Extending a network (newbie question)

External Since: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 1

I have 3 networked machines using a 4 port hub. The hub then connects to
an ethernet ADSL router/modem.

I want to add a laptop to the network, via a wireless link. Obviously I
need a wireless PCMCIA card in the laptop, but what about the other end?

I don't really want to replace the router (I'm happy with it). I would
guess that I need a wireless access point/ switch/ hub or whatever it is
called and either plug that into my current hub or vice versa. I can lose
one of the ports on the current hub if necessary.

Obviously, I don't know much about networks and would appreciate any
advice/ guidance/ help.

Thanks

Tony

External Since: Nov 18, 2003 Posts: 582

On Tue, 29 Jun 2004 15:59:12 +0100, Tony Burrows <tony.TakeThisOut@tonyburrows.com> wrote:

>I have 3 networked machines using a 4 port hub. The hub then connects to
>an ethernet ADSL router/modem.
>
>I want to add a laptop to the network, via a wireless link. Obviously I
>need a wireless PCMCIA card in the laptop, but what about the other end?
>
>I don't really want to replace the router (I'm happy with it). I would
>guess that I need a wireless access point/ switch/ hub or whatever it is
>called and either plug that into my current hub or vice versa. I can lose
>one of the ports on the current hub if necessary.
>
>Obviously, I don't know much about networks and would appreciate any
>advice/ guidance/ help.

You have at least two choices, and maybe three:

- obtain a wireless access point (aka WAP) and plug it into your hub or
switch. Easily done, though this does remove one wired connection to the
hub/switch, of course.

- replace your existing router (and the hub, for that matter) with a wireless
router (the better ones have four or more *switched* full duplex LAN ports). A
little harder than the first option, much easier than the third.

- add a wireless network adapter to one of your existing hard-wired machines,
run Windows ICS on that system to allow the laptop to communicate through it
to get to the rest of the LAN and the internet. Can be tricky to configure
correctly.

If you price out name-brand wireless routers you'll find they are generally
cheaper to purchase than the same companies' wireless access points. And the
extra wireless adapter you'd need for the third option may cost more than the
wireless router (!)

Replacing your existing router (and hub) with a wireless router is likely the
best bang for the buck...

/daytripper