Need some advice on Wireless Networking.

RiCh_2

Hi can anyone please give me some advice, as i want to set up a wireless network at home.

Just now i have 2MB ADSL broadband, using a USB broadband modem connected to my pc.

My PC is running on Windows XP SP2, and is of pretty decent spec.
My PC doesnt have any wireless hardware but has Ethernet.

I also have a Laptop with Windows XP SP2, which has Wireless and Ethernet built in.

I have my broadband modem installed on both my pc and laptop, and when ever i want to use Broadband on one i have to take the modem out the other, and swap about.

I was thinking of buying a router to share the connection, but dont want it to be wired.

Anyways i have ordered a new BT Voyager 2110 Wireless ADSL Router, and wanted to ask if i needed any other hardware to setup a wireless network.

I have my pc and printer in my room, and will probably set up the router in there aswell. I want use my laptop in any of the other rooms around the house.

The thing is that in my room, my desk is on the opposite side of the room where the telephone socket is, and right now my Broadband modem just reaches from that side to this via the usb cable. The cable going across the room is really annoying it keeps on getting pulled out etc...
I know that the new wireless router can be connected to my PC via Ethernet, but i wanted to know if it is possible to leave the modem on the other side of the room, and connect it to my PC wirelessly? So i dont have to have an Ethernet cable going across my room.
Or even if it is possible to put the Wireless router in another room, where there is no computer?

Will i need a wireless adapter for my PC?
I have seen some online which are PCI or USB. Which one is the best to use?

Sorry for the long post, its my first time setting up this kind of thing, and ive tried to include as much info as i can.

Any advice will be appreciated thanks.

Toxteth_OGrady

Yep - you've pretty well got all the options sussed out correctly.

If you go wireless on your desktop PC you'll need a USB Wireless dongle or a wireless PCI card. Not much to choose between them tbh.

Once your desktop is wireless you can put your new router next to any phone socket anywhere in the house.

HTH

:cool:

TOG

albertross_2

Make sure you disable SSID broadcasting and enable WPA-PSK security when you setup the network, you can get some secure random wpa keys here:

https://www.grc.com/passwords

There is some further advice in the wireless sticky thread, at the top of this forum page.

RiCh_2

Hi thanks for the replies, is there any speed difference between the USB and PCI card?
Which is the best to buy?
I was thinking the USB one, because it can be used on any other PC or laptop more easily.

albertross, if i disable the SSID broadcasting, will that not mean that my laptop wont be able to pick up the network?
What if my friend brings his laptop over, will he not be able to see the network either, or am i thinking along the wrong lines?

Thanks

albertross_2

The usb one is fine for internet use, as they will all exceed your 2Mb download speed by far. If you have an older usb 1.1 (12Mb/s)port as opposed to usb2 (480Mb/s), then a card may be a better solution in the long term..

Once you have told your PC what the SSID is, then you no longer need to broadcast it. If you don't hide it, your neighbours will be notified that it is available whenever you switch the router on.

Same applies to your friend, if you tell them what the ssid is, and what the 63 character key is, they will be able to connect, but your neighbours won't, because they won't know the secret key.

RiCh_2

Ahh right i understand now, i think until the router comes i will read the other posts on here and see if i can learn some new things about setting up my network.

Thanks again.

albertross_2

There are some tips on the steps you need to take to setup security here, they are for netgear routers, so will be slightly different for your router, but the same principles apply.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=142390

broadcasting the ssid, is just advertising the fact that your router exists to the world. Turning broadcasting off doesn't stop a determined hacker, but will stop casual or accidental use by your neighbours.

Setting up a strong WPA key is the best thing you can do to make it secure. If you don't setup encryption, then people could potentially read your emails, just by sniffing what is passing through the air.