Wireless networking

[Indiana_Jones]

I wanna set up a wireless network in my house, just wanting to get some pointers.

I'm looking at a wireless network card, with 54MB per sec, would that be enough?

Also has anyone used the USB adapter, how well do they work etc?

cheers

:sunny:

-Indy

[Cajun]

currently 54meg is fastest you can get with 802.11(g)

Plenty fast enough, it comes in to problems when you try to transfer tons of large files across the link.

usb wifi adapters are fine, sometimes you come across bad ones, but often a bit hit and miss

[Indiana_Jones]

Well I've seen some 108mb cards for sale on tardme, but NZ internet is never gonna see that speed anytime soon, so 54mb should be fine I guess.

-Indy

[Karma]

And you think it'll hit 54mb soon? If you're talking about internet over the wireless as the main priority then you could run it at 11mbps and still no have a problem.

Make sure that you're using some form of security, mac address filtering is good and lay WPA over the top of that, only someone that REALLY wants in will do.

As has been mentioned, because of interferance sometimes file transfers on wireless can be slow due to repeatedly downloading corrupted packets.

[Cajun]

802.11(n) which is the 108meg cards, isn't an 'offical' standard yet, and in turn you need a router or simlar which has same 108 standard to get that speed

[Delphinus]

yeah go with the 54 802.11g gear. You'll rarely get that speed through it realistically, but it should run at least at 10mbit pretty well.

Dont forget cables as well, they can be very useful. Hybrid network is the way to go. For laptops, wireless is fantastic, but it doesn't really have the throughput to move alot of data. We happily can stream music/video over our wireless network as long as the AP is not too far away.
If you have pc's that are not going to move that you can easily cable to, i would do that.

Also check cordless phones etc make sure they are not running on the 2.4ghz frequency.

[Indiana_Jones]

Well I have to go wireless, the router is down stairs and is quite a while away from my pc, the cabling would be a big hassle.

As for security, where would one set-up a password etc?

-Indy

[YLWDUC]

Keep everything simple by sticking with the same brand for both the card and usb points. Some dollars to be saved in buying a combo pack. Or just by a macintosh, they are brilliantly simple when it comes to wireless

[Indiana_Jones]

I'll pass on the Mac, thanks lol.

I think my phones are 2.4ghz. Is there anyway to change the settings on the network or phone, save me getting new phones lol.

-Indy

[Delphinus]

Well I have to go wireless, the router is down stairs and is quite a while away from my pc, the cabling would be a big hassle.

As for security, where would one set-up a password etc?

-Indy

When you log into the router via web browser


Make sure you change the default username password to logon to it.

Under wireless somewhere you should be able to find an encryption or security button.

You should be able to choose from WEP or WPA - go with WPA-PSK and set a password (anything you like). Then when pc's etc try and connect to your wireless network they need that password to be typed in :)



Keep everything simple by sticking with the same brand for both the card and usb points. Some dollars to be saved in buying a combo pack. Or just by a macintosh, they are brilliantly simple when it comes to wireless

Dont worry so much about different brands.. I have a couple of linksys AP's, an asus AP, some asus notebooks/dell notebooks, D-Link wifi adapters, and it all works fine together.

The windows wifi setup with SP2 actually works surprisingly well. I often use it over the 3rd party tools that come with the wifi card. Just seems to be simpler and work better.

[limbimtimwim]

As for security, where would one set-up a password etc?Check the equipment does 'WPA'. Then you put in a pre-shared-key (PSK, basically a password) in everything that needs to talk to each other.

If the key is not the same, then the access point won't talk to the client. Likewise it lets the client (Say, your PC) know that you are talking to the correct access point, and not some interloper who wants to steal your passwords. Unlikely as that could be.

That is good enough security for most.

[Delphinus]

I think my phones are 2.4ghz. Is there anyway to change the settings on the network or phone, save me getting new phones lol.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11

You could try getting some 802.11a gear?

the b/g gear uses 11 different channels (3 non overlappying, 1, 6, and 11) and different AP's should use a different channel, but unfortunately phones can be a right pain and will often use the whole spectrum...

[Karma]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11

You could try getting some 802.11a gear?

the b/g gear uses 11 different channels (3 non overlappying, 1, 6, and 11) and different AP's should use a different channel, but unfortunately phones can be a right pain and will often use the whole spectrum...

Just changing the channel on the modem to either end of the spectrum will generally solve the problem.

[Delphinus]

Just changing the channel on the modem to either end of the spectrum will generally solve the problem.

Unless the phone takes up the whole spectrum (some do, some dont).

If you can, do a site survey, borrow some gear (maybe an AP and a laptop with some wifi) and set it up then using something like Netstumbler (http://www.netstumbler.com/) go for a wander round the house see what your signal levels are like, and try and move some data across the network see if it works.

Try that and see if any difference with or without your phone turned on.

[MOTOXXX]

make sure you stay away from dlink

its shit!

[Delphinus]

make sure you stay away from dlink

its shit!

Agreed, I've had alot of success with Linksys in the past though.

[Donor]

Agreed, I've had alot of success with Linksys in the past though.

Aye, my Linksys WAG54G ADSL wireless gateway is the sexiest toy ever.

No CAT5 in THIS house thanyewverrrrrymarch!

One desktop, and 2 Lappys all co-existing quite happily. Remember the basics tho, use encryption, disable SSID broadcasting, change the default admin password etc etc...

[Mr Merde]

.....
Also check cordless phones etc make sure they are not running on the 2.4ghz frequency.


This is a home network?

Watch out for microwaver ovens, same frequency, bluetooth devices, concrete walls. There is a shit load of things that can degrade your signal.

Play around with placement of your AP.

Definitely lock it down as tight as you can. I recently upgraded a laptop on someones wireless network as it wasnt protected.

Its fun. I've been running wireless for 6 years now and love the convienience of it all.

Mr :shit:

[Sam I Am]

there is always The AirPort Extreme Base Station features 802.11n2

AirPort Extreme delivers data transfer speeds up to five times those of previous-generation 802.11g wireless networks — while achieving up to twice the range.1 And with its support for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless frequencies

http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/

and yes it will work with a PC thingy

[Indiana_Jones]

Well I got a Belkin Router bundled with a UBS plug thing.

getting about 12-24 MB/s connection (my router is downstairs next to the family PC). But when I try to play BF1942, I can get in, but about 1 min latter i get cut off.

Any advice on settings etc?

Also Can i have my router set-up without it being plugged into a computer?

-Indy

[limbimtimwim]

Any advice on settings etc?Does the belkin device have logs on it? See the manual for it. It may say something helpful. On your PC, you should be able to read the logs too. Windows (Well, I assume Windows) doesn't doesn't usually log anything useful because it is total shit. But perhaps you are lucky, see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427 on how to view the event logs. What you are looking for should be in the 'System' event log pile. Hopefully it will say something useful.
Also Can i have my router set-up without it being plugged into a computer?You'd hope so. It's not USB powered, it is?

If you open up the wireless networks window, in windows, what is the signal strength reported? It'll be 'excellent' or 'good' or something like that. I can go about 20 metres from mine, through 3 walls with my wireless AP on it's lowest power setting and it still works. So upstairs should be okay, unless your house is made out of concrete. Or there are sacks of fresh dead bodies between the floors.

What happens if you download a big file, does that work well? Perhaps it's just the BF server being crap.

[Smokin]

Can two Computers be wirelessly networked without a router for 2 player games and file sharing?

[Indiana_Jones]

It's not USB powered, it is?



ok, lost me on the logs bit, no idea there lol.

But it's not USB powered, what i meant was, you don't have to have it attached to a comp with a ethernet cable? I could alter the server settings from any pc in the house?


-Indy

[Delphinus]

Can two Computers be wirelessly networked without a router for 2 player games and file sharing?

Yup. its called "adhoc" mode. I've found it to be shitty and slow but might do the trick :)

[The_Dover]

Can two Computers be wirelessly networked without a router for 2 player games and file sharing?

yeah, you can do an adhoc peer to peer network. I used one for internet connection sharing for a bit.

Just avoid D-Link..

It's a heap of shit.

I bought a netgear router and it's been sweet as my nuts.

[cowpoos]

I bought a netgear router and it's been sweet as my nuts.


thats why the fucking internets been on and off all the frickin time here!!!

[Indiana_Jones]

How do I make a LAN? i.e. file sharing etc?

And as above, do I have to have a computer plugged in with an ethernet cable to the router to change the settings etc?

also, looking at a PCI card, my comp sits on the ground. Would that be an issue as far as a good connection is concerned?

-Indy

[The_Dover]

thats why the fucking internets been on and off all the frickin time here!!!

That's telecom you fuckin retarded cow cocky.

[Little Miss Trouble]

Get a PCI card with a cable so the antenna can be placed in a better position.

Definately stay away from 802.11n its not a cerified standard so at the moment different brands probably won't work with eachother - earns them more money if they don't.

You can get 108mbp (SuperG) from 802.11g if both the AP and the wireless adaptors are SuperG compatible, obviously that doesn't work for the internet but does for things like file sharing.

[MOTOXXX]

How do I make a LAN? i.e. file sharing etc?

And as above, do I have to have a computer plugged in with an ethernet cable to the router to change the settings etc?

also, looking at a PCI card, my comp sits on the ground. Would that be an issue as far as a good connection is concerned?

-Indy

You should be able to configure your wireless router from any pc on the network

you do it through the web browser.

you can fileshare to each pc but have to share the drive or directory. you also need to know the name of the pc too.

sometimes windows firewall fucks you around a bit with this but do some google on how to set it up. not too hard