Wireless Lan Question? - Tech Support Forums

awwall · October 28th, 2002, 07:55 PM

I currently have a linksys hard wired 4 port router connected to cable modem. I have 2 pc's, 1 laptop and 1 desktop connected via rj45 to router.

I want to make the laptop wireless. I think I would need the following:

1 usb wireless adabpter for the laptop
1 wireless access point to connect to existing 4 port router

My question is==> Are my assumptions above correct? Is there a better way to do this?

I wish to keep my wired router and continue to use it.

TIA

<aw>

BobOmega · October 28th, 2002, 07:58 PM

maybe you want to swap the usb adapter for a pcmicia..... for some reason i'm thinking the usb one isn't all that portable.
other then that i think you can just hook the access point up and be good to go.

DVNT1 · October 28th, 2002, 09:19 PM

That method should work fine awwall.

A different approach, if a wired computer is running XP than you could just get two USB wireless adapters (no AP needed) and put the XP computer, with the wired & wireless interfaces, in Bridged mode. Of course the wireless laptop would always rely on the XP computer to be on for network connectivity.

gino X · October 28th, 2002, 11:17 PM

ethernet > bridge to wireless > wireless

is that a good thought?

awwall · October 29th, 2002, 07:46 AM

Thanks for replies....

How bout this...

Laptop running XP, Desktop is running 2000

Desktop stays hard wired to linksys router.

Install wireless between laptop and desktop. If I can get to Web from laptop via this method, fine, if not, that's ok to. I really need communication from laptop to desktop for file downloads.

I am new to wireless, just getting started. If I go this route, which is probably cheaper, what brands would you recommend? I will be 50-75 ft from laptop, thru a couple of walls.

thanks again for all the input

<aw>

**Whir** · October 29th, 2002, 07:51 AM

How much more expensive is it for a new router that does wireless and wired? I haven't kept up with the market lately, but I think there were a few routers that do that. Then pick up a PCMCIA wireless card for the laptop and you don't have to rely on anything but the router and you'll still be online with all of the comps on your network.

Probably a little more expensive though.

awwall · October 30th, 2002, 11:30 AM

Thanks again for replies.

Here is what I ended up with...

Netgear MR314 wireless router
Netgear M401 wireless card for laptop

Picked up both from Amazon for around $100 after rebates

Netgear had some pretty decent reviews, so we will see.

Humor to this story....I am doing all this so I can communicate with laptop in wife's sewing room. She is getting into embroidery and needs the laptop for loading designs onto the flash card for the sewing machine (which she has not a clue on how to do). It became a constant thing of hauling laptop to me for loading images from web or loading card for machine. I thought to myself, "got to be a better way"....wireless.... So there you go.

<aw>