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General discussion

New wireless network. What do I need to buy?

Sep 24, 2004 3:34AM PDT

I appologize in advance for how clueless I am.

The problem: I want my new desktop computer on one side of the room... my cable hookup is on the other side. At first I planned on moving the cable. But I'd like to avoid crawling under my house with the spiders. I assume the solution is a wireless network.

So, what do I need to buy? I need something that hooks to the cable modem... but doesn't need to be connected to a computer. I also need a PCI card.

I believe I ordered the wrong stuff, and I'd like some advice before I open the box or spend the money returning my order.

I bought:

Netgear WGT624 - 108Mbps Wireless Firewall Router

Netgear WG311T 108 Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter - Network Adapter

Will this work? Or do I need a wireless cable modem?

Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Re: New wireless network. What do I need to buy?
Sep 24, 2004 3:57AM PDT

Ok... after doing a little more research. I think I can still use this stuff. But I will just need to connect it to the computer the first time to set it all up, then it can be connected to just the cable modem.

Is this correct?

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Re: New wireless network. What do I need to buy?
Sep 24, 2004 4:03AM PDT

What you have will work.

But let's go back one step. What you have is probably more than necessary for what you seem to want. If all you need is to get the internet signal from the cable modem on one side of the room to your PC on the other side of the same room, you can do that simply with a longer ethernet cable. You are not limited to the 6 foot cable that came in the box with the modem. A 50 foot cable costs $10 at an office supply or computer store; 100 footers are available too if you have a really big room. The long cable will go all the way around the room.

Now, back to the wireless gear you bought: A firewalling NAT router is a good idea - it protects you from all sorts of nasties that would crawl in uninvited through your unprotected cable modem. (But it won't stop the nasties that come in via your invitation, i.e., viruses in unsolicited email or programs you are tricked into downloading and running...)

However, the wireless aspect introduces two new layers of issues. First, you have to install the PCI card in your computer and load its drivers, and then configure the connection. This is not a biggie, but it is more complicated than the simple step of plugging in the longer ethernet cable. Second, you must attend to the security implications of wireless access to your internet connection and to your computer - this is not an option; you must secure your wireless equipment!

dw

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Re: New wireless network. What do I need to buy?
Sep 24, 2004 7:59AM PDT

Thanks,

I didn't mention that in the near future we'll have a laptop or two that we want on the network. So a long ethernet cable won't work in the long run. [Plus I'm a woman who doesn't want cable strung around the walls of my bedroom/office.]

Installing the PCI card, and securing it all won't be a problem.

I just opened my buy.com box today and all of the sudden doubted myself, wondering if I'd purchased the wrong thing.

Thanks again.

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This might help you a little
Sep 24, 2004 7:02PM PDT