RE: [Sheflug] Wireless Networking Information

["Morris, David (Allvac, UK)" <david [at] xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: shef-lug-admin [at] list.sheflug.org.uk 
> [mailto:shef-lug-admin [at] list.sheflug.org.uk] On Behalf Of Darrell Blake
> Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 5:18 PM
> To: shef-lug [at] list.sheflug.org.uk
> Subject: [Sheflug] Wireless Networking Information
> 
> 
> I'm thinking of switching my home network to wireless but am totally 
> confused so I'm hoping someone can shed some light on it. At 
> the moment 
> I have a cable modem which, via a router, is shared between two 
> desktops, a laptop and an xbox.
> 
> I'm aware that I need wireless PCI LAN cards for the computers and a 
> wireless PCMCIA LAN card for the laptop. I'm confused as to how I can 
> share the connection between the machines. I'm assuming I'll need a 
> wireless router but I've also seen wireless access points. 
> What is the 
> difference? They seem to do the same thing.

My home configuration is a Linux server, a Linux firewall (IPCop), a
WinXP desktop and two XP laptops.

The laptops have PC WiFi (802.11b) cards going back up to a Netgear
access point (ME102) that connects then to a hub on my home LAN. The
other machines, all being in the same room, are hard-wired.

With the laptops, I can cover all the house and the garden
(www.gardencam.co.uk will show the extent of my garden - I can get down
to the bottom beyond the play equipment :-).

> 
> Also, is it possible to get a wireless router/access point with one 
> ethernet point because I'll still need to plug in my xbox via a wired 
> connection.

An alternative for the Xbox may be a WiFi extender. Netgear do one that
plugs into an RJ45 LAN port.

> Finally, what kind of wireless support has the kernel got at 
> the moment 
> because there's no point in me switching if there's no support for it.

There are always ways around it.

I'd suggest getting an access point and a cheap hub, taking the router
and the AP into the hub and everythign else that you needed a wired
connection for.

-- 
D 

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