Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (
More info?)
"Mark McIntyre" <markmcintyre@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:502ck01nh6gcea4e4mluftespp3tpvnb6b@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 19:42:25 +0100, in alt.internet.wireless , "Snazz"
> <snazz1690AThotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi all
>>
>>I have just bought a laptop with wifi and want to set up a home network
>>with
>>my current pc and broadband connection
> ...
>>I basically want to be able to surf the net in any room with my laptop
>>(toshiba m30) , print to the printer, access the data on my main pc, I
>>actually think my mbaord has lan built in if that helps
>
> You will need the following:
>
> 1) Broadband Router. Note that different router types are required for
> ADSL
> and cable, check before buying..
>
> 2) Wireless AP. You could buy a combined router/access point. This is
> cheaper but riskier (eg if the router part died, you'd need to buy an
> entire new unit)
>
> 3) Network card in your PC. You can go totally wireless, in which case the
> PC network card would need to be wireless too. Be warned though: The PCI
> slots are normally at the BACK of the PC, behind a lot of metal casing
> etc.
> This can mean poor signal strength.
>
> 4) If you want to be able to print without having the PC turned on, a
> printserver capable of connecting to your printer and router. Some routers
> have printservers built in. Be warned that most multifunction
> printer/scanner/fax units won#t work with printservers.
> --
> Mark McIntyre
Snazz,
Since you appear to already have a working broadband connection, you must
have an appropriate cable modem or DSL modem already. To share a single
Internet connection with several computers requires a router (whether a
separate hardware router, or a computer configured to act as a router). The
router connects your LAN to another network such as the Internet.
To create a wired LAN you need an Ethernet switch. To create a Wireless LAN
(WLAN) you need an Access Point. A so-called Wireless Router is a router, a
switch, and an access point all rolled into one box. This is fine if the
location of the switch (probably near the broadband modem) and the location
of the access-point (probably near the center of the house) are the same
location.
You don't need a wireless adapter for the desktop system if wiring the
desktop to the switch isn't a problem. The wired LAN and the WLAN will be
joined into one LAN by the access point. Just connect the desktop's
Ethernet LAN adapter to a LAN port on the wireless router.
If the printer is connection to the desktop (via parallel or USB), then
you'll be able to share it with the laptop whenever the desktop is powered
on. If you want to share the printer without turning on the desktop, use a
print server like Mark suggested. Print servers can stand alone or can be
built into routers.
Ron Bandes, CCNP, CTT+, etc.