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General discussion

Networking Question

Oct 6, 2009 1:57PM PDT

Greetings,

Lots of computers & OSs here Windows XP / Vista. Does it matter? See below...

My network setup works (both wired & wirelessly) in a 2-story home. Cable modem provided by cable TV company with thier swell high-speed internet subscription.

The router and modem are upstairs and I use a desktop with a wireless card downstairs. It all works OK, however, I would like to have a hardwired connection downstairs. I need to hook up a Dell docking station for work, and their VPN software doesn't hook up wirelessly.

The easy answer would be to move the modem & router downstairs, but I need a hardwire connection upstairs.

Any suggestions on how to have a hardwired connection downstairs as well? (short of running a lo-o-o-ng wire from the current upstairs router?

There is a cable connection downstairs, but I'm not sure if I can purchase & use another modem downstairs, with the cable company's modem plugged in upstairs.

Suggestions?

Thanks You!!!

Discussion is locked

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Powerline ethernet adapters.
Oct 6, 2009 4:33PM PDT

More expensive...but a solution.

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I used a BRIDGE
Oct 6, 2009 9:10PM PDT

The power line extenders or bridges are fine for most, BRIDGEs as they are known. Many to choose from so go shopping and share links to what you are considering.
Bob

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Bridge, eh....?
Oct 7, 2009 3:48AM PDT

Thanks for the response.

One Question: How is the bridge connected to the internet signal? To the modem or router, or can it connect directly from the coaxial connection that I have downstairs?

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To the router.
Oct 7, 2009 4:20AM PDT

I have TWO types of bridges. The one I used all the time is wifi bridge so it connects to the router via wifi and has 4 ethernet ports for the 360 and another desktop pc.

Another bridge is a powerline bridge with 2 units. One connects via ethernet to the router and the other is just plugged into some AC plug far away.
Bob

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Thanks again for the bridge suggestion....
Oct 7, 2009 2:31PM PDT

...using a bridge to connect wirelessly to the router, and thereby 'creating' ethernet ports for hardwire to plug into.

As I mentioned before I'm using an internal witeless card at the moment for desktop downstairs. I note that the signal isn't very strong. A further hassle is that it must establish connection every time the PC is booted up. It is nonetheless useable, and doesn't seem to slow me down, but I am just using one desktop downstairs. Using a bridge, I imagine that the signal would be always on?

Also, the router that I'm using now is somewhat of a cheapy. My guess would be that a router upgrade would be in order at the same time I would be shopping for a bridge. Do you agree, and can you recommend anything a bit more 'industrial grade' than a standard, for-home-use, 2.4GHz router?

Thanks again!

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No.
Oct 8, 2009 1:49AM PDT

"can you recommend anything a bit more 'industrial grade' than a standard, for-home-use, 2.4GHz router?"

Sorry but I use what you find at the usual store. Names like Linksys, Netgear and so on work fine for us. But there is one thing -> We use the Cnet Networking Forum's top post (called a sticky) and set it up with those settings.

Here's a powerline bridge that may be interesting -> http://www.netgear.com/Products/PowerlineNetworking/PowerlineWirelessAccessPoints/WGXB102.aspx

Look at the pictures. These should explain it well enough.
Bob