Wireless hub

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 24 Jan 2007, 11:16

Eldest son got an Xbox 360 for Xmas and goes online to play games. Meanwhile got another Clanger wanting to go online to speak to pals on MSN and another one wanting to surf the net to "do homework"

Currently got telewest broadband connected to PC.

Would a wireless hub help stop the bickering over who's using what and when. ie can we run X box, lap top and PC at same time.

Anyone using wireless? Can you give us some info?

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 24 Jan 2007, 11:34

Don't know about the X-Box, but we run a laptop and PC with no problems using a Netgear wireless hub.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 24 Jan 2007, 11:39

Thanks. I want to know how practical it is before forking out for a wireless thingy.
Thought we were joining the cyber age getting broadband now find there's a lot more to it, seems everyone in the house wants on the PC at the same time
How secure are they, anyone know?

impossiblevoices · Post by **impossiblevoices** » 24 Jan 2007, 12:03

We have a Linksys. Get a Linksys or a NetGear one.

They are very easy to set up - you basically just have to plug your telewest modem into it and hey presto!

As far as security goes, when setting the router up, you just define an access key. Most use 128bit encyrption algorithms. They are very secure! This means that you have to know your password to use your connection. The XBox and your PC can all remember the password so you don't have to type it in every time. You can leave your network unsecured but that would mean anyone (like your next door neighbours for example) could access the internet via your cable connection.

As a general rule I would say, don't buy a cheap one, get a NetGear or Linksys one.[/i]

ali · Post by **ali** » 24 Jan 2007, 12:23

I have a pc and laptop in different rooms connected to blueyonder broadband through a Trendnet router - I had lots of problems setting it up until I found this piece of software

http://www.networkmagic.com/

There is a free 30 day trial - install network magic on all the computers on the network and it sets everything up for you - honestly it took all the pain out of it for me. I was happy to fork out the $25 or whatever it costs at the end of the 30 days. Magic right enough!!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 24 Jan 2007, 12:31

ali wrote: I was happy to fork out the $25 or whatever it costs at the end of the 30 days.!

Possibly the biggest fib ever here on POL.

Skeely · Post by **Skeely** » 24 Jan 2007, 12:33

impossiblevoices wrote:As a general rule I would say, don't buy a cheap one, get a NetGear or Linksys one.

Probably excellent advice. If you choose to ignore it, however, I have one which you could have for a tenner. It works fine, but I changed it when my new BT home hub arrived. Software included. PM me if you're interested.

impossiblevoices · Post by **impossiblevoices** » 24 Jan 2007, 12:45

Hmmm,

I didn't have any probs setting up my linksys with telewest...

Really just take it out of the box and plug it in!

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 24 Jan 2007, 13:02

Thanks to you all.
This is most helpful.

If I buy a Linksys wireless router do I need to buy an adaptor for each computer/ laptop?

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 24 Jan 2007, 13:45

SoupDragon wrote:Thanks to you all.
This is most helpful.

If I buy a Linksys wireless router do I need to buy an adaptor for each computer/ laptop?

Depends. If the laptop is relatively new it will likely have a Wireless adaptor already installed at the time of manufacture.

With the desktop, it may or may not have an internal network adaptor depending on age. Check for both through Windows>Settings>Network.

What I have is my router and PC right next to my cable modem. This means all I had to do was take the network cable between my modem and computer and stick this into the router, with another cable from the router into my PC.

You should make sure your router is not only wireless but with connections for normal network cables as a safety net if for any reason you find your wifi network doesn't like the washing machine or such like.

impossiblevoices · Post by **impossiblevoices** » 24 Jan 2007, 14:26

This is what I use - [Linksys]

It has 4 standard ethernet connection ports on the back for wired access.

Soup, make sure you buy an 'ethernet' model as opposed to an 'ADSL' one. You need the ethernet one cos you is a telewest customer!

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 24 Jan 2007, 14:38

I can also recommend the Linkseys Wireless-G. We have been running three pc's and sometimes a laptop from it with no problems at all.
It's an absolute must in this house sometimes

ali · Post by **ali** » 24 Jan 2007, 14:58

Porty wrote:
ali wrote: I was happy to fork out the $25 or whatever it costs at the end of the 30 days.!
Possibly the biggest fib ever here on POL.

This from a man who in 2 years hasn't worked out how to get his PC to play music!!!!

No - after a week of faffing and grumping around trying to get the network to open ports and all that stuff, for once I was happy - honest.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 24 Jan 2007, 16:50

Thank you one and all.

I've now got a clear idea what I'm looking for. Think we may be doing some shopping this weekend.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 24 Jan 2007, 18:03

I'm glad you've solved Soudragon's technical troubles. Anyone got any hints on setting up Airport Express? I've installed the Airport extreme card in my Mac and plugged in my Telewest cable to Airport Express. the unit picked up the signal fine but my Mac can't pick up the wireless signal

I've read through all the instructiuons and it should be as simple as plugging it in and that's all. I've now shoved everything back in the packaging to gather dust until I feel up to another attempt...

impossiblevoices · Post by **impossiblevoices** » 24 Jan 2007, 18:16

What kind of mac do you have?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 24 Jan 2007, 18:34

It's the 17 " flat panel imac 1GHz PowerPC G4.
It came without the card but had the fittings for it. I've checked the system profiler and it recognises the card is there, so I've fitted it OK.

aileenandfearghal · Post by **aileenandfearghal** » 24 Jan 2007, 18:51

Marya wrote:I'm glad you've solved Soudragon's technical troubles. Anyone got any hints on setting up Airport Express? I've installed the Airport extreme card in my Mac and plugged in my Telewest cable to Airport Express. the unit picked up the signal fine but my Mac can't pick up the wireless signal I've read through all the instructiuons and it should be as simple as plugging it in and that's all. I've now shoved everything back in the packaging to gather dust until I feel up to another attempt...

So, is the problem that your mac isnt seeing your airport card? That seems to be very odd. Have you been into Network in System Preferences? You should be able adjust your connection settings in there.

Don't know if you've used them but the Apple Support Discussions are really useful:
http://discussions.apple.com/category.j ... goryID=140

Apple is normally excellent for this sort of plug and play. Odd.

Fearghal

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 24 Jan 2007, 18:57

aileenandfearghal wrote:So, is the problem that your mac isnt seeing your airport card? That seems to be very odd. Have you been into Network in System Preferences? You should be able adjust your connection settings in there.

Don't know if you've used them but the Apple Support Discussions are really useful:
http://discussions.apple.com/category.j ... goryID=140

Apple is normally excellent for this sort of plug and play. Odd.

Fearghal

No, that's not the problem. The Mac is recognising that the card is installed OK. I need to spend more time researching what to do. As you say Fearghal I relied on the fact that Macs are usually idiot proof

My husband is sometimes on call at night and has to access his work's mainframe from our machine so I'm worried about playing around with settings and ending up without any connection at all

Scorpion · Post by **Scorpion** » 24 Jan 2007, 20:25

Up until recently I had a Netgear modem/router and separate Netgear Rangemax wireless access point. For Christmas I sent to Amazon for a combined unit. When it arrived I unpacked it and was ready to install it when it suddenly dawned on me that it didn't have a modem built in

As I had unpacked it, I couldn't return it to Amazon for a refund. I eventually sold it on Ebay at a loss

However, I have now received my new modem/router/wireless access point and it turned out to be Â£5 cheaper. You can find it here but they seem to have put the price up by Â£4 http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 75-2041552 I don't know how Telewest works though and this one needs to be plugged into a phone line. Here is the one without the modem that I bought by mistake http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 75-2041552

Skeely · Post by **Skeely** » 24 Jan 2007, 20:42

Marya, you could narrow it down to either the card or the Airport Express unit. If you're near Internuts you could take it round there to see if you can pick up their network.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 24 Jan 2007, 21:31

Skeely wrote:If you're near Internuts you could take it round there to see if you can pick up their network.

I know I'm showing my complete ingnorance here Skeely

but what should I take round? My Mac? Only its not very portable

The Airport Express unit seems to do all it says on the box - well, all the correct lights flash the correct colours - so it might be the card. I suspect that they are both OK, however, and I'm missing out some simple step somewhere. I think I'll try out Fearghal's link, but not tonight. I need to be in the right frame of mind to tackle this thing...

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 24 Jan 2007, 21:46

I'm afraid I just bribed someone with chocolate to set up my wireless for me.. He knew what he was doing and it still took three hours, so it was for the best..

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 25 Jan 2007, 19:05

Thanks to Skeely for the offer of your hub but I've ordered a Linksys one and an adaptor for the laptop. My son has bought himself an adaptor for the X box.
So once the Linksys arrives we'll get going and try it all out.
Fingers crossed.

Skeely · Post by **Skeely** » 25 Jan 2007, 19:18

Good luck with that. If anyone wants a cheap wireless modem/router, it's now in Internuts' window.

impossiblevoices · Post by **impossiblevoices** » 25 Jan 2007, 20:15

Excellent!

If you need a hand setting it up, pm me and I'll try to talk you through it online...!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 25 Jan 2007, 22:24

I've had a helpful pm telling me to try a bit of brute force along with my ignorance so fingers crossed....

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 27 Jan 2007, 19:18

We've done it!
I'm online and BabyDragon in her room on laptop. Haven't tried with X box yet as son out at work.

The Linksys and adaptor arrived from Amazon this morning so I unpacked it and waited for Mr Soupy coming back from fishing ( came home with 2 big rainbow trout )

Linking it to the pc was no prob but had a few difficulties with the laptop but all well now. ( 2 hours of swearing later )

Mr Soupy now allowed a wee nippy sweety for his hard work.
Just the fish in the sink needing cleaned to be taken care of.

Thank you all for help and recommendations.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 29 Jan 2007, 12:52

Got X box online wireless as well now. Eldest son can now use it in his room. His PSP is also getting a signal so we'll put the encryption code into that soon.
We had a wee hiccup last night when everything came offline quoting an Ip adress conflict but got that sorted.( fingers crossed)

Now I dont have kids fighting over acess to PC and tv in my room i can get on and decorate!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 09 Feb 2007, 20:41

Marya wrote:I'm glad you've solved Soudragon's technical troubles. Anyone got any hints on setting up Airport Express? I've installed the Airport extreme card in my Mac and plugged in my Telewest cable to Airport Express. the unit picked up the signal fine but my Mac can't pick up the wireless signal I've read through all the instructiuons and it should be as simple as plugging it in and that's all. I've now shoved everything back in the packaging to gather dust until I feel up to another attempt...

Well, don't know what I did wrong last time, but just had another go at setting up my wireless connection and was successful in a matter of a few minutes.

Now to see if my son can use his Nintendo DS to connect to the internet with it.* Fingers crossed*

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 10 Feb 2007, 17:08

How did it go? Did you get the DS online?

I was treated to the sight of my 2 youngest sitting in the same room with laptops yesterday.
Both giggling.
They were talking to one another on MSN

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 10 Feb 2007, 17:46

SoupDragon wrote:How did it go? Did you get the DS online?

He can't find the browser cartridge for it. It is somewhere in his room but I'm not holding my breath

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 13 Feb 2007, 21:28

aileenandfearghal wrote:Don't know if you've used them but the Apple Support Discussions are really useful:
http://discussions.apple.com/category.j ... goryID=140

Fearghal

Thanks very much for this link Fearghal. A real life saver. My son now has his Nintendo DS wifi working and am confident when he tries to connect a Wii it will work too.

Cheers!

aileenandfearghal · Post by **aileenandfearghal** » 14 Feb 2007, 12:12

Marya wrote: Thanks very much for this link Fearghal. A real life saver. My son now has his Nintendo DS wifi working and am confident when he tries to put connect a Wii it will work too.

Cheers!

No probs.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 07 May 2007, 11:13

I know I'm not the only Mac user who also operates a wireless connection so thought I'd mention this.

I recently installed the latest (2007-04 )security update from Apple and have had hellish probs with my wireless connection ever since. I looked up Fearghal's forum link and realised I wasn't the only one. I tried some of the suggestions, but the only one that worked was to re-install the OS and then not install the latest update. Everything is now back to normal