Making an old PC into a dedicated WiFi router stn.

[TommyGar]

Ok so I have an old Dell desktop and I'm going to use it as a WiFi router "station" for my house. It will be grabbing the local WiFi signal with a 300Mbps Wireless Adapter from TP-Link (TL-WN881ND(http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WN881ND-Wireless-Express-Low-profile/dp/B0079XWMEI)) and using Virtual WiFi Router (http://download.cnet.com/Virtual-WiFi-Router/3000-2651_4-75599199.html). I'm only installing an Anti-Virus (AVG FREE) and no other programs. The CPU will sit unmonitored without any peripherals 24/7. No monitor, no kb, no mouse, only a power cord and thats it. I mean, I can hook all of those up if necessary but I want to just turn that thing on and let it be.

I don't want to bog down the system AT ALL with anything else. I'm doing a clean install of Win 7 Pro and only installing the stuff I mentioned. Any tips on how to get it running smoothly without hiccups? Also, is there a way for me to monitor the system remotely if the need arises?

Specs on the system:
Dell XPS 400 Pentirum D 2.7Ghz
3GB Ram
250GB HDD
Geforce 210 gpu
300Mbps Wireless Adapter

 

[Paul NZ]

If its connected so its online you could use teamviewer

 

[ronintexas]

Windows 7 Pro has remote desktop capabilities so you can connect from any computer in the house. For it just being a wireless access point....that is going to draw a lot of power....especially compared to other routers that could do the same thing. If you aren't using it for any other purpose, I would suggest getting a router for $20-$50 - it would do the same job if not better, and save on the electric bill....

 

[TommyGar]

Windows 7 Pro has remote desktop capabilities so you can connect from any computer in the house. For it just being a wireless access point....that is going to draw a lot of power....especially compared to other routers that could do the same thing. If you aren't using it for any other purpose, I would suggest getting a router for $20-$50 - it would do the same job if not better, and save on the electric bill....

Will an access point do what I need?
I get my internet access from a WiFi connection with a single IP address. The company only allows ONE device connected on that IP address at once.

I'm currently running Virtual WiFi Router on my Desktop computer and feeding access to a laptop, a tablet, smartphones and a game console. I had to configure those with static addresses 192.168.137.30, 31, 32-35, 36, 37 (i just chose 30s at random). The speed slows down a lot when all the devices are running at the same time, specially the game console.

Edit: I don't want an access point connected to my Desktop, I run a LOT of stuff at the same time and I simply don't want anything else running on my Desktop, which is why I opted to get that old PC out of storage. Are there access point devices that don't need to be connected to a pc?

 

[ronintexas]

A router takes an incoming signal (usually from a cable/dsl modem), and creates a private network that only you can see - the outside world sees one IP address.

You may be stuck with the type of connection you have....What type of ISP do you have?

 

[TommyGar]

A router takes an incoming signal (usually from a cable/dsl modem), and creates a private network that only you can see - the outside world sees one IP address.

I don't know much about the access point devices, but from watching youtube it seems they need to be connected to a Computer that HAS internet access.

You may be stuck with the type of connection you have....What type of ISP do you have?

Time Warner hotspot WiFi access. Its about $50 a month. The landlord where I live doesn't want any drilling or anything that will damage or modify his property. Including additional phone jacks. I've had this conversation with him 100 times, wireless is the only choice.

Right now everything is as I want it to be. The only, ONLY problem is that I don't want MY computer in MY room to be the "router" computer. Its a self-built gaming rig and almost everything makes it jittery, BSODs plague my dreams.

If an access point device doesn't need a computer to do its thing, then that's what I want. If it needs to be attached to a computer then its just another device on top of the old Dell I intend to use.

 

[ronintexas]

Do you have Cable TV? If so, you can get a splitter on the incoming cable connection and add a cable modem/router from TWC for less than $50 per month.....No need to drill holes - and they provide you the wi-fi router....