Help me with simple networking.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2005-06-09 04:52pm

Tonight I go to walk mart and buy stuff to connect both mine and my GF's computer to the Internet via a simple network.

Since, however, I am an idiot, I have no clue how this is done. this needs to be a wireless setup, so I need a wireless Hub (?) and a wireless router(?) or do I need a wireless access point (?) and a wireless hub (?). we don't need anything fancy, and all wal mart seels are D-link stuff. So, if anyone out there can run me through what hardware I need, I'm sure I can fumble through the rest of the setup. (shudder)

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-06-09 04:56pm

You want a wireless router, and that's all.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2005-06-09 04:59pm

just...umm...one? Or one for each comp? I have the cable modem running right to my comp, and I want my GF comp to share the same connection. (See how dumb I are?)

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-06-09 05:07pm

Chardok wrote:just...umm...one? Or one for each comp? I have the cable modem running right to my comp, and I want my GF comp to share the same connection. (See how dumb I are?)

Just the one. Oh... you'll need wireless cards too, one per computer, if you want it to be full wireless. If you'll still have you computer wired in, you'll only need the wireless card for her computer, and of course, the wireless router.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2005-06-09 06:04pm

Okay. Wireless card for her comp (I assume this has to be installed inside the comp and not simply plugged into a USB port), and a router. So Cable from wall to modem, modem to router, router hardlined to my comp via ethernet cable, right?

althornin · Post by **althornin** » 2005-06-09 07:45pm

Right.

You can buy USB Wireless "cards" though, if you want, for her computer.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-06-09 08:00pm

Chardok wrote:Okay. Wireless card for her comp (I assume this has to be installed inside the comp and not simply plugged into a USB port), and a router. So Cable from wall to modem, modem to router, router hardlined to my comp via ethernet cable, right?

You could either get a USB wireless card, which possibly won't be as fast, but likely won't matter, or a PCI card, which means you have to open up the computer. Yes to the rest.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2005-06-09 10:55pm

Can't you use ICS or NAT on the computers, and have a ad-hoc network w/o a router?

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2005-06-10 02:48am

That would require one computer to always be on whenever the other computer wanted to access the internet. Ick. Ick. Ick.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2005-06-10 12:47pm

I found a great, simple article on PCmag.com that gave a great tutorial. I bought a wireless PCI card and a wireless router. I'll be installing it all tonight. I bought the errm....G router type? Anyway, it had the windows logo on it, and said that it had a wizard for setting up the network built in, so SOLD and shit. The more idiot proof, the better. I'll probably fuck something up, though, so I'll post the results tonight.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-06-10 12:58pm

Chardok wrote:I found a great, simple article on PCmag.com that gave a great tutorial. I bought a wireless PCI card and a wireless router. I'll be installing it all tonight. I bought the errm....G router type? Anyway, it had the windows logo on it, and said that it had a wizard for setting up the network built in, so SOLD and shit. The more idiot proof, the better. I'll probably fuck something up, though, so I'll post the results tonight.

good choice. wireless G (one of the 802.11 wi-fi networking standards) is the best you can get at the moment, as it has the longest range and highest speed. that should be fine for most of your needs.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-06-10 01:53pm

Darth_Zod wrote:
Chardok wrote:I found a great, simple article on PCmag.com that gave a great tutorial. I bought a wireless PCI card and a wireless router. I'll be installing it all tonight. I bought the errm....G router type? Anyway, it had the windows logo on it, and said that it had a wizard for setting up the network built in, so SOLD and shit. The more idiot proof, the better. I'll probably fuck something up, though, so I'll post the results tonight.
good choice. wireless G (one of the 802.11 wi-fi networking standards) is the best you can get at the moment, as it has the longest range and highest speed. that should be fine for most of your needs.

Mmm... G isn't necessarily the best you could get at the moment. A is actually slightly better because you don't have as much interference with other things working on the 2.4 GHz frequency, but you don't have compatibility with 802.11b.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-06-10 02:07pm

Beowulf wrote:
Darth_Zod wrote:
Chardok wrote:I found a great, simple article on PCmag.com that gave a great tutorial. I bought a wireless PCI card and a wireless router. I'll be installing it all tonight. I bought the errm....G router type? Anyway, it had the windows logo on it, and said that it had a wizard for setting up the network built in, so SOLD and shit. The more idiot proof, the better. I'll probably fuck something up, though, so I'll post the results tonight.
good choice. wireless G (one of the 802.11 wi-fi networking standards) is the best you can get at the moment, as it has the longest range and highest speed. that should be fine for most of your needs.
Mmm... G isn't necessarily the best you could get at the moment. A is actually slightly better because you don't have as much interference with other things working on the 2.4 GHz frequency, but you don't have compatibility with 802.11b.

well. not the most blazing fast per se, but it is relatively stable, and good for someone that doesn't want to mess around with other awkward standards, such as the relatively new pre-n.