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"Attempting to network 3 comps"

Soon I will be getting ADSL, but first I need to get a network running between the three comps in my house.

The first two are easy, they're both upstairs and only a few metres apart, so I was thinking just a couple of network cards.
But then it gets more complicated - the third one is a laptop (usually downstairs), and doesn't have any ethernet ports in it. What it does have is one of those funny little card slots, where I think I could put in a wireless network card, but would I be able to ge this to connect to the same network as the other two? and what hardware and prices am I looking at?

PS .I think i've already posted something like this, but I can't really remember, and I can't really remember the answers given either.

sPiKeCaSt wrote:
> too true..i had a small LAN at my house last night, all of the comps
> with win2k/XP were on the network straight away, the comp with ME
> never got on, just shows how poor that OS really is for networking,
> its so unstable as well.

Thanks for the optimism :) Makes me feel loads better.
Anyway, I'm sure with my elite powers of networking, and lots of visits to different websites and posting lots of messages here I'll be ok :D

Turbonutter wrote:
> Computers running WinME and Win98 are problems within themselves, but
> no, not really.

too true..i had a small LAN at my house last night, all of the comps with win2k/XP were on the network straight away, the comp with ME never got on, just shows how poor that OS really is for networking, its so unstable as well.

Computers running WinME and Win98 are problems within themselves, but no, not really.

Thanks this is quite helpful, the diagram made it clear :)

And I assume I *shouldn't* encounter any problems with the two desktops running Win98SE and the laptop running ME ?

fiƒi[oV] wrote:
> the prices are taken from my shop, but
> a reasonable enough guide.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

You know that isn't true :D

Ok, so I got bored, diagram:

http://ov.mine.nu/wireless.jpg

I'd definately say go with D-Link, their AirPlus cards are (theoretically) up to 22mbit, rather than the standard 11, if you're going wireless. In fact, go with them if it's wired too, I've never had a problem with any D-Link equipment; Don't have to pay too much of a premium for the quality either.

The D-Link wireless broadband router is, in my opinion, your best bet here, although you wont be using it exactly as intended. It comes with a built in 4 port 100mbit switch, and acts as an access point, so you can plug the PC with the adsl connection in to one of the switch ports and share that connection either with another machine plugged in, or wirelessly. You then have the option of either using it as a standard wired switch at 100mbit or as a wireless access point at 22mbit.

It does work out a fair bit cheaper than buying a separate switch and access point, and (at the shop I work at at least), is only £7 more than a normal access point. You wont be using the built in router function, but could certainly make use of the switch, especially if you plugged both pcs in to that; could transfer between them at 100mbit.

Wireless Router - DI-614+ (£116)
Wireless Network card (for PCs) - DWL-520+ (£52)
Wireless Cardbus card (for laptops) - DWL-650+ (£49)
Standard Network Card - DFE-530tx (£20)

All from memory, how worrying - the prices are taken from my shop, but a reasonable enough guide. Really, I'd say get the router, 2 standard network cards and one cardbus card for the laptop. The 2 pcs can plug in to the router, and the connection can be shared wirelessly to the laptop.

D-link are consistently good, as are 3com I think.

Stay away from Netgear if you want to use them on XP or Linux.

Realtek-based cards just plain suck.

Thanks everyone, next question; are there any makes you would advise me to choose or to stay away from?

a wireless network is your best option and a wired network is your fastest option and may be slightly cheaper.

c.b.