Wireless gurus needed.

I saw the response Dirk W got when asking questions about wireless connections. I see many of you out there rock at this stuff! Here is what I have:
An RCA cable modem.
SMC Barracade, 4 port router.
A Lynksys wireless G 2.4 GHZ USB Network Adapter.
An IBM Thinkpad (Office)Wireless enabled.
HP Laptop (Kid’s room)With Linksys card installed.

What I wanted to accomplish was to have a wireless sending unit come off of my modem or router, and have the two laptops mobile. I see with the USB connection, it needs one of the two computers to be a host, and the other can be truely wireless. A network more or less. Is it something as simple as buying a new adapter cord for the wireless unit, and the modem? The Linksys unit has the square connection, and my cable modem has a square connection. Do I need a cord that fits the two of them to connect direct? Or, did I buy the wrong unit? The USB port can only plug into my computer, which I do not want to do.
Thanks in advance for the help!
Tuck

It’s even more simple than you’re making it to be.

Your router is DHCP enabled, and it has an addressable MAC address… this means you don’t have to run Windows ICS (Internet Connection sharing) on any of your machines.

Your hook-up should look something like…

Cable Modem (MAC) —CAT5—> Router (MAC) – – – – – Wireless — > notebook(s) running DHCP.

If you haven’t had the router connected before, you’ll also need to call comcast and have them register the MAC of your router instead of (I’m assuming) the MAC on your current 1st addressable device which is probably a network card currently.

I know it sounds confusing but it’s not. If you have any questions, drop me an email and I’ll walk you through it on the phone.

Goodluck!

Jon, you have mail.
Thanks!
Tuck

Tuck

What you need is a wireless router. A router talks to multiple computers at the same time. An access point talks to one computer.

Most wireless routers allow up to 4 computers to be connectd via cables and many others through the wireless signal. Wireless routers can be had for as little as $30 on sale and will do the job. The more expensive ones offer the latest technology and may give a little stronger signal. The lower cost units process the data faster than your cble modem so paying more for higher throughput is not necessary.

The biggest problem with wireless is the signal may not penatrate all areas of the house.

I have set up a couple wireless units and may be able to answer your questions.

Yap! That’s exactly what I emailed him.

I asked if he has the WAP version or not as SMC makes two versions of that router by the same name.

Thanks guys! That is what I need. I should be up and going tonight after work.
If I get in trouble, I’ll call! LOL!
Tuck

Welcome to IDA Justfishing!!!

Steve

Thanks for the welcome. Have been lurking in the shadows for a while soaking up the info.

Eye

What brand of router did you get and was the setup successfull?

Bob

Went Linksys. I am sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of coffee! I love it! No speed loss whatsoever! Thanks much for the help! Today I see if the kid’s computer works too.

Did the kids comptuer work?

Yep! Thanks again for all of your help!
I learned a LOT this week! I realized how much memory AOL takes up on one’s system! Holy smokes! And when you get updates, it does not uninstall the old versions automatically! I went through and cleaned it up, removed a butt load of pictures, and dropped AOL completely off of that notebook. The thing is now a rocket! I have him set up on Comcast’s homepage, and he gets his email on Yahoo for nothing! Heck of a deal!
Now I am going over to a buddies tonight to trash his system!
Thanks again!
Tuck