Computer gurus...

[fuel tanker man]

I've built a sunroom onto my home, and I would like to put my laptop computer out there.

I have DSL service on my main computer.

I don't currently have a phone line in my sunroom.

I was thinking about putting some kind of wireless modem on my DSL line so that I could use the laptop anywhere in the house.

Is this possible? What would I need in order to do this?

Thanks for any advice...

Dan

 

[brianl703]

An 802.11b/g access point/router and an 802.11b/g PCMCIA card for the laptop.

Should cost roughly about $80 for both.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Also, make sure you get a router and card that support WPA security.

 

[pitzel]

And do set the security up, and either become competent in testing it, or have someone test it for you to ensure it is done properly.

Last thing you need is to be accused of some internet crime because some terrorists drove past your house with a laptop, wireless antenna, and pringles can, to use your wireless to do mischevious things.

 

[Willy_G]

Before you buy a card for the laptop, make sure it doesn't already have a wirless device built-in.

FYI, CompUSA.com has a great rebate on Hawking Technology wirelss stuff. Their wireless G router is $4.99 after rebates. USB adapter, and PCI desktop card, 9.99/ea. The PCI card at the CompUSA store in my area had the antenna with 1 of meter coax, to get the antenna out from behind the PC. If no store is close, even after shipping, this is a great deal...but I do hate rebates!

I picked up one of each as spares...the price was too good to pass up!

CompUSA's wedsite also has some good deals on Laptop cards from various manf's.

 

[fuel tanker man]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the help. WillyG, I do have some kind of wireless modem on the laptop now. It was on there when I got the computer. I'll have to check it out and see what else I need.

Question: If I'm on the laptop and my daughter is on the main computer, can we be online at the same time? I guess you can tell I'm not real up on these things...

Dan

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

My understanding is that you both can be on at the same time with a broadband connection.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Yes, you can be online at the same time.

As far as your built-in wireless adapter, check out its capabilities. If it is some older 802.11b and lacks more recent security standards, you may consider getting a new one (PCMCIA type).

 

[Willy_G]

Yes...you can have several PCs on one "line" and be on the phone at the same time. That is the beauty broadband with a router! However you are limited by your bandwidth. I am no expert on bandwidth, but in laymans terms, there is a limit to how many PC that can used the same connection, w/o speed issues.

Example: I got a cable modem about 6 months ago, to try out Vonage VoIP. Added a wireless G router to share the connection with all PCs in the house. It is common for 2 PC in the house to be on the web, Cable TV on in 2 rooms, and a phone conversation goin on...all with one internet connection!

Don't be too worried if your laptop has an internal B device. Just make sure any router you might buy is B & G compatable. Don't buy a B router, as the router is where you NEED the current securities. As you may know, one of the best securities for a PC with a broadband connection is to turn it off, or disconnect it from the internet when not in use, as broadband is "always on".

See my comments in the Vonage thread, here, regarding the combined router/Vonage adapter units, if interested.

[ August 10, 2005, 10:04 AM: Message edited by: Willy_G ]

 

[Quattro Pete]

Whether you have speed issues depends more on the type of content that is being downloaded. If one computer is downloading movies or music at full speed, then all others may notice that their pages load slower. If you find this is an issue, there are routers out there which allow bandwidth management, so that you limit each user - how much of the available total bandwidth he can utilize.

Also, there are many different flavors of DSL (different access speeds). If you're just surfing the net, reading forums like BITOG, or checking your e-mail, then the cheapest version of DSL is fine. If you find yourself downloading a lot of music, videos, etc. then you'd want to upgrade to a higher access speed.

 

[fuel tanker man]

Totally cool info...

Thank you all. I'm learning a lot more than I expected to--a good thing!

Dan

 

[tweeker43]

apple airport express

apple airport extreme

something to look at. not the cheapest, but fabulous in terms of ease of use and performance.

 

[michaelc80]

As everyone else said-wireless is easy to set up. However make sure you have the security set up properly otherwise every 16 year old on the block will be able to access your network (and your computers).

 

[DKT]

We've had a wireless network in our house for about 3 years. It works great - we have up to 5 computers on at one time.

A computer guy at work strongly suggested and I agree, you should look into a router with a hardware firewall. As I understand it this is the number one way to keep hackers from getting into your computer. Setting up security settings (as michaelc80 states) just protects people from accessing your network from the wireless signal (maybe 400 foot radius), so unless someone is sitting in a car outside your house, or your neighbors try to hack the security that you set up will prevent this.

The firewall will help protect from computers coming through the cable modem.

Another thing to consider is the speed. We originally had a b model (max 11 MB/sec). Replaced that with a Netgear enhanced g model (I forget the designation - g model (max 54 MB/sec) the enhanced g (max 108 MB/sec)).

These rates are much greater than most data tranfers, but they diminish greatly the further away you are from the router. Also, the range of the g models is greater than the b models. Across the house our max of 108 MB/sec is down to 24 MB/sec, still plenty fast, but the b model was below 1MB/sec. We really upgraded to get the better firewall.

 

[1 FMF]

for testing your home network or single pc,network security and speed, check out the following.

https://www.grc.com/ gibson research.
look for SHIELDS UP! link on the page, it will test your security.


http://www.dslreports.com/
can check internet connection speed and see averages for people in your locale.


I have a comp. science degree and have some bkgnd in networking but I'm really out of it. Had been told by a friend at work who does network security (gov't related) and said the thing to by is a "firewalled router" with "NAT".
NAT = network address translation.
I don't do wireless, so can't help you there. Highly recommended is netgear routers. I have a FR144P. Has 4 LAN ports, where lan network cable goes to computer. Other port connects it to the modem. In your case, other port would connect to wireless router. The firewalled router sheilds you from the world, such that outsiders don't know your pc exists unless you contact them. I've had spyware problems in the past before the netgear. Wife got me onto norton antivirus + network security first, which works but it's $70 a year just for one copy. The firewalled router is one time $70. I haven't renewed my norton since last year, and my pc has been clean since with just the firewall and I use bearshare and hit the dark side of the web often enough. Setup is fairly easy, at least nothing to deter you from buying it. So first, look for a wireless router that also incorporates a firewall. "NAT" is the thing to look for. This is completely separate from your home wireless network- where you need security of the wireless RF transmission from the wireless hub to the pc or laptop.