Wireless Peer to Peer Network

dccarm

I want to set up a wireless peer to peer network to access the internet on the installed broadband connection at home through a laptop. The laptop already is wireless ready, and I have ordered myself a wireless card for the PC.

But, I think the laptop is on 802.11g and the wireless card I have ordered is on 802.11b. Will this matter? Should I return the card and get an 802.11g before I do anything with it, or will the two be compatible? If they are compatible I don't want to go through the hassle of returning and reordering, so I would prefer to just give it a go.

onzey

If you plan to pass lots of data between laptop and pc it would be better if both were "g" with theoretical transfer rate of 54Mbps but if one is "b" then data will transfer at lower 11Mbps. Both speeds are higher than typical broadband rates so either are fine for internet access. "g" is backwards compatable with "b".

I assume you plan to access the internet using the laptop via a broadband connection connected directly to the pc so of course the pc must be on to do this. Many people these days buy a wireles modem/router which can usually take a wired (or wireless) link to their desktop pc and then access the internet using their laptop through the router. This way the pc does not need to be on when using the laptop to access internet.

dccarm

There will be very little transfer of data, other than the internet connection and printing from the laptop. From what I've read the 11mbps is fine for the internet as the broadband is only 2mbps.

Other than that though there shouldn't really be any major data transfers.

onzey

Whoops, you posted while I was (slowly) editing.