Adding wireless to existing wired system?

[twospirits]

Okay people,

heres my dilemma, since posting my pc setup pics last year, I have cats and my cousin is allergic to them, I have to move her pc upstairs, But I have everything wired and would hate to route another wire through the walls and up to the first floor. So I am thinking wireless to connect her pc to the cable modem/router. But I do not want to go to crazy and have to get a new router, I figure just get a wireless network card for the pc and whatever else that would allow me to connect to the existing system.

So how would I go about doing it without breaking the bank and or messing up (too much ) my current setup.

Using Cable (no DSL) with Toshiba Cable Modem.
DLink Broadband VPN Router DI-808HV 8 port router
3 pcs connected to the Router via NIC and Cat 5 cables

TS

[Toksin]

I think you would have to get a wireless router to enable the wireless in her PC, but you wouldn't need to worry about the others - most if not all wireless routers have inputs for cables anyway, so you can keep the existing systems hardwired to it while having hers connected via wireless.

Although Ozzie's the better sort of person to ask about this.

[gmtech79]

Sell your current router. Get a wireless router, they usually have 4 ethernet ports, and get the wireless card like you said, and you will be good to go.
There is now way to just put in a wireless card into a pc and connect to a lan without a signal.
I guess you could just get a wireless access point and still use your current router but that would just be another component on you lan to deal with, and they are not much cheaper than a router anyways.

[Oz]

Too easy Twospirits. Get a Wireless Access Point (WAP), I personally like Linksys but there are many that will do the job. Goto the manufacturers website and get the latest firmware for the WAP and update it. Plug it directly into one of your PCs to configure it You might have to turn DHCP off if it includes a DHCP client, use WPA-PSK for authentication. Write down the key somewhere to put into the client PC later. For some extra security, if given the option, do not broadcast a SSID.

For the client PC, if it's a desktop get a PCI card, but stick to a brand name one as the cheapest of the range have really shocking driver support. Again, go for a Linksys card IMO. Put the card in, once the drivers are installed, open the Wireless Configuration. If you chose not to broadcast a SSID, you have to setup an advanced connection and manually enter the network name and key. If you broadcast a SSID, double click on the name of your network, type the key in and see if it appears to be working.

If it is, unplug the WAP from the PC you used to set it up and plug it into your DLink router. On your Wireless Client PC, check if it appears to be working (you might have to perform a restore on the connection).

[twospirits]

Originally Posted by gmtech79

Sell your current router. Get a wireless router, they usually have 4 ethernet ports, and get the wireless card like you said, and you will be good to go.
There is now way to just put in a wireless card into a pc and connect to a lan without a signal.
I guess you could just get a wireless access point and still use your current router but that would just be another component on you lan to deal with, and they are not much cheaper than a router anyways.

I can't, cause I also work from home and I need the VPN that my current router allows. I might have to go that WAP way.

Oz:
Thanks, I do like Linksys. I had the older router before having to get the Dlink one for the 8 port VPN access.

So in essense, I need the following
1 WAP that will connect to any one of the two pcs in the basement.
1 PCI card for the client (third) pc up in the first floor.

But as I am looking at the Linksys site, I really like the idea of not only hooking up the PC on the first floor, but also my laptop which would come in handy in the bedroom. So I would like to add that up as well.
So this changes everything (thats what I was afraid of), so now besides moving one of the pcs from the basement up to the first level and having that wireless. I would also like to have two of my laptops also wireless. so that would make it (correct me if i am wrong)...

1 WAP that will connect to one of the pcs in the basement.
1 PCI adapter card for the client (third) pc on the first floor.
2 Notebook adapters
Any recommended model? I like the WAP55AG Dual Band WAP, but that might be overkill.

I guess its time to reopen my newegg account.

Let me know.

TS

[Oz]

Originally Posted by twospirits

So in essense, I need the following
1 WAP that will connect to any one of the two pcs in the basement.
1 PCI card for the client (third) pc up in the first floor.

1 WAP that will connect to one of the pcs in the basement.

That's the only bit you didn't get - you plug the WAP directly into your Dlink router via Cat5e, but only after it's configured and tested as working standalone.




Does your laptop have a Wireless Network Connection under Network Connections in Control Panel? If it does, all you need to do is connect to the wireless network, as in my first post (same process as upstairs PC).

If it doesn't, you'll need a PCMCIA Wireless card (or USB), just about any of them will do, but generally, the bigger the antenna, the better the reception.


Try to position your WAP in the basment as high as possible (a shelf or bookshelf is ideal), and position your antenna's towards your computers.

[twospirits]

Originally Posted by Oz

That's the only bit you didn't get - you plug the WAP directly into your Dlink router via Cat5e, but only after it's configured and tested as working standalone.

You are lucky I got that far.

Originally Posted by Oz

Does your laptop have a Wireless Network Connection under Network Connections in Control Panel? If it does, all you need to do is connect to the wireless network, as in my first post (same process as upstairs PC).

If it doesn't, you'll need a PCMCIA Wireless card (or USB), just about any of them will do, but generally, the bigger the antenna, the better the reception.

No it doesn't So I will have to get cards for them.

Originally Posted by Oz

Try to position your WAP in the basment as high as possible (a shelf or bookshelf is ideal), and position your antenna's towards your computers.

I am plannning on putting it along side the current rounter which is on a high shelf near the basement window. About 12 inches from the basement ceiling.

TS

[Toksin]

Just remember to orient the antennae horizontally to improve vertical reception