i'm trying to put together a wireless network

I'm still using a Dimension 8300 with Windows XP which I bought in August of 2003 and an Acer Aspire M7721 with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit with Wireless LAN. I have not yet taken the Acer out of the box; it's been sitting around collecting dust for more than a year. I would like to give the Dimension to my eldest son and set up a wireless connection between the two computers. How do I do it ? Where do I start ? What do you suggest ? My Dimension 8300 still works well. A couple of years ago I put in a brand new PSUo of 650W; a new video card Radeon 4650; and I upped the power to 4 GB. One last thing, the Dimension workhorse I believe is a 32-bit. syrk

 

Both computers would need Wifi adapters, either USB, or a card installed. Wireless-G will work for everyday computing, and file sharing. If you find that you are moving large files between computers, such as photo's, then get a Wireless-N WiFi Router, and cards/adapters.

 

I'm sorry but what I forgot to add is that I would like for both computers to have access to the internet. syrk

 

Hi syrk!

If you get a WiFi router to network your computers I'm assuming you'd connect the router to your internet modem anyway, and then you'll have internet. If your Acer is wireless ready, it has a built-in adapter and you can set up wireless on-screen. Your other computer will need an adapter, which you'd plug into a USB port on the computer and then set it up (they come with software). Or, any router I've ever seen also has slots for wired connections, so you can just wire in the computer and then roam through the house with your laptop, as long as you get a decent router. I have a two-storey house with a basement, and my Netgear wndr3700 works with everything (roaming laptop and Blackberry phone, Wii in basement, bluray in family room). I also have two computers hard-wired into it. I get internet access through a cable tv provider.

I chose the Netgear because everything I read about it said the installation is pretty well idiot-proof, so I figured that was my best bet! And it was really easy to do. The software walks you through the wireless setup and there's also more stuff about how to network your home computers, although I can't say how easy that part is because I didn't do that. I got the dual-band like brownizs suggested because we plan to get Netflix or Hulu or something to stream movies.

Hope this helps!

 

Did you even read what I posted, or just post the above quoted, without reading.

 

Actually Legolass, you do not need dual band for Netflix or movie streaming, due to Netflix does not exceed 6.5mbps. Not every box or streaming device out there has a N. They are starting to become more mainstream though, since aprx late 2nd qtr this year. But it is nice if you have a heavily saturated area. I use inSSIDer from metageek.net and Chanalyzer to look at networks around me, to see how bad it is.

 

Sure, tell me now!! Actually I got a pretty okay price on the router, and when they installed the cable internet the tech told me to go with dual band if I could because that way I'd be set for anything I might want to add in later. He did tell me he's a pretty keen network gamer himself, so I'm probably in overkill! I'm not sure what's considered saturated, but we do show about (don't laugh) 8 networks whenever we hook up something new. I live in a small town... tv/internet is all we have!!

 

Future proof is good. N routers are now at, what G routers were about a year ago, but I still do not see it really becoming mainstream for at least five years, ten at the most.

 

How does this sound ? I'm going to connect the modem either by ethernet or USB cable (which is better, ethernet or USB ?) to the wireless router. Then I'm going to connect my Dell Dimension 8300 either by ethernet or USB cable (which is better, ethernet or USB cable) to the wireless router. My Acer seems to be wireless ready, the specs state that it's "Wireless LAN" and that the card is "802.11n". So here is my question: Should the wireless router be G or N ? I hope I'm clear. Please realize that this stuff is all new to me. Thanx in advance. syrk

 

Use Ethernet. USB is very slow. No routers use USB to connect, only some modems that really no one uses USB for network connection.

Use N, but set the WPA key, so that any device that is not Wireless-N capable can connect through Wireless-G on the router. And, do not use the software for setting up the router, since it really is not needed.

When you first set it up, power everything down, including computers, modem, router. Then when you connect the router & ISP modem through Ethernet, power up in this order: ISP Modem, let it sync, then the router, let it sync. Then you can power up one computer, so that you can connect to the router and set up your SSID, administrator password (change from just leaving at Password), then WPA password. If you get one of the Netgear WiFi routers with "Guest" access, that will allow you to keep friends from accessing your side of the network, unless you allow them to.