Confused? DSL, Cable Modem & Wireless Networking!

[DJ5A]

Hello Everybody:

I'm in the process of getting a Cable Modem, I've looked around & about the only choice I have is AT&T@Home cable modem, can't find DSL yet. I'm wanting to do this as a wireless setup!

I'm a little confused & I've dropped everything, looking for all the info on the Internet about all this Mumbo Jumbo that I can find!

So far I've talked to 3 people that have wireless. I's getting very confused on this T00!

I had one person tell me to run Cable into center of house & have my wireless box set up there. This makes sense so far? Because I should be able to cover entire area of house & then some? I mainly use a LapTop, but need to have at least another puter going so family stay off my LAPTOP? :-)

Now the Confusing part starts here for me?:rolleyes:

Now this is what's confusing, one person said have all puters setup to run off of it. I reckon they meant where each could run Individually or seperately?

Then another said to make one the main puter & let the others be a Network & run off of it?

Besides all this I need to know what Hardware & or Software I need to accomplish all this T00!

So as you can tell, I know very little about what I'm talking about. If anybody can offer some words of wisdom or point me in a direction on the Internet where I can figure all this out, It would make my DAY!

[ihelpyou]

I do know that you need a hub for a network so you only need one cable account or dsl account.

Whoever your provider is should be able to install this for you and tell you what you need.

I do not know much about this especially about wireless as it is very new.

[Web Witch]

Check over at The Screen Savers (http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/) the tv show had a segment recently about this topic.

I highly recommend this show you'll find it on TechTV:up:

[JuniorHarris]

Before investing in a wireless network, you'll have to choose between two [competing] standards, HomeRF and 802.11b. Currently HomeRF only runs at 1.6 mbps (with specifications for improvement), whereas 802.11b can achieve speeds up to 11 mbps. Here's a couple links which might provide more insight.

http://www.bricklin.com/homenetwork.htm
Wireless Home Network Wars (http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,41941,00.asp)

[DJ5A]

Web Witch:

I'm reading at the link you gave me, Tons of Info, Thanks A Million!

Junior Harris: You's next & I read there T00!

What do you Folks think about this?

It looks like I need to setup Network so I can share files & do printing from my laptop on to Main Desk Top Puter? So it looks like I need to have my Desk Top set up to be network & have it hard wired? Then run wireless off of the Desk Top then have my Laptop with a Wireless PCMIA card?

Hey is I getting close?

[JuniorHarris]

By George I think you've got it!

[DJ5A]

Hello Everybody:

Thanks a Million for all the Valuable Links. I just wish I wasn't dragging it out & had to wait so long.

I decided to go with Linksys Hardware. I'm getting a Wireless DSL/Cable 4 Port Router 10Mbps? (think I got that Right) & a Wireless PCMCIA for my laptop.

At this time my Desk Top is only about 6 feet away from where Wireless Router is at, so I'm wiring (Ethernet/Lan pci card) it directly to my Router & making my Desktop there the main Network Puter, LOL it's also where my Printer, Scanner & etc... + Office is. This will change later in time. Because of this all being able to be located anywhere due to wireless, 300 ft. +indoors & 1500 ft. + outdoors. I can't wait till I can be out on my deck or in my atrium downloading & being on network, this means I will be able to use the Printer T00 with laptop! Also leaving my Business Phone line free for calls & faxes? :-)

I decided to purchase from http://www.computers4sure.com/ I'm in no way affiliated with these folks, But I was very impressed with their Pricing, Support, Customer Service & etc...

Their staff was very Knowlegeable about the Products & if you look at their Customer Support & other Support areas. They have mountains of online Info for all to see very in depth Information about Networking & other Mumbo Jumbo!

I would like to get my Network set up & working before I order Cable BroadBand, But I will probably order it Today or Tommorrow. The reason is they told me I would have to wait at least 7 to 10 days for Cable Modem? :-( LOL, I'm Heart Broken. Linksys products should be here by Thursday or Friday.

Reasons I'm so excited about this is, Of course the speed in download time, But? So more than one computer can be on line at the same time.

My wife, both Daughters one 18 & other 10 are all crazy about the Internet. Yes you know the Daughters are both MP3 Junkies.

One mistake I made was me getting a Laptop & not getting them one? They are driving me CRAZY, all wanting Laptops. So you know what is next for them? :-)

I must keep them off my Laptop, if you folks know what I mean? I will keep you informed on the progress.

BTW: When I ordered yesterday at after 4:00pm about 5 minutes later I got an Detailed E-mail order confirmation & this morning at 6:40 am I got a E-mail letting me know products were shipped! I'm still very Impressed with this Companies Service! So far! :-)

Sorry to bore you folks with this, but one small step for my family & one large step for DJ5A, This is one Tickled to Death JawJa Boy!!!!!:scattered

[ihelpyou]

Good for you DJ!

I may wish to speak with you about all of this as I also have to do something about my multiple puters. I also have a laptop and want to network all together.

I have used computers4sure in the past and had the same service from them.

I may be moving in a few months to a bigger place and will wait til then to do anything.

Thanks for the info! :up:

[Blue]

....I have found this site to be very useful: priceSCAN (http://www.pricescan.com/).

They do online comparison shopping for you, with the results displayed sorted by price. They even have advanced features such as setting a price limit and choosing a MFG. while doing your search.

I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just thought it might be a helpful link to keep in your bookmarks. (Sorry DJ5A, I didn't get this to you before you ordered, but often, computers4sure comes in at or near the top so I'm sure you got a good price).

[ihelpyou]

Good link blue!

I wonder when someone will come up with a "price scan" for services offered and not just products?

Seems like it could be done fairly easily for major services out there. They could compare price, benefits, and what each service consists of.

[Web Witch]

....things are working out DJ5A. To bad about the daughters, maybe you should have gotten another computer instead to the laptop.

I've got to reconfigure my computer and house soon, I might have to think about wireless 'cuz now I'll have power on my back deck. Once I get my hands back on my notebook. Also, I've made room for it in the kitchen because someone gave me an old drafting table which fits in the decor; have notebook will travel....


:rolleyes:

[DJ5A]

Hello Everybody:

Originally posted by Web Witch
....things are working out DJ5A. To bad about the daughters, maybe you should have gotten another computer instead to the laptop.

Here's the problem:
For years the 4 0f us were able to share 1 computer, they know I make some money with the computer & never a problem sharing. But when I got the Laptop they all felt like they should have gotten one T00!.

I needed it because of work, I work at home first part of day & then I go to work at shop. During work when I have breaks I'm also online.

Everybody wants to play with Laptops, but when it comes to work only the serious will pay the Price for one!

They basically want it for no other reason than it's a neat little toy. I got it because it's a neat little tool & far better than carrying floppys & zips back & forth? That took to much time & still made errors trying to remember if I updated disk, backed up to disk & computers or not!

My way of thinking is if I have another computer at house that they can get online with, maybe they keep their hands OFF my Laptop! They do not have the respect for computers that I do.

After the experience that I've had with my Laptop in the last year, I do not see me EVER getting a Desk Top PC again for me! :-)

All you folks have been real helpful, Thanks a Million!

[ihelpyou]

How is your new setup going??

[DJ5A]

Hello Everybody:

Sorry for this Long Post?

First of all I'm very grateful for the Help I got here & one of my Green Industry Forums also!

I'm very glad I did a lot of reading about all this cable/DSL cable modem PCIMCIA card, PCI card & Networking Mumbo Jumbo! :D

I installed my PCI card in desktop: No Problem, Piece of cake!
I installed my PCMCIA card in Laptop: No Problem even easier!

Then I Hooked up my Cable/DSL 4 port wireless router: No problem!

Then I of course set up my desktop as Computer for file sharing first, maybe laptop later. LOL, I'm unsure at this point?

Now this is where I ran into days of natural born headaches & really nothing to do with the Wireless setup. Everytime I tried to setup the desktop as the one to share Printer & Files. Well when I reboot no desktop Icons. Well I did the Puter Geek Hokie Pokie including Restore Registry numerous times. Finally it came to me that - that was the problem. BTW I was adding NetBEUI, IPX/SPX Protocals + File & Printersharing all at the same time.

Well after 2 plus hours on the Phone with Micro$oft Win 98 Networking Support, we figured out it was either LOL, The PCI card was bad, the File & Printer sharing files were corrupt or My mother board was bad? Well more hours of the Puter Geek Hokie Pokie. It was a Corrupt File, so I did a full restore.

Then I go to again to set up the Desktop for File & Printer sharing & in just a few minutes I'm on my laptop sharing files on my Desktop? After just getting this set up it's Beach Time! :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So I haven't spent much time maybe hour or so on the Compter since I added this setup, because I just got back from beach?

Regrets:
My Linksys card sticks out about a inch or a little more, I feel in time Me or my daughters & really my Daughters will forget & hit the card while placing back in Laptop case? If I had this to do over again I would have bought the wireless USB thingy for my laptop!

Now the only problem I got is I have a 6' X 9' fireplace close to being between the Wireless router & where I plan on being working Wireless. So I bought a 25' cord to connect my Desktop & my Router. I wish I had bought a 50 footer min., Because I thought this would be a problem & I wanted to get this all straightened out, before I go with my Cable modem, because of me having to locate modem in different location. I might have to relocate to other side of house. Now if that doesn't work, I'll either add another wireless router or I might have to just run wire.

As you can tell I'm not sure yet because of not enough time. When I get this part straightened out, I'll let you know of my progress. Then I will get the Cable Modem placed in what I think is the best possible location?

Doug if you or anybody else is interested in this I will be glad to share all my Links to this, it's very good Information & it is very much worth while reading if you are interested in Networking at home!

[JuniorHarris]

Please share your links and experience!~

[ihelpyou]

Yep. Share the links as I will be tackling this also in the future.

[JuniorHarris]

Doh, I suppose I could share my arrangement!~ :rolleyes:

I have a small LAN installed, which is comprised of an NT Server, two NT workstations, and one WIN98 client. The NT server is also the Domain server or LAN server (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci212453,00.html) which the other machines use to authenticate and store/access private and public files. This allows centralization for file backups to all occur on the server, with the workstations only having the operating system and application files residing locally.

The server also contains two Network Interface Cards (NICs), one connects to the DSL hardware and the other NIC connects the local network.

It's very common in some configurations to run the DSL hardware directly into the hub (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci212294,00.html) for the entire network. However, with that configuration, every machine is exposed directly to the internet and would require some sort of individual firewall protection.

By using two NIC's, only the server requires firewall protection. Each NIC has it's own ip address, one which is assigned by the ISP and is a fully routable internet ip address and the other which is an internal non-routable ip address in the range of 10.0.0.0 to 10.0.0.100. (With a subnet mask for the internal network of 255.255.255.0). This basically renders all the local machines invisible to the internet!~

In addition NetBEUI can be enabled locally as it is faster and more efficient then TCP/IP. NetBEUI is non-routable (meaning the protocol does not work across the internet). Though it is only a local protocol, be sure to configure any firewall software to only allow protocol access to the local non-routable ip address ranges of the LAN. Whenever a connection is made through an ISP, the computer will join a local network with the ISP, and any others connected through the same ISP could try to exploit this local protocol.

I will add that my ISP does not support the configuration!~ <lol> Basically because they do not support their connection software on NT Server, not necessarily the network topology:




|----------| (subnet 255.255.255.0)
| SERVER |
ISP assigned | |
|---------------|NIC1 NIC2|-----HUB <- 10.0.0.20
DSL |->|----------| |
10.0.0.10 |
WKS1-| <- 10.0.0.30
|
WKS2-| <- 10.0.0.40
|
WIN98-| <- 10.0.0.50

[ihelpyou]

Good setup!

Great chart. I do not think the color crimson is usable though. :p

[JuniorHarris]

The color crimson will work, but I had to wrap it with [ code ] to keep the formatting straight...which trumps color!~

[DJ5A]

Hello Everybody:

Looks like JuniorHarris is the smart one here? Because it appears he has everything wired & before it is over with I'll wish I was wired instead of Wireless. It's just I want a little freedom with my Laptop & at the moment it looks like I will sacrifice some speed. But I've just begun to fight! LOL

Here's my links & if any of you good folks got some other good Networking Links please post em?

http://cgi.techtv.com/cgi-bin/htsearch?words=Wireless+Networking&restrict=&config=htdig&exclude=tlkbck&geo=&brand=&q=&x=10&y=9

http://www.bricklin.com/homenetwork.htm

Check out the Customer Support Tutorials Lotsa good General Networking info here:http://www.computers4sure.com/store/linksys.asp

This is very good Helpful Forum
http://discuss.extremetech.com/extremetech/messages/?topfolder=6

More Tutorials:
http://www.extremetech.com/article/0,3396,s%253D1034%2526a%253D1617,00.asp

http://www.dalantech.com/net-ts.shtml

Looked good, but I haven't read yet?
http://www.e-znetworking.com/index.html

Very good website?
http://www.wown.com/

http://www.cablemodemhelp.com/

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/

http://www.lfchosting.com/helmig/j_helmig/guide.htm

Hey everybody try to bear with me on this, it's going to take me some time to get this going. My regular job is swamped & I thank God for every bit of it! :) & I have got to move 2 websites ASAP. At the moment My Wireless Networking at Home is bottom on my priority list. Sorry I'm dragging my feet! :rolleyes:

I will keep you folks posted as I progress with this!

[ihelpyou]

Thanks for the links DJ! 8)