OT: Wireless Network

Very OT this, but since all of us here have computers it's
worth asking... Have any of you got a wireless network up
and running? I'm after information and advice.
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Fran bashed at the keyboard and said :

> Very OT this, but since all of us here have computers it's
> worth asking... Have any of you got a wireless network up
> and running? I'm after information and advice.

Yep I do, I have 4 Pc's networked 2 Hardwired and 2 on a
54g wireless usin a wap. 2 XP connected to an Ethernet Hub
> Ethernet Hub connected into a WAP 1 machine downstairs
has USB ADSL modem attached, with Internet connection
sharing enabled.

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gregMYSHOEScrawfordMYSHOES@hotmail.com said...
> Fran bashed at the keyboard and said :
>
> > Very OT this, but since all of us here have computers
> > it's worth asking... Have any of you got a wireless
> > network up and running? I'm after information and
> > advice.
>
> Yep I do, I have 4 Pc's networked 2 Hardwired and 2 on a
> 54g wireless usin a wap. 2 XP connected to an Ethernet Hub
> > Ethernet Hub connected into a WAP 1 machine downstairs
> has USB ADSL modem attached, with Internet connection
> sharing enabled.

OK, here goes: Am I likely to encounter problems setting up
a wireless network (4 machines at the moment) in a solidly
built house with 18" thick walls? The idea is to have two
upstairs and two down, with an additional one to be added
upstairs in a couple of years' time. Also, is it very
expensive to set up, and how easy is it? Could I - an almost
complete ignoramus - set it up myself for example?
--
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Fran bashed at the keyboard and said :

> gregMYSHOEScrawfordMYSHOES@hotmail.com said...
>> Fran bashed at the keyboard and said :
>>
>>> Very OT this, but since all of us here have computers
>>> it's worth asking... Have any of you got a wireless
>>> network up and running? I'm after information and
>>> advice.
>>
>> Yep I do, I have 4 Pc's networked 2 Hardwired and 2 on a
>> 54g wireless usin a wap. 2 XP connected to an Ethernet
>> Hub > Ethernet Hub connected into a WAP 1 machine
>> downstairs has USB ADSL modem attached, with Internet
>> connection sharing enabled.
>
> OK, here goes: Am I likely to encounter problems setting
> up a wireless network (4 machines at the moment) in a
> solidly built house with 18" thick walls? The idea is to
> have two upstairs and two down, with an additional one to
> be added upstairs in a couple of years' time. Also, is it
> very expensive to set up, and how easy is it? Could I - an
> almost complete ignoramus - set it up myself for example?

I think the walls might give you a problem..... :-S.

To find out what equipment you will need Belkin do an
excellent on-line guide, Have a look here:
http://web.belkin.com/config/network2/index0.asp

It is not that expensive, Have a look at
http://search.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/ss_wireless_network.html you
will get a good range of prices etc.

IMO - It is easy to set up. One important thing to remember
is that you must ensure that you have the latest firmware
and drivers for all components

A couple of good resources for networking can be found at:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com and http://www.wown.com

HTH
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gregMYSHOEScrawfordMYSHOES@hotmail.com said...
> Could I - an almost complete ignoramus - set it up
> > myself for example?
>
> I think the walls might give you a problem..... :-S.
>
> To find out what equipment you will need Belkin do an
> excellent on-line guide, Have a look here:
> http://web.belkin.com/config/network2/index0.asp
>
Thanks. I'll have a look. You know what? I *love* Usenet!
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

Fran bashed at the keyboard and said :

> gregMYSHOEScrawfordMYSHOES@hotmail.com said...
>> Could I - an almost complete ignoramus - set it up
>>> myself for example?
>>
>> I think the walls might give you a problem..... :-S.
>>
>> To find out what equipment you will need Belkin do an
>> excellent on-line guide, Have a look here:
>> http://web.belkin.com/config/network2/index0.asp
>>
> Thanks. I'll have a look. You know what? I *love* Usenet!

No Problem ;-)

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On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 19:09:00 +0100, Fran wrote:

>gregMYSHOEScrawfordMYSHOES@hotmail.com said...
>> Fran bashed at the keyboard and said :
>>
>> > Very OT this, but since all of us here have computers
>> > it's worth asking... Have any of you got a wireless
>> > network up and running? I'm after information and
>> > advice.
>>
>> Yep I do, I have 4 Pc's networked 2 Hardwired and 2 on a
>> 54g wireless usin a wap. 2 XP connected to an Ethernet
>> Hub > Ethernet Hub connected into a WAP 1 machine
>> downstairs has USB ADSL modem attached, with Internet
>> connection sharing enabled.
>
>OK, here goes: Am I likely to encounter problems setting up
>a wireless network (4 machines at the moment) in a solidly
>built house with 18" thick walls? The idea is to have two
>upstairs and two down, with an additional one to be added
>upstairs in a couple of years' time. Also, is it very
>expensive to set up, and how easy is it? Could I - an
>almost complete ignoramus - set it up myself for example?

Easy to set up but 18" walls will make it harder! You
probably need to look at a wired LAN with a couple of WAP's
strategicly located to be able to go wireless all over. I
have one WAP centrally located in a 3 bedroom house that has
thin internal walls and, in certain rooms, the link quality
drops quite a bit but does still work. Signal loss is worst
when the path between a host and a Wireless Access Point
goes obliquely thru walls and the like. You can experiment
by moving the WAP about but you have the hassle that each
WAP needs to be wired to a hub/switch, multihomed PC or you
use WAPs in repeater mode. You're looking at a couple of
hundred quid at least. I suggest you wire as much as
possible then have WAPs just to allow laptop use.

In article <c6h6s7$c1ak8$1@ID-201331.news.uni-berlin.de>,
Mcploppy © <gregMYSHOEScrawfordMYSHOES@hotmail.com> writes
>Fran bashed at the keyboard and said :
>
>> gregMYSHOEScrawfordMYSHOES@hotmail.com said...
>>> Fran bashed at the keyboard and said :
>>>
>>>> Very OT this, but since all of us here have computers
>>>> it's worth asking... Have any of you got a wireless
>>>> network up and running? I'm after information and
>>>> advice.
>>>
>>> Yep I do, I have 4 Pc's networked 2 Hardwired and 2 on a
>>> 54g wireless usin a wap. 2 XP connected to an Ethernet
>>> Hub > Ethernet Hub connected into a WAP 1 machine
>>> downstairs has USB ADSL modem attached, with Internet
>>> connection sharing enabled.
>>
>> OK, here goes: Am I likely to encounter problems setting
>> up a wireless network (4 machines at the moment) in a
>> solidly built house with 18" thick walls? The idea is to
>> have two upstairs and two down, with an additional one to
>> be added upstairs in a couple of years' time. Also, is it
>> very expensive to set up, and how easy is it? Could I -
>> an almost complete ignoramus - set it up myself for
>> example?
>
>I think the walls might give you a problem..... :-S.

Perhaps with the higher speed standards (11a & 11g) but the
old stalwart (11b) has better range and penetration. My
walls are not as thick as Fran's but I have no problems with
connection though 2 substantial walls and a concrete garage.
Trouble is a I can't see the laptop screen very well in the
sunshine so I still do most of my work indoors :-(

An acquaintance (who is a freelance network specialist) has
real problems with his 11g wireless network at home and was
surprised to hear how well mine works.

If you get kit that can do the slower standard as well as
the faster you can at least fall back on it.

The higher speed standards naturally need better signals to
work which is why they are more susceptible to degradation.
The slower kit was also considerable cheaper when I bought
mine 18 months ago and the faster kit is not actually that
much faster in the real world (even when it works).

Whatever you do Fran do take care to secure your network
with encryption & MAC address filtering so that unauthorised
users will find it hard(er) to get into your network!

--

http://www.dscs.demon.co.uk/

{d-sep03}@dscs.demon.co.uk said...
> Whatever you do Fran do take care to secure your network
> with encryption & MAC address filtering so that
> unauthorised users will find it hard(er) to get into your
> network!
>
Eeep? You think it may be simpler to run a load of Cat5
cable through the house? I'm beginning to go off the idea of
a wireless network :-\
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

de@spamfree.com said...
> I suggest you wire as much as possible then have WAPs just
> to allow laptop

I'm thinking it'll be easier to wire in the whole lot and be
done with it. Especially as I don't have a laptop.
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 19:09:00 +0100, Fran <fran@privacy.net> wrote:

>Am I likely to encounter problems setting up a wireless
>network (4 machines at the moment) in a solidly built house
>with 18" thick walls?

It will be a rather expensive trial to determine whether or
not this will work at all, unless you can borrow some
equipment. (At least wires are guaranteed.) I would guess it
is marginal. How well do mobile phones work inside?

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nospam@laird-towers.org.uk said...
> On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 19:09:00 +0100, Fran
> <fran@privacy.net> wrote:
>
> >Am I likely to encounter problems setting up a wireless
> >network (4 machines at the moment) in a solidly built
> >house with 18" thick walls?
>
> It will be a rather expensive trial to determine whether
> or not this will work at all, unless you can borrow some
> equipment. (At least wires are guaranteed.) I would guess
> it is marginal. How well do mobile phones work inside?

No problem in the front of the house; not at all in the
kitchen at the back. This could have something to do with
the thick stone wall just outside that room...
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

In article <MPG.1af6493c84ca1084989dfc@news.individual.net>,
Fran <fran@privacy.net> writes
>{d-sep03}@dscs.demon.co.uk said...
>> Whatever you do Fran do take care to secure your network
>> with encryption & MAC address filtering so that
>> unauthorised users will find it hard(er) to get into your
>> network!
>>
>Eeep? You think it may be simpler to run a load of Cat5
>cable through the house? I'm beginning to go off the idea
>of a wireless network :-\

Well wired is more reliable, faster (assuming you get 10/100
cards and a switch to connect it all together and not a
hub), cheaper and much more secure - as long a your Internet
connection is secure.

The downside is obviously that you have to run the cables.
However running them through walls following existing
services (gas, water, electric, heating pipes etc.) is not
hugely difficult. If the computers are not moving around and
you can easily get the cables to where you want to have the
computers then it is probably your best option.

If you are wanting to share a broadband connection I
strongly recommend using a combined router / switch with a
built in firewall. This makes the sharing very easy and also
secure. The downside is that they are more expensive than a
switch & usb broadband modem together.

--

http://www.dscs.demon.co.uk/

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 00:00:38 +0100, Fran <fran@privacy.net> wrote:

>nospam@laird-towers.org.uk said...
>> On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 19:09:00 +0100, Fran
>> <fran@privacy.net> wrote:
>>
>> >Am I likely to encounter problems setting up a wireless
>> >network (4 machines at the moment) in a solidly built
>> >house with 18" thick walls?
>>
>> It will be a rather expensive trial to determine whether
>> or not this will work at all, unless you can borrow some
>> equipment. (At least wires are guaranteed.) I would guess
>> it is marginal. How well do mobile phones work inside?
>
>No problem in the front of the house; not at all in the
>kitchen at the back. This could have something to do with
>the thick stone wall just outside that room...

I ask because mobiles work up in the GHz band (especially
Orange and T-mobile), just below Wi-fi, but at somewhat
higher power. However, the issue is complicated by the fact
that you cannot uniquely identify a particular base station
(where the masts are) and thus tell with any certainty
whether they are operating successfully through a thick wall
in one direction or simply straight out of a window in the
other. The slower wireless networks operate on lower
frequencies which may have a better chance of success, but
even then these are purposely designed for low transmitter
power to save money and enhance security, and in the main
won't be expected to operate through more than a couple of
single-brick walls or even partition walling. Wireless was
intended more for office use where you may have large open
spaces, thin partitions, and easy ways of placing access
points on each floor.

Personally I would wire up a few sockets around the place
and be prepared to plug in the likes of laptops when needed.
Cat5 cable is very very cheap.

--
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nospam@laird-towers.org.uk said...
> Personally I would wire up a few sockets around the place
> and be prepared to plug in the likes of laptops when
> needed. Cat5 cable is very very cheap.
>
I think, having heard the case for both sides, that Cat5 is
what I will do. Thanks everyone, you've been great! :-)
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.