Shoutbox

I want to set up a wireless network in my home. I have 2 laptops with wireless capability and 2 PC's. What hardware do I need to buy and what settings do I have to set in WinXP to make it all work? Also, in case the signal is weak or nonexistent far away from the "transmitter" how can I solve that? Thanks.

you can do it without any extra hardware, just go on one of the PCs and run the network set-up wizard. It will ask you to do some stuff, and put a file on a memory stick for you, then you just put the memory stick in all the PCs you want to conenct to the netowkr, then click next and it will set it up.

However, if you want to have a network that works of only 2 of the PCs are turned on, you need to get a wireless router. Which all the PCs connect to.

What type of internet connection do you have? (i.e. ADSL, cable etc...)

I currently have a broadband cablemodem internet connection connected to one of the PC's. I assume I need wireless network cards for the PC's and a wireless router? Also, in case the signal is weak in some areas of the house, should I add a repeater? If so, which one? Thanks.

Yes you will need wireless cards for the PCs, but you can get away without a wireless router.
On the machine with the modem attached, just use the wizard to set that up as an 'access point'. All the other machines should then network with that machine.

The problem is, if you do this, that one PC will need to be on all the time. A wireless router would avoid that, as you attach the modem to the router instead.

Post again if you'd like a quick sketch or two

http://web.belkin.com/Wizard/NetWiz/?cid=6

this is what i used..

Thanks everyone for their feedback!

Well there are ways to get around buying a wireless router, but a wireless router is cheaper than 2 wireless cards, or even a wireless card and a 2nd NIC for 1 of your wierless cards and it's a lot less hastle. It would be best to go:





Then you'd just go "Start" > "Control Panel" > "Network Setup Wizard" and follow the steps.


You can pick up a decent 802.11B Wireless Router for around $30 if you know where to look (which is all you need for online because I doubt your connection tops 11mbps anyways ) and an 802.11G router for around $50-$60. If you REALLY want to get those speeds up there you COULD get an 802.11a/i/n/z router but atm it's not worth it.

just remember to secure your wireless router.. a lot of people fail to do this and their neightbours leach off their bandwidth and steal information transmited over the wireless..

Striker, what is the procedure to secure the wireless router and prevent those undesired events?

i dont know how much you know about wireless, but i searched for some articles
http://www.dslwebserver.com/main/fr_index.html?/m...cure-wireless.html
that one isn't to bad
use WPA if possible instead of WEP
and ya.. that article says a lot