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General discussion

2 Networking Questions

Apr 21, 2005 9:09AM PDT

I have two questions.

1. Is it true that the further two computers are from each other the longer it will take to wirelessly transfer files? I transfered one file to a computer 5 feet away and it took something like 8 minutes. It was a couple of hours for the same file going from one side of the house upstairs to the other side of the house downstairs. Does that sound reasonable?

2. I have a new computer and I need to transfer all my files (approximately 165 MG). Would it make sense to move the two computers closer together, or should I use another method for transferring?

Thanks for your help.

Discussion is locked

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If you are not in a hurry,
Apr 21, 2005 10:02AM PDT

leave them where they are. You can speed up the process by cabling them both to the router(no router mentioned but assuming there is one). You should get the benefit of a 10/100 mbps transfer speed. Or you might piggy back the hard drives into one machine.

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My reply
Apr 21, 2005 11:38AM PDT

Thanks for the info. What kind of cable would I need? Could I use a USB cable between the two computers?

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My reply
Apr 21, 2005 12:40PM PDT

Thanks for the info. What kind of cable would I need? Could I use a USB cable between the two computers?

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Like Michael G asked.. do you have a router?
Apr 21, 2005 7:46PM PDT

Usually an access point also have a router (more than one port on the back - one is for the broadband connection and the other is for your pc's)

If so, what you need is an RJ45 cable (a regular network cable) connect your pc's using the cable to the router... disable wireless temporarily.

If you don't have a router... just remove the HD (the one with your file on it).. set the jumper to 'slave' drive... install it on the other pc.. and copy your files... Then remove it and put it back in the original pc... don't forget to set the jumper back to 'master'.

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Yes, I have a router...
Apr 22, 2005 2:51AM PDT

but I'm not entirely clear on how I'd do this. The router has one cable that already goes to my hardwired pc. How do I connect the two computers together using the router? And what would I need to do to disable the wireless?

I think my wireless network is supposed to be able to get something like 10 mbps (or whatever that measurement it), would the direct linking with the router produce significantly faster transfer?

Thanks for all your help.

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Knowing which router you are using....
Apr 22, 2005 3:44AM PDT

would help. Most are sold today with 4 ethernet ports so you have at least that many hardwired computers to attach. Simply run another cable from the PC to any unoccupied port, except the Wide Area Network port.

Disabling wireless functions are not always available. But you can do things such as MAC filtering or disabling SSID broadcasting to handle this need.

"I think my wireless network is supposed to be able to get something like 10 mbps (or whatever that measurement it), would the direct linking with the router produce significantly faster transfer?"


Hardwired PCs will get either 10mbps or 100mbps depending on the hardware you are using. Wireless goes from 11mbps to 54mbps.

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Thanks Michael, I'm using a Wireless G Linksys Router...
Apr 22, 2005 5:26AM PDT

that transmits at 54g.

I like this idea, I'm not clear on how to turn off the wireless though.

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My Linksys WRT54G...
Apr 22, 2005 6:16AM PDT

allows me to filter the MAC addresses, allowing only those I choose to connect to the router. I find these settings on the Wireless/Wireless MAC Filter tab of the Setup page. SSID broadcast can be turned off on the Basic Wireless Settings tab. Consult your manual for more precise directions.

The wireless connection does not get turned off per se, it's simply filtered to prevent access.

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Thanks Michael,
Apr 22, 2005 3:03PM PDT

So I'd turn off the other wireless access to my net, then I'd add a cable from my wireless machine that I've moved next to my router/computer and plug it into the router. Then I guess I'd see the new computer as a drive and I can begin transferring files. Do I have that right? Thanks for all your help.

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After you connect the cable to the pc..
Apr 22, 2005 7:11PM PDT

open network connection, right click wireless network, disable...

NOTE: wireless will only be disable on that pc... you need to do this on the pc that is connected by cable.
If you have 3 pc, You can have two pc hardwired and the other one use wireless.

that's it.. in short, actually you only changing the connection from wireless to hardwired...

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Thanks for your response...
Apr 24, 2005 8:33AM PDT

I understand that I should connect the wireless computer (with the network disabled)into the router, but I'm not clear exactly where is the other end of that cable plugs into that computer?

Once connecte, I should see that computer and its two drives in Windows Explorer in the other computer's monitor, correct?

Also, I have about 160 MG to transfer, what's a ball park guess on how long it might take to transfer that amount of data this way?

Thanks so much for your help.

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What is 160 MG?
Apr 24, 2005 9:19AM PDT

If I follow the usual interpetation, that's MegaGrams or millions of grams.

Can you clarify that and the connection speed as well as what PROTOCOL you will be using?

Why it matters. If I use "Explorer" and simple Microsoft filesharing, the actual bytes moved are some 4 times the filesize. If I use FTP, it's quick and almost no extra bytes of network protocol overhead.

Bob

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Oops...I mean GB
Apr 24, 2005 9:30AM PDT

thanks for noticing.

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160GB at 54G link with FTP and no retries will take...
Apr 24, 2005 9:43AM PDT

6.58 hours if nothing interferes.

Figure about double to quadruple for that much to copy via Windows Explorer.

Bob

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You would not see each computer in...
Apr 24, 2005 9:49AM PDT

Explorer. But you may see them in My Network Places if:

1) each PC has file and print sharing enabled
2) each computer is on the same workgroup name
3) firewalls are not preventing access
4) some folders are set to be shared
5) Simple File Sharing is enabled

I don't remember if both PCs were XP or not.

As far as where the cables go, one end goes into the router and the other end goes into the ethernet port(if one exists) on the back of the PC. All of this is covered in the manual for the router. People often hesitate reading them, but they do provide all the answers, usually.

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Yes, both are XP and...
Apr 24, 2005 11:26AM PDT

each PC has file and print sharing enabled, has the same workgroup name and firewalls are off. The C and D drives are shared. I'm not sure about the Simple File Sharing but since I've been able to transfer some files, I'd assume that it's on.

Presently, on the wireless network I see the wireless computer in the wired computer's Windows Explorer. If I moved it close and connected the computers, I wouldn't see the other one in WE? If I can't see it there, how can I select what directories to copy? Oh, maybe you mean I'll see a directory tree in Network Neighbors that I'll use to guide this, correct?

Aside from taking so long to transfer, I would frequently get a disconnect during the transfer with a message saying the file was too deep, I assume because the file I'was moving was two directories down from the root.

Also, I noticed the previous post I said IE, when of course, I meant WE. If all of the above is accurate, I may finally have a grasp of this. Thanks to everyone for their help.