Networking... Help

[Kingcodez]

Ok i have a wireless network, .11B.
My laptop is currently on it. What i wanna do is but Microsofts network bridge and hook it up to a 4 port router, then hook up my laptop, ps2, old crappy pc, and xbox up to it.
Is this possible?
If it isnt with that product where and what is a good product??


~~~Q 2.1~~~
Since I have a .11b network, and my ISP just upgraded the speed of my connection to 1.5Mbps(T1?) Would it pay off to have a .11G network???? Oh wait

Since I'm going to be hooking up my laptop to the router at the opposite end of the bridge, the wireless wouldnt matter till I get a PDA... And I dont care about having a wireless laptop, and it should help me connect to my downstairs pc... Dam current wired to wireless connectivity flaws...

[nightfox_pc_asst]

Let me help you out here.

First, As in my setup I have a 4 port wireless router, 3 ports wired - 1 wireless.

Now on to the fun stuff, What I think your asking is? You want to hook up a PC, Laptop, XBox, PS2 to it as you mentioned in your post.

Well if you want wireless then there is some factors to consider:

* Wireless signals get depleted when passing through walls or ceilings. For example, if the wireless connection from your router to your (lets say old pc) is in two different rooms then you must account for the walls being in the way.

Lets say your router is in the bedroom and the pc is in the living room and there is just one wall seperating it. This means the signal for the wireless connection is going to loose about approx. 25% of signal strength.

Now lets say your bedroom is upstairs and two rooms over from the living room. (bathroom then bedroom). The signal strenght would loose about approx. 50% due to the copper pipes in the ceiling and the walls in the way.

Understand so far?? Lets continue. Shall we?

* Lets say you have the router and laptop upstairs. Laptop acitng as one connection wired to the router. Thats fine, full strenght. Now if your hooking up the PC downstairs, consider the above mentioned when going wireless..otherwise wired you would get full strength. As I did for a neighbor who lives on the first floor and I on the third, being wired to my router she looses no signal strength.

* As for the XBox and PS2, I will have to research the setup for those to be hooked upto a microsoft wired network. I will get back to you on that piece.

* Nomally when installing a network - wireless or wired using the Windows XP CD and wizards makes it easy.

* As for your other question about the .11b and the .11g networks here is a quote from a book called "Upgrading and Repairing PC's by Scott Meuller"

IEEE 802.11g also known to some as Wireless-G, is a promising newcomer that combines compatibility with 802.11b with the speed of 802.11a at longer distances at a prce only  slightly higher than 802.11b hardware. ... Mr. Mueller recommends that you wait for .11g hardware that meets Wi-Fi Alliance or comparable certification before you purchase it.  You want the same mix-and-match assurance that different brands of network hardware work together in the wireless world that we've long enjoyed with wired ethernet.

Hope this helps in some small way, I will get back with you on the Xbox/PS2 thing.

Nightfox PC Asst

[Kingcodez]

Yeah the router is in the liing room and im in my bed room. Currently the signal is prety good onmy laptop. Only the floor seperates us.


Q. Is a Wireless bridge just a bridge between 2 wires??
err Technically wouldnt the network be wired with this bridge? Like how 2 seperate islands are connected, Each island having their own stuff hooked up to the "Town Square"

I know you can hook both PS2 and XBOX up to a router, My friend does it, But i gues the real Q is:
can the main router:
####
####

be bridged
______
|/ \|

to a diff router

##@#
##@#

???

(easier for me to explain with drawins :PP )

Thanks a bunch
-Chris

[nightfox_pc_asst]

Main router to another router. No, sorry you will need what they call a 'Switch' for it to work.

Let me explain futher if I may.

A hub - A computer on an Ethernet network broadcast (sends) a request for information or program from a specific computer through the cable to the hub, which broadcast the request to all computers connected to it. When the requested computer gets the information it sends it back to the hub and the hub sends out the information to all computers again.

So in saying; Your laptop sends a file to the downstairs computer, however all the computers connected to the router will get the info, it will just be ignored by the ones who didn't request the file and send to the one that did.

A switch - switches are similar to hubs in that they connect computers on a UTP-based ethernet network to each other and phyically resemble hubs. However instead of broadcasting data to all computers on the network as hubs do, switches usa a feature called 'address storing' which checks the destination for each data packet and sends it directly to the computer it's intended for.

Hope this helps

Nightfox PC Asst

[Kingcodez]

Oh so thats what Eti meant by a switch...


Hmm So, if say my XBOX tries to connect to the internet, it sends data, Could this data be directed directly to the "Internet"? (sorry forgot the word lol) and NOT to the other computers, thus making a DIRECT connection to the out side world?
err
Where would the switch go? would it take place of the second router?(the one with the XBOX PS2 old PC an dLaptop?)
Or...???

[Matt]

Wow...nightfox sure knows his stuff...sorry codez, id delete for u but unfortunately i cant right now
*cough*i*cough*got*cough*demoted*cough*

*goes searching for a diagrahm of a switch setup* and while im at it ill look up the ps2/xbox situation...

//edit//
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=20&grid=5 is what you're talking about, right nightfox?

oh and codez...try this site (http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=8143)...might help out..

//edit 2//
after reading that secound link a bit i see what u have to do.

First you get that wireless game router, then you connect it to a switch then u connect the other stuff to ther

Originally posted by chairmansteve
If you have several network devices upstairs (i.e. PS2, Xbox, PC, etc.), you can add a Hub or Switch to share the Wireless Adapter with as many devices as you like.

Wireless Router --> Wireless Adapter --> (Hub/Switch) --> (PS2/Xbox/PC/Mac)

i feel smart :D

[Kingcodez]

Hmm 80$ for the BEFSR81 isnt bad...

[nightfox_pc_asst]

LOL Yes Matt,

Now you know what I do for a living. I have installed from two computers to 50, given the company or clients I deal with. The other side of it is fixing, repairing and setting up server stations for them as well.

And thanks for that link, I appriciate it when someone else has the know how too :D

Laterz all

Nightfox PC Asst

[Matt]

Wow...what a life!

Google is very useful if u know what to search for. ;)