Networking Question

[Polygon]

I don't often ask for help, but don't know a huge deal about wireless networks. I have a wireless gateway/router. I need network access on the other end of the house. It is a workroom for working on other people's computers and it is safe to assume the won't have wireless cards.

I don't want to try and fish a hardline over there. I have been looking into other options such as PoE and different wireless devices. I would like something that I will be able to connect to the gateway and run a hardwire to a switch. Could I simply use an access point, or could I just use another wireless router and use it as a bridge?

What would be the easiest way, as it will be temporary.

[dave92cherokee]

It depends on the type of wireless router you have right now. Does it support network bridging? If not then you will need a wireless access point, but if it does then get another one exactly like it and you can bridge the two together. How far from the router is the other room, and do you get good wireless reception in there from it? If so then you might want to look at something like this as it would work for all computers running off their usb port.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=2699&Nav=|c:2688|c:2691|&So rt=0&Recs=10

[Polygon]

As far as I can tell my router does not support bridging. It's a Netgear DG834G. The room is on the same floor and the signal is alright. I'm sure I could boost it with a better antenna. I would rather not get adapters for each computer. Since I am going to be using this for a computer service business I would rather use their onboard NIC and not have to worry about installing something.

So, I could just get an access point and run a harline from it to a switch and that would work fine without running a hardline from the original router?

[Oz]

You can use a Wireless repeater to boost the signal, but it will slow your WLAN down to half the speed - as the second access point has to split it's time between receiving your data and relaying it to the first access point.

I suggest either running an ethernet cable from your existing switch to the other end of the house and patching it into a second switch or access point.

If this isn't feasable, try a power plug network into a second switch or access point instead, ala http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,85...1/article.html

[ericn1300]

As OZ said the wireless usb adaptor is the best way to go wireless on a temporary basis. Occasionaly I get some older machines that don't support usb like when I had to wipe the hard drives and reload the OS on some win98 machines donated to the church school and then go online to update them. I made a 75 foot patch cable and just ran it down the hallway and out to the garage when needed. I also made a crossover adaptor for the patch cable for the times I need it onsite at customer locations. I don't do a lot of work at home, just friends and family so it's not an issue for me. If you plan on doing a lot of work from your home shop a permanent hardwire is the only way to go for low cost, high speed, and reliability and shouldn't take too long to pull.

[Oz]

Umm...didn't mention wireless USB adapter.

Ethernet over existing copper power cabling is the easy way to extend it, but both power points have to be on the same power circuit usually.

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by Oz

Umm...didn't mention wireless USB adapter.

Ethernet over existing copper power cabling is the easy way to extend it, but both power points have to be on the same power circuit usually.

Which is why I had been avoiding them but I had another look and found a set from Netgear that doesn't, but they aren't cheap. Better than fishing line though.

Thanks for the help guys.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by Oz

Ethernet over existing copper power cabling is the easy way to extend it, but both power points have to be on the same power circuit usually.

Sorry OZ, it was dave92cherokee that suggested the usb adaptor.

The signal will travel over all the power branch circuits all the way back to the power company's transformer. If your house and your neighbors are off the same transformer you can share an internet connection. Thats how they sync all the clocks on the hour in a large institution like schools where the clocks and door locks are on different branch circuits.

[Oz]

The other easy way to do what you want is if you have a spare laptop with both a wireless card and an ethernet card is to create a Network Bridge and plug it into your switch.

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by Oz

The other easy way to do what you want is if you have a spare laptop with both a wireless card and an ethernet card is to create a Network Bridge and plug it into your switch.

Not a bad idea. Unfortunately I found that the signal was very low in that room simply because the furnace room is in the way. It's full of metal ducting. So, I'm left with a hardline or PoE. Older PoE devices would only work on the same circuit. Newer ones will work for a 5,000 square/foot home.

[Oz]

Build a "cantenna" for $20 to focus your wireless signal where you need to get it and use the network bridge.

http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

[Polygon]

I ended up taking a chance and getting two Netgear PoE adapters. They work great. Simple, plug and play, and the connection never dropped and was almost as fast has being connected directly to the router. I tested by transferring about 6gb and browsing the net/downloading.

Very good alternative to wireless. I'm going to buy another for the computer in the den since it's encapsulated in vents so it breaks up the signal and drops a lot.

[Oz]

Make and model if you mind??

I could feasably have a client that this could be a good solution for.

[Polygon]

Sure!

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16833122165