HELP : - Wireless networking question

MONEYSAVER_3

HI

Can anyone advise on the below

this is the setup i want

Desktop wireless move around the house
(can I simply plug my pc into wireless router for a hard wired approach as another solution)

Laptop wireless move around the house

Printer Wireless so i can move it around the house
printer has a USB port is it possible to make this wireless

some bundle deals give you a laptop wireless card free
is there any device where i can use the laptop wireless card for my desktop to save some £££££££ rather than buying a PCI wireless card.

What wireless router would you recommend to achieve the above

high spec and adsl2 is where i am likely to head soon

I would greatly appreate your help

thanks

colin79666

ok it is possible to do all of the above

The printer may be a bit difficult although some wireless print servers can work with some USB printers.
To be honest a wireless USB dongles are pretty cheap (about £20) so you may as well have a separate one for you PC to avoid possible issues.
Practically all Wireless Routers have at least 2 eithernet ports so you can use traditional CAT 5 cabling to wire in a desktop PC.

Belkin, Netgear and d Link are all good makes

ADSL 2 compatible hardware will bump up the price, expect to pay around £100 for a wireless ADSL modem/router
This Netgear comes with a free laptop card: http://www.savastore.com/productinfo/product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=10290323&pid=0&rstrat=7834

Perhaps you should check to see if you might be better off changing Broadband provider while you are at it, many offer free/cut price wireless gear with new signups.

fatnbald

To network your printer you would need a printer that is network compatible (ie with a built in network card) or use a print server, not sure about how compatible they are with USB only printers though, either way they are relatively expensive bits of kit.
The ability to roam around your house and get good, reliable signals will depend on the size, shape and structure of your house and the quality and spec of the wireless hardware.
As a rule wired networking is faster and more reliable so if you have that as an option I would say use it (ie position your router adjacent to your desktop and ethernet it). PCI cards in some circumstances seem to give the most problems with reliability and signal dropping (in my experience), I would recommend that you use USB adaptors which can be swapped between your laptop and desktop assuming you do not need to use them both at the same time, either that or purchase two, if you use an extension lead on them it gives a bit of flexibility for minor movement to get the best signal.
I have used 4 or five manufacturers of wireless network hardware and find Linksys to be the most reliable and pretty easy to set up, stick with the same make if you can as it can simplify matters. Linksys are not the cheapest however but there are plenty of items on ebay that will do the trick.

MONEYSAVER_3

please can you recommend any USB adaptors for desktop and laptop
swappable notebook wireless card

printer is a BROTHER MFC 9180 laser printer

just has a serial port and usb port so i need something that can go wireless
on the printer to communicate with wireless router
i do not have a clue about that

GreenNotM

this is available in Oz http://www.brother.com.au/Products/MFC_options.asp?ProductID=24&ProductTypeID=3&Solution=&subCategoryID=2

External Wireless Network Print Server - NC-2200w

this is available in the uk Brother MFC-820CW Colour & Wireless Networkable http://www.brother-store.co.uk/product_info.php/cPath/2_386/products_id/24?sid=84bf67c17d5c1736043c1b9d6458b867 £155 +vat

fatnbald

My own personal options would be (please note this is very subjective and others will have their own preferences).

http://www-uk.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=UK%2FLayout&cid=1149562522103&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
All in one modem and wireless router.
WAG200G £50 ish

http://www-uk.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=UK%2FLayout&cid=1138056681838&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
This is a notebook adaptor
WPC54G £30 ish

http://www-uk.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=UK%2FLayout&cid=1127783374099&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
And this is the USB Adaptor (which can be used on a desktop or laptop)
WUSB54G £25 ish


Do a search around for the best prices but they are usually readily available on Ebay

http://www-uk.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=UK%2FLayout&cid=1127783373300&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
And this will act as a wireless print server for your USB printer, they are a pretty rare beast so you will probably have to purchase it new from a supplier.
WPS54G £60 ish


No I don't work for Linksys, but having installed a lot of wireless networks in offices and schools find them the most reliable and equal the best performance of all equivalent wireless hardware.