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Utterly O/T: Networking 2 PCs


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the most important thinking is to make sure that when you set up the network with the router that you have it WEP enabled as if you dont have this your network is open to everybody.

ideally a seperate firewall should be used with ISP recognition as people with knowledge can quite readily get around WEP using programs like megaproxy.

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I'm very appreciative for all the help given here and explained so clearly. I note the links to the Novotech site but are there specific makes/types of hardware that can be recommended or should I just trawl Eflog? If so what specs should I look out for or avoid?

I assume that a wireless router will allow me to use my laptop anywhere in the house up to a set distance from the router itself?

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I assume that a wireless router will allow me to use my laptop anywhere in the house up to a set distance from the router itself?

Yes that's right, provided your laptop has a wireless network card, if not you can get a USB one (a bit like the USB memory sticks) which just plugs into the USB port. Make sure you check to see if the card is supported by the operating system, wireless USB is not usually supported on earlier operating systems (e.g. Windows, 95, 98, ME).

Not sure who makes the rest of your networking hardware but IMHO it is usually best to stick to a single manufacturer for all the network gear to avoid problems, as well as to benefit by any advanced features the manufacturer has included, features which are not usually supported by other manufacturers.

If you are intending on going the wireless route one thing to consider is the different wireless standards around, the most common are "b" (802.11b) and "g" (802.11g), although "n" (802.11n) is also gaining poularity but should be avoided at the moment for technical reasons. Of the b and g standards I would personally go for g as it is faster with a greater range, but this decisson will depend on what hardware you have already, if any (this makes no difference to your modem by the way). It is ok to mix standards (i.e. run b and g on the same network) as the hardware will either support the two simultaneously or default to the lowest speed, althought the latter is obviously not ideal, but at least the network will still work.

As for who's the best manufacturer to go for... it's horses for courses I'm afraid. The most common manufacturers are Linksys, Belkin, Netgear, D-link, although there are loads of others.

Linksys seem to be the most used (made by Cisco Systems, the world biggest manufacturer of network gear and the inventor of the router) and have a good reputaion for performance, easy set-up and lots of features (look ugly as sin though).

I personally use Belkin but have found their wireless routers are not very robust, as they seem to have a problem with the routing software, they are also really bad for support.

As for the others I've only had limited use so don't know, I'm sure you could find out some info about the various manufacturers on the net though.

HTH.

M@

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Thanks very much Mat, you obviously are an expert. The main PC was built for me about 4 years ago and has no name on the box so I've absolutely no idea what the hardware is inside. The laptop is a new Packard-Bell MZ35-217 which has a wireless card A,B & G ( it says on the box) with Windows XP.

I've had a look on Eflog and seen lots of wireless Ethernet routers; are these OK to use with my setup?

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If you have windows XP on the desktop PC then look under Start-Control Panel-System, select the "Hardware" tab and select the "Device Manager" button this will show you all the hardware for your system, your network card will be under "Network Adapters"or you can look under Start-All Programs-Accessories-System Tools you will see a program called "System Information" this will tell you what bits your computer has but is a bit more complex.

Your laptop is fine, as for the wireless ethernet routers on Eblag these are fine also (or should be), if you want to post up the router I'll take a butchers for you.

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My main PC has Windows 2000 Professional. I've found this router BELKIN FSD7230FR4 in my local Darty store (bit like Curry's) for €79. What do you think? Can you access the model characteristics on a UK site?

Thanks again and sorry for cluttering up the forum with this bilge!

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I found the UK version of the 7230 and I'll have to assume there is little difference physically with the French one, it would seem to fit the bill, G-band, 10/100 switch, SPI firewall, NAT, etc. I'll also have to assume you are a fluent French user as the software will all be in French.

Edited to say: I'm just going to download the manual to make sure it is ok for what you need though.

What I would suggest is that you connect the destop computer to the router via a network cable and that you use the laptop via wireless.

Do remember that it is only G-band so does not have an amazing range, a range which will drop off dramtically if there are walls, etc, in the way.

Have a good read up about this router, there will be loads of sites testing and rating these so you should find some useful info.

HTH

M@ ;)

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Thanks a lot. Yes, I am a fluent French reader/speaker/thinker but sometimes very technical IT stuff evades me because often there is no French equivalent.

I note that you mentioned that being a G band it is not that great at distance and obstacles etc but in your earlier post you said that G was the best for speed and distance or have I misunderstood (which is quite possible!)

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Sorry maybe I should have gone a bit more in depth, G-band comes in a number of different versions G, G+, G+MIMO, when I said G-band I ment in relation to the B-band stuff.

G-band has the lowest range of the three versions, while G+MIMO has the greatest, however all the hardware needs to be of the same type (i.e. G+) or it will not benefit by the distance increase, i.e. if you had a G+ router but a G network card the router can send the data to the card but the card will not have the range to reply. They will all work together however, although you just won't get the range, so effectively you will be paying for expensive G+ gear but only getting the benefits of G.

Also bare in mind that G-band is the cheapest, while G+MIMO is the most expensive.

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Sorry, just been reading up on your modem.

Unfortunately this is a USB only modem and as such is no good for this kind of setup (D'oh!), this is because it doesn't have a network connection. This modem is realy only good for one computer or computers linked like Western had his setup and as I have stated is a very insecure way of connecting to the internet, i.e. do you want someone hijacking your computer and looking at kiddie porn from it?

Do yourself a favour and get the modem/router version of the one you were looking at, the BELKIN F5D7632, it's only 20 euros more.

Edited to say:

Or you could get the router you were looking at and a new DSL modem, I personally use seperate hardware solutions as I'm not a fan of the jack of all trades approach, besides if one piece becomes faulty or obsolete it's any easy upgrade.

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