Wired/Wireless Networking Conundrum

LLPJ · 02-26-2007, 10:04 AM

Hi Forum,

Networking is my new thing, but I suck at it. I am trying, but I need help. Here is my story:

My mother wants a new basic pc or laptop for her house for email and word processing. My father has a law office 4 houses away (200-250 feet) and he has three terminals and a server networked with a 4-port Linksys firewall (wired) router, all sharing a DSL connection.

What I want to do is install a wireless router in the law office that my mother can log into so she can surf the web from the house and not have to pay for another connection. I can't see the point in her paying $40 a month for a seperate account/connection, when they pay for high-speed right down the block. It is the ideal situation, with no interference for the signal.

The problem is, I am unfamiliar with their current network configuration as I did not set it up and the Linksys router has all 4 ports used (or else I would just install a Wireless Access Point or a second wireless Linksys router). I could swap the current router to a new wireless, but then I would have to configure all three terminals and I don't have that much time and don't want anything to go wrong. I don't know what programs/files they share, etc.

Anyone have an easy fix for me so I can get in and get out??
Tks,
PJ

crazijoe · 02-26-2007, 11:33 AM

You could always add a switch to the router then add a AP. For a distance that far I would get a directional antenna and make sure you set up WAP.

LLPJ · 02-26-2007, 01:34 PM

Thanks Joe!

That's what the IT guy in my office said too.

In case some of the machines are sharing a dbase, would a switch cause any kind of problems or is it plugnplay. What would I have configure? Would I have to do to anything to any of the machine that I was changing to the switch?

Thanks alot!

crazijoe · 02-26-2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LLPJ

In case some of the machines are sharing a dbase, would a switch cause any kind of problems or is it plugnplay. What would I have configure? Would I have to do to anything to any of the machine that I was changing to the switch?

Thanks alot!

Shouldn't see no problems and you shouldn't have to configure anything. Just plug and play.

LLPJ · 02-26-2007, 01:50 PM

Perfect!!

Can you recommend an inexpensive Linksys switch?

THANKS!
PB

crazijoe · 02-26-2007, 01:58 PM

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper

LLPJ · 02-26-2007, 02:22 PM

Ok Joe, last question:

If you think I went with Wireless-N that should be far enough? There really should be no interference...as there are other houses around, but from window to window there is nothing in between.

THANKS!
PB

johnwill · 02-26-2007, 06:18 PM

Hawking Tech has a number of products that will help you increase your wireless range. The root page is Hawking Hi-Gain™ WiFi Range Extending Products.

Some of the more interesting products are this Hawking [HSB2] Hi-Gain WiFi Signal Booster, which can be used on either end of a wireless connection to boost the signal power.

Another way to increase your signal strength is by the use of hi-gain antennas. You can choose from omni-directional or directional models, here are a couple of examples.

Hawking [HAI7SIP] Hi-Gain 7dBi Omni-Directional Antenna

Hawking [HAI15SC] Hi-Gain 15dBi Corner Antenna

02-26-2007, 10:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
LLPJ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 28 OS: xp	Wired/Wireless Networking Conundrum Hi Forum, Networking is my new thing, but I suck at it. I am trying, but I need help. Here is my story: My mother wants a new basic pc or laptop for her house for email and word processing. My father has a law office 4 houses away (200-250 feet) and he has three terminals and a server networked with a 4-port Linksys firewall (wired) router, all sharing a DSL connection. What I want to do is install a wireless router in the law office that my mother can log into so she can surf the web from the house and not have to pay for another connection. I can't see the point in her paying $40 a month for a seperate account/connection, when they pay for high-speed right down the block. It is the ideal situation, with no interference for the signal. The problem is, I am unfamiliar with their current network configuration as I did not set it up and the Linksys router has all 4 ports used (or else I would just install a Wireless Access Point or a second wireless Linksys router). I could swap the current router to a new wireless, but then I would have to configure all three terminals and I don't have that much time and don't want anything to go wrong. I don't know what programs/files they share, etc. Anyone have an easy fix for me so I can get in and get out?? Tks, PJ

02-26-2007, 11:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
crazijoe Tech Hardware Forums Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	You could always add a switch to the router then add a AP. For a distance that far I would get a directional antenna and make sure you set up WAP. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

02-26-2007, 01:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
LLPJ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 28 OS: xp	Wired/Wireless Networking Conundrum Thanks Joe! That's what the IT guy in my office said too. In case some of the machines are sharing a dbase, would a switch cause any kind of problems or is it plugnplay. What would I have configure? Would I have to do to anything to any of the machine that I was changing to the switch? Thanks alot!

02-26-2007, 01:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
LLPJ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 28 OS: xp	Wired/Wireless Networking Conundrum Perfect!! Can you recommend an inexpensive Linksys switch? THANKS! PB

02-26-2007, 01:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
crazijoe Tech Hardware Forums Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

02-26-2007, 02:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
LLPJ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 28 OS: xp	Wired/Wireless Networking Conundrum Ok Joe, last question: If you think I went with Wireless-N that should be far enough? There really should be no interference...as there are other houses around, but from window to window there is nothing in between. THANKS! PB

02-26-2007, 06:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 32,581 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Hawking Tech has a number of products that will help you increase your wireless range. The root page is Hawking Hi-Gain™ WiFi Range Extending Products. Some of the more interesting products are this Hawking [HSB2] Hi-Gain WiFi Signal Booster, which can be used on either end of a wireless connection to boost the signal power. Another way to increase your signal strength is by the use of hi-gain antennas. You can choose from omni-directional or directional models, here are a couple of examples. Hawking [HAI7SIP] Hi-Gain 7dBi Omni-Directional Antenna Hawking [HAI15SC] Hi-Gain 15dBi Corner Antenna __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience