Best way to network house?

[Starfury_2260]

We're planning to get satellite internet here soon (NO WE CANT GET DSL OR CABLE SO DONT ASK ABOUT IT), and we need to network the 4 computers in our house (and possibly a laptop also). Just wondering what the best setup would be, and the best equipment to get.

[mickydej]

ok starfury ... mixedup post you got there ... now .. how much do you have to spend .. what kind of network would you like (ethernet: 100Mbit/s, 1000Mbit/s; Wireless: 22Mbit/s, 56Mbit/s) ? .. what is the distance between the computers... what equipment to you have ?(if any) .. How are you planning to share the internet connection (what OS do you wish to use) ?

[Bizkitkid2001]

Get a 4 port router with wireless G capabilities. I recommend a Linksys router. Then get a wireless G card for your laptop. That way all computers can share teh satelite internet.

And I know how you feel about not getting dsl or cable, my dad lives in Cave City, KY and he is stuck on dial-up and 3 tv stations because they have no cable.

[John Prophet]

yep..wireless "G" router sounds good

come from the satellite hookup to the router and then to all the comps either with wireless or wired

every wired comp will need a nic and some cat5 cable..each wireless comp will need a wireless card of some sort

[Starfury_2260]

ok starfury ... mixedup post you got there ... now .. how much do you have to spend .. what kind of network would you like (ethernet: 100Mbit/s, 1000Mbit/s; Wireless: 22Mbit/s, 56Mbit/s) ? .. what is the distance between the computers... what equipment to you have ?(if any) .. How are you planning to share the internet connection (what OS do you wish to use) ?

Well for one I dont see how my post is mixed up. Budget would probably be the cheapest thing I can get that works good. No need for gigabit ethernet. Not sure of the distance between computers but it's 2 story house, and there's 2 computers upstairs, and 2 downstairs. The OS is Windows XP and 98 but that doesn't really matter as we aren't using connection sharing. We dont have any equipment.

Is G really necessary? Wouldn't B suffice? I mean I doubt there's any way I could use more than it provides (plus I'm trying to go low price). Anyway whats a site with some good prices on em (and whats some good models)? And what about the laptop wireless card? Whats a good brand (and model) for that? Also how do you tell what kind of slots the cards use? My laptop has room for 2 type 2 pc cards or 1 type 3. Whats PCMCIA?

[LeftCoast]

G would give you more range, and (presumably) a better connection, esp. considering the two floors. And G isn't much more expensive... Wireless laptop card is a PCMICA card (removable, fits in your lappy's card slot), and a type 2 will suffice. Linksys is usually preferred to DLink (the big two), but DLink's tend to be cheaper. Probably the computer nearest the router can easily be "hard-wired" as JP said, with a Network card and straight-thru cable(RJ-45 plugs, look like a big telephone plug), but at least one of your desktops could have a network jack integrated into the mobo, so to keep costs down you could use that one nearest to the router. The other desktops will probably need wireless pci cards to connect to the router. The two upstairs should be the G cards (for range), but you may be able to save a few bucks getting a B pci card for the other downstairs desktop.Search the forums from the main forums page with the words "deal sites" and you'll easily get a comprehensive list, with links.

Sorry for the run-on paragraph, but it's late, man, and I just got up to whizz...

[BeatYouWithShoe]

I'm in agreement with Beetle, you can atleast hard-wire one of the computers straight to the router. The other downstairs computer use a "B" card and the upstairs try and get "G" cards and the lappy as well. The upstairs are further away and G will provide you with better range, try to get the same brand cards as router also, I'm suggesting Linksys.

[bailey]

with a satilite connection it is not that easy to do,
you will need to run it through a proxy server first

[Siliconjunkie]

G has EXACTLY the same range as B. It uses excatly the same frequencies and power. The difference is how the data is put on the radio waves.

[LeftCoast]

G has EXACTLY the same range as B. It uses excatly the same frequencies and power. The difference is how the data is put on the radio waves.

This guy would go with G, especially considering there may be four computers simutaneously sucking up the bandwidth. But you're right about the frequencies/power, although some feel there's less interference with the G.

I'm certainly no authority, but what would be the advantage to G technology? Simply bandwidth? What are your thoughts on each considering four computers surfing at the same time, re: speed ? Would 54Mbps have any advantages to 11Mbps in this senario (in other words, might the B @ 11Mbps be more prone to bottlenecks)?

[Siliconjunkie]

G would only help if he were using alot of bandwidth between the computers. For surfing, his ISP will be the bottleneck.

As for interference, exact same again. Microwaves, cordlessphones and the like. Again, same frequency. So, yes, the only advantage is bandwidth.

[LeftCoast]

G would only help if he were using alot of bandwidth between the computers...

So, just to clarify, you mean in the case of the network computers sharing large files here, right? I believe this is not a goal he's trying to achieve (just wants internet).

Good info to know...thanks.

[Bizkitkid2001]

edit

[Starfury_2260]

with a satilite connection it is not that easy to do,
you will need to run it through a proxy server first

What???

You just hook it up straight to the router.




We may just be running network cables out to the computers. I haven't been able to get my father to decide what he wants to do (he'd be running the cables). I doubt they'd agree to paying that much for wireless cards for all the computers, and I dont have much money to be spending it on stuff like that when we can just go wired.

[LeftCoast]

If that's the way you want to do it, Toad gave me this link earlier this week with a killer cat5e wire deal.

I believe you could get all the wireless equipment needed for the four computers for well under $200; prob closer to $150 after rebates.

[BeatYouWithShoe]

that is a good deal beetle with teh crimper and ends but 300ft might cut him a little short

[LeftCoast]

that is a good deal beetle with teh crimper and ends but 300ft might cut him a little short

X 2 then. I still think wireless is the way to go, and not a whole lot more expensive, but a whole lot more elegant.

[John Prophet]

wireless stuff is pretty cheap now and pretty popular...just glancing at most deal pages like www.techbargains.cm and u usually see several stores with wireless deals each weekend..if u dont mind rebates.

http://www.techbargains.com/

for example..comp usa has these prices this weekend

Belkin 802.11b Wireless Router $19.99AR
Belkin 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter $9.99AR
Belkin 802.11b Wireless PCI Adapter $9.99AR
Belkin 802.11b Wireless PC Card Adapter $9.99AR

Belkin 802.11g Wireless Router $29.99AR
Belkin 802.11g Wireless USB Adapter $19.99AR
Belkin 802.11g Wireless PCI Adapter $19.99AR
Belkin 802.11g Wireless PC Card Adapter $19.99AR


also amazon has decent deals from time to time

Netgear wireless "b" router $19.95ish after rebate http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...781725-2870415
rebate http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...3.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


also, as far as "G" versus "b"..clinical tests have shown that men who own "G" stuff are 43.7% less likely to need any sort of "male performance" drugs.



JP

[Starfury_2260]

looks like that netgear doesn't have a firewall built in. Could someone recommend some good routers and laptop wireless cards (and models not just brands) that I could look for deals on? I want to make sure they're good. Like those one JP mentioned. Are they any good?

That cable kit says the cable is only to be used for single floor. Why's that??? Thats no good for us cause we'll probably run the cables behind the walls.

[John Prophet]

the whole "single floor" thing....it either means the cable is "non plenum"...in other words if it burns it will put off noxious fumes etc...so it wont pass code for being used in air ducts etc...

or possibly it means that it isnt rated to be "pulled"..in other words th emethod usually used to pull cable thru the floor etc would damage this cable??

A lot of those 'ratings' can be ignored in your own house..you just cant use em commercially unless they are rated a certain way for certain uses etc