at times and also on of course
> so I guess I need to use the now redundant USB modem with the desktop to
> plug into the router so I can share and or take over the dsl connection
with
> the laptop. Is this correct ?

Buy a wireless router with a built in ADSL modem, a wireless PC Card for the
laptop and a network card for the PC, if it doesnt have one

Then plug your wireless ADSL router/modem in to the PC (network card)

This set up will allow you to use either the laptop or desktop independently
or together, as well as allowing you to retire the USB modem and the PCI
ADSL modem.

> What is the benefit of a 54MB card and what is the difference ? Is 54MB
WIFI
> and 11MB wireless ? Is one or both backwards compatible ? Ditto with a
WIFI
> and Wireless router ?

Wireless/WiFi are the same thing. 54G/802.11g is backwards compatible with
the 802.11b/11MB standard.

Advantage of the 802.11g standard is that its faster/newer, though if your
network is only going to be used for sharing internet access then 802.11b
equipment is is fine and cheaper

Regards
Sunil

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 00:45:07 -0000, "amstereofan"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have a desktop pc with an internal PCI ADSL modem and a laptop with a USB
>ADSL modem. If I buy a wireless router with built in access point and a
>wireless 11mb PCMCIA card for the laptop is there anything else I need ? I
>wish to use the laptop with the main pc off at times and also on of course
>so I guess I need to use the now redundant USB modem with the desktop to
>plug into the router so I can share and or take over the dsl connection with
>the laptop. Is this correct ?

Because you have an internal ADSL modem and a USB ADSL modem, using a
router won't give you the result you are looking for. In your set-up,
the wireless router will simply act as a switch between the two
computers, and you would get the same result buying a (cheaper)
Wireless Access Point.

Your internet connectivity would either (your choice...) be exactly
as it is now (either machine connects) or use ICS (presumably the
desktop PC connecting).

If what you really want is to fire up either machine and the internet
comes to life then you would need to stop using the two ADSL modems
you currently have and (gulp) buy another external one. This could be
"just" an ADSL modem (but it must have an ethernet socket, not just
USB). You would then need a router and a WAP.

Or you could buy a combined router/WAP to go with this modem.

Or you could buy a combined ADSL modem/router/WAP. The DLink DSL-604+
would do the job nicely - list price £139.

The seperates route has the advantage that each component can be
upgraded/replaced individually, but it may work out slightly dearer
than the combo route.

And you'd need a wireless card for the laptop.

>What is the benefit of a 54MB card and what is the difference ? Is 54MB WIFI
>and 11MB wireless ? Is one or both backwards compatible ? Ditto with a WIFI
>and Wireless router ?

The key difference is speed. But for small office/home use, 11mb is
plenty fast enough. 54mb WAPs tend to be compatible with 11mb
wireless cards, but may force all devices to run at 11mb if an 11mb
card is detected on the network.

I would certainly go for 11mb in the situation you describe. There
are going to be regular changes to wireless kit in the next few years
to plug all the security flaws in the cuirrent kit, so you aren't
going to "future-proof" yourself whatever way you go..

jay

"Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<bsnup5$eh8n2$(E-Mail Removed)>...
> "amstereofan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:bsntek$bui9v$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I have a desktop pc with an internal PCI ADSL modem and a laptop with a
> USB
> > ADSL modem. If I buy a wireless router with built in access point and a
> > wireless 11mb PCMCIA card for the laptop is there anything else I need ? I
> > wish to use the laptop with the main pc off at times and also on of course
> > so I guess I need to use the now redundant USB modem with the desktop to
> > plug into the router so I can share and or take over the dsl connection
> with
> > the laptop. Is this correct ?
>
> Buy a wireless router with a built in ADSL modem, a wireless PC Card for the
> laptop and a network card for the PC, if it doesnt have one
>
> Then plug your wireless ADSL router/modem in to the PC (network card)

What ever I do do I definatly need a netwrok card though ? I thought I
could plug the cable from the PCI modem into the router / access point
? What is the point of buying a router with a modem if my pc has an
internal one or I can use the laptop's USB one also ?


> This set up will allow you to use either the laptop or desktop independently
> or together, as well as allowing you to retire the USB modem and the PCI
> ADSL modem.
>
> > What is the benefit of a 54MB card and what is the difference ? Is 54MB
> WIFI
> > and 11MB wireless ? Is one or both backwards compatible ? Ditto with a
> WIFI
> > and Wireless router ?
>
> Wireless/WiFi are the same thing. 54G/802.11g is backwards compatible with
> the 802.11b/11MB standard.
>
> Advantage of the 802.11g standard is that its faster/newer, though if your
> network is only going to be used for sharing internet access then 802.11b
> equipment is is fine and cheaper
>
> Regards
> Sunil

On 29 Dec 2003 01:30:45 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) (pcbh fan)
wrote:

> What ever I do do I definatly need a netwrok card though ?

Yes.

> I thought I could plug the cable from the PCI modem into the router / access point

Nope - that just plugs into the ADSL socket for your phone line. It
is not an ethernet port and will not communicate with the router or
wap.

> What is the point of buying a router with a modem if my pc has an
> internal one or I can use the laptop's USB one also ?

The point is to make what you want to do work in the way you want -
you are simply buying convenience.

The modems you have cannot talk to the router in a sensible way that
allows either machine to connect to the internet independently of the
others.

If you don't want to buy another modem, your only option is to use
Internet Connection Sharing, leaving your desktop PC always on and
connected to ADSL.

In that case you need a network card in your desktop to connect to
the WAP, a WAP, and a wireless card for the laptop.

Or you might get away with putting a wireless card into the desktop PC
and one in the laptop and run them in ad-hoc mode...but you may find
the range limitations awkward.

The router/external modem choice is far more elegant and flexible, and
you don't rely on ICS. Remember you can sell your surplus modems on
eBay...

You have lots of options - but the way you originally described
wanting to proceed will need an external modem.

jay

Thanks for info, seems my Asus motherboard has an RJ-45 port so I can use
for connection to the router ?

"Jay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 29 Dec 2003 01:30:45 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) (pcbh fan)
> wrote:
>
> > What ever I do do I definatly need a netwrok card though ?
>
> Yes.
>
> > I thought I could plug the cable from the PCI modem into the router /
access point
>
> Nope - that just plugs into the ADSL socket for your phone line. It
> is not an ethernet port and will not communicate with the router or
> wap.
>
> > What is the point of buying a router with a modem if my pc has an
> > internal one or I can use the laptop's USB one also ?
>
> The point is to make what you want to do work in the way you want -
> you are simply buying convenience.
>
> The modems you have cannot talk to the router in a sensible way that
> allows either machine to connect to the internet independently of the
> others.
>
> If you don't want to buy another modem, your only option is to use
> Internet Connection Sharing, leaving your desktop PC always on and
> connected to ADSL.
>
> In that case you need a network card in your desktop to connect to
> the WAP, a WAP, and a wireless card for the laptop.
>
> Or you might get away with putting a wireless card into the desktop PC
> and one in the laptop and run them in ad-hoc mode...but you may find
> the range limitations awkward.
>
> The router/external modem choice is far more elegant and flexible, and
> you don't rely on ICS. Remember you can sell your surplus modems on
> eBay...
>
> You have lots of options - but the way you originally described
> wanting to proceed will need an external modem.
>
> jay

"amstereofan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bspbu1$e2s30$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks for info, seems my Asus motherboard has an RJ-45 port so I can use
> for connection to the router ?

Yes.

Regards
Sunil

"Jay" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> Or you could buy a combined router/WAP to go with this modem.
>
> Or you could buy a combined ADSL modem/router/WAP. The DLink DSL-604+
> would do the job nicely - list price £139.

That is quite expensive for a 802.11b combined router/WAP..

ebuyer do a couple of combined models which are quite a bit cheaper like
QuickFind code: 48452

For £100+ you can now buy the newer/faster 54G models..

Regards
Sunil