Wireless Network set up help please?

[d4ndy]

Hi Matt,

I’m a hard-wired fan myself! Listened to too many stories of incomplete file transfers, interference and the like..
I use blue tooth to transfer phone and PDA data but have problems with that breaking down mid transfer…

I like the ability to check the cables when I have a problem. Although wireless has to be a whole lot easier, and tidier too.. so I don’t mind being put right!

Dan Tanner

[John Childs]

I use wireless on my laptop so that I can roam with it but I wouldn’t recommend it for serious business use. Too flaky.

Don’t get me started on bluetooth. (:)

[Tim Painter]

Matt

Can you add some more details as to what you are trying to achieve??

Tim

[David Rowland]

Hi
I have setup about 6-7 wireless networks…. works well with a correct setup… however bluetooth isn’t the main computing one, WiFi is.

Spec out your dream and we tell u what u need

[valegraphics]

Okay. Thanks for the prompt replies.

I am now running the business from home, and want to send info from the house to the workshop approx 10mts away.

Perhaps im being really lazy. But it seems like a chore to save everything to disk and load-up again in the workshop. Dont really like the idea of network cables running everywhere. Any ideas ?

Matt

[David Rowland]

10mtrs does sound too bad…

a wireless Wifi router in the center of it… configure it to control Broadband too… put a wireless card in each PC…

I often use Netgear 834s and a wireless cardS WG311

There is a load of new netgear products that claim better range but not yet tested them

[David Rogers]

I use wireless at home and it copes great with several concrete walls in the way. Never drops a beat even with massive downloads.

Set up "boss man’s" wireless for his house – he & his wife thinks it’s great to stash the router in a cupboard & wander round with his lappy & PDA anywhere in the house & into the garden (not exactly a 1 bedroom flat 🙄 ).

Both setups use Netgear kit & 4Mb broadband respectively. Also allows you to add other terminals at will.

There is a rubbishy system that uses your home wiring (earth) to transmit data. Something about ‘bargepoles’ and ’10” if I remember.

Hardwired will be king for a while, but wireless is fast, easy (XP practically self installs it) and expandable.

Basic kit from PC World (spit), or even Tesco do it now. Ebuyer.com is best source (kid in a sweetie shop), but for instant gratification, go local.

[valegraphics]

Thanks guys.

Questions answered. Wireless it is.

Cheers

Matt

[Garrie]

Just to add, I too run a wireless setup, We’ve had it for several years now without any problems.

So long as the security is setup correctly you should have no bother. I have mac code enabled, hidden the SSID, and have 64bit encryption, is capable for 128 but for some reason I’ve never used it.

My 2 desktop PCs are wired but my laptop is wireless, I run a really old BT Voyager 2000 and a HUB plugged in for the PCs (only 1 RJ45 port on the router), this setup as been stable for years, ever under full download for hours, very reliable (touch wood)

Hope everything goes as smoothly for yourself.

Take care
Garrie

EDIT – to correct mistake 🙂

[Shane Drew]

I have purchased the latest netgear wpn824 wireless router, and netgear wpn311’s for all my PC’s. Planned on doing the same thing, connecting my house pc’s to the shed about 35mtrs away. Netgear told me the new wpn824 router should ‘eat’ the distance – on paper.

Problem is it does not work. The IT guy I got to come out and see why tells me that because my shed is steel, and I have a foil heat shield in the walls, I’m reducing the effectiveness. The combination of the steel, heat sheild and distance is working against me.

I get 60% strength to the door of the shed, but the minute you walk in to the shed it drops to 5%.

So, on tuesday, I’m getting a trench dug from the house to the shed and hard wiring it.

I have been told by a networking company here that they have now got a system that runs thru your power points. Checking that out on monday.

[valegraphics]

Thanks again for the info people.

Sounds like netgear is the obvious choice. I’ll be interested in your reply on monday shane. Powerpoints seem a good idea.

Matt

[David Rowland]

I used the external Netgear anttenna once, good effective range but as the power is low out of netgear, it struggles with buildings…

What I did to link house and workshop together is use a Netgear 2 Wireless access unit and one Netgear router to connect to internet. The wireless access points can be merged together to make ONE wireless zone in two locations, but each access point needs to be in range of each other (one has external antenna) and the other is in the window of the other building high as possible.

The netgear access points and not compatible with wireless routers.. so you have to be careful in designing the network.

[Chris Whitehead]

Hi..

My personal preference would be with Buffalo wireless equipment. The strength of the units is very impressive, and they are very simple to setup.

The give a good range, have an automatic WEP encryption system changable from 64/128bit.

Best of all, they wont break the bank.

I’ve also chosen these over Netgear recently as the last few netgear routers have had firmware problems. The Netgear DG834G being a prime example, great router providing your on firmware version 1.0.1 or 1.0.5 onwards Rest of them are full of security flaws 🙂

[Alan Drury]

I have been using wireless for about 2 years and once I had it installed no problems but I did get some higher gain aerials to replace the standard ones and this made the world of difference to range and power. I agree that security should be installed, at least WEP
Alan

[valegraphics]

Where can buffalo be purchased from?

Matt

[Chris Whitehead]

Try

http://www.microdirect.co.uk for good prices.

failign that I order mine from PC World, and get them to match the price in Microdirect.

[valegraphics]

Cheers chris very helpfull.

Matt

[Chris Whitehead]

More than welcome Matt 🙂