Wireless Access Point - DO I NEED ONE ?

[meatologist]

hey people,

ok, this is the thing.

I have wired broadband and i want wireless broadband.

This is my setup:

Netgear DG814 Modem/Router
Windows XP PC (wired directly into the router)
Windows XP Laptop (not currently connected to the net)

At the moment, the cable is running from downstairs to the PC upstairs.

So, I want an easy way to get both the PC and laptop on the net, wirelessly.

Would it be best to just get a Wireless Access Point, a Wireless PCMCIA card and a Wireless PCI card.....then:

1) Plug the Router into the phone jack/filter (downstairs)
2) Plug the Access Point into the Router
3) Then connect the PC and Laptop via the access point ??

If so, do you have any recommendations on which Access Point to go for?

Should I stick to Netgear stuff ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[n3tw0rk t3ch]

networking assistance

for best results, i would reccomend getting a wireless router. the desktop does not need to be wireless unless it is not next to router. it seemed in your description that was the case. netgear makes a good product and there range is better than anyone elses. also they have SPI as well as NAT in there routers. they sell a great little package that would get you everything you need in one box. its the 54G notebook kit. it has both a router and a PCMCIA card in one box.

 

[meatologist]

for best results, i would reccomend getting a wireless router. the desktop does not need to be wireless unless it is not next to router. it seemed in your description that was the case. netgear makes a good product and there range is better than anyone elses. also they have SPI as well as NAT in there routers. they sell a great little package that would get you everything you need in one box. its the 54G notebook kit. it has both a router and a PCMCIA card in one box.

the phone socket (the 1 and only) is downstairs....so I am running a cable up the stairs to the router.

i want to keep the router AND the access point DOWNSTAIRS - enabling me to connect to broadband wirelessly - and to get rid of the cable lurking up the stairs!

so - if i want to do that, do you think it would be best to do what i said before ? access point into the router etc ??

 

[Nodsu]

Yes.

You buy an access point and plug it into the router. No point going out to buy a new wireless router if you already have one. Buy the AP from a well-known network device manufacturer. Netgear, as already said, Linksys, SMC, 3com - such real brands = good. Cheesy (tm) brands like BenQ, Zyxel, Trust, etc.. = bad.

Keep in mind that the wireless will be much slower than the cabled network. You probably won't lose any internet speed but any traffic between your desktop and laptop will be slow.