Wireless router

[William]

My neighbor has a laptop which uses the internet thru a cable modem coupled
to a wireless router.
What hardware/software do I need to use the same router. The distance
between the 2 computers is about 25 meters.

 

[kony]

My neighbor has a laptop which uses the internet thru a cable modem coupled
to a wireless router.
What hardware/software do I need to use the same router. The distance
between the 2 computers is about 25 meters.

Distance between the two computers might be a secondary
factor as the ideal would be a wireless or wired link direct
to the router. For that you'd need the obvious, either a
long enough piece of cable or a wireless card (and existing
router needing to have) with good enough signal to keep the
connection viable.

Since this is your neighbor, should be presume this 25
meters is also divided by a couple of walls? That will
significantly reduce signal strength, as would other
structures including trees, bushes, etc. In difficult
enough situations it might require external antennas for
both ends, router and your end. On your end, if antenna
extension cable would need be too long, you might need a
bridge on your premises then wire (or wirelessly) connect
that to your system.

In other words, at that distance there are a number of
variables that could result in it working or not. I would
assume it will not work well (if at all) to simply put a PCI
network adapter in your system and expect the signal to
travel through two exterior walls, particularly if those
walls have metal-foil lined insulation on them.

 

[Floyd L. Davidson]

My neighbor has a laptop which uses the internet thru a cable modem coupled
to a wireless router.
What hardware/software do I need to use the same router. The distance
between the 2 computers is about 25 meters.

Assuming your neighbor has given you permission to use his router,
there is also a minor technicality that the ISP may not allow the
neighbor to share it with you.

Otherwise, just about any wireless client card for your computer
(PCMCIA or PCI, for a laptop or desktop respectively) will do it
*if* you can get a strong enough signal.

The signal depends on what there is over that 25 meter distance
that might interfere with a 2400Mhz radio signal. The
wavelength is very short, so anything from about 2 inches or
larger is significant! Trees with leaves, for example.
Buildings (especially if made of metal or if there is foil or
wire mesh in the walls) and odd things like cars and trucks can
all be a problem. On the other hand, the signal will also
*reflect* off of anything metal that is maybe larger than about
4 inches! That will cause radio connection paths that you
wouldn't think exist! (It might bounce off the house next to
you, to get around the house between you.)

But lets say the neighbor has his Access Point in a window on
the second floor facing your house, and there is nothing
between, except for wood framed walls in your house. It might
work just anywhere! It might work only at a window facing the
neighbor's house too...

Also, if this is a desktop computer you can buy "high gain" antennas
that will improve the signal strength.

If it doesn't work just anywhere you can get a "repeater" that
will help. That is an Access Point that supports what is called
WDS, and it will almost certainly have to be the same brand as
whatever AP that your neighbor has. But what you do is put your
AP in a location where it can connect to the neighbor's AP, yet
in a good position to make a connection between it and your
computer.

Each of a client card, a high gain antenna and an AP with WDS
generally costs between $50 and $200. You could carefully shop
and do it all for $150 (or less if you don't need all three), or
you could just as easily plonk down $600 too.

 

[William]

Assuming your neighbor has given you permission to use his router,
there is also a minor technicality that the ISP may not allow the
neighbor to share it with you.

Otherwise, just about any wireless client card for your computer
(PCMCIA or PCI, for a laptop or desktop respectively) will do it
*if* you can get a strong enough signal.

The signal depends on what there is over that 25 meter distance
that might interfere with a 2400Mhz radio signal. The
wavelength is very short, so anything from about 2 inches or
larger is significant! Trees with leaves, for example.
Buildings (especially if made of metal or if there is foil or
wire mesh in the walls) and odd things like cars and trucks can
all be a problem. On the other hand, the signal will also
*reflect* off of anything metal that is maybe larger than about
4 inches! That will cause radio connection paths that you
wouldn't think exist! (It might bounce off the house next to
you, to get around the house between you.)

But lets say the neighbor has his Access Point in a window on
the second floor facing your house, and there is nothing
between, except for wood framed walls in your house. It might
work just anywhere! It might work only at a window facing the
neighbor's house too...

Also, if this is a desktop computer you can buy "high gain" antennas
that will improve the signal strength.

If it doesn't work just anywhere you can get a "repeater" that
will help. That is an Access Point that supports what is called
WDS, and it will almost certainly have to be the same brand as
whatever AP that your neighbor has. But what you do is put your
AP in a location where it can connect to the neighbor's AP, yet
in a good position to make a connection between it and your
computer.

Each of a client card, a high gain antenna and an AP with WDS
generally costs between $50 and $200. You could carefully shop
and do it all for $150 (or less if you don't need all three), or
you could just as easily plonk down $600 too.

Thx for good info.
William

 

[Glittery Gary]

My neighbor has a laptop which uses the internet thru a cable modem
coupled to a wireless router.
What hardware/software do I need to use the same router. The distance
between the 2 computers is about 25 meters.

ummm, a 25 metre cable..........if my math is correct

and what form do those meters take, I can think of gas, electricity and
water only.....

 

[William]

ummm, a 25 metre cable..........if my math is correct

and what form do those meters take, I can think of gas, electricity and
water only.....

My apolgies for the spelling error. I am a Dutchman and my English is
consequently not as perfect as yours.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

ummm, a 25 metre cable..........if my math is correct

Don't we say "maths" in this country, or have we already started saying
"math"? I think it sounds moronic when Americans say math, it just sounds
wrong; like saying physic rather than physics.

ss.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

My apolgies for the spelling error. I am a Dutchman and my English is
consequently not as perfect as yours.

I blame the French.

ss.

 

[Glittery Gary]

I blame the French.

ss.

yes, I always find it confusing where to put those French letters........

 

[Floyd L. Davidson]

My apolgies for the spelling error. I am a Dutchman and my English is
consequently not as perfect as yours.

Your English is *fine*.

First, all spelling flames on Usenet are lame by definition.

Second, they are almost always wrong in some way.

Third, "metre" and "meter" are two proper spellings of the same
word, and either is acceptable. (Dictionary quotes on request.)

Forth, few of the rest of use can speak or write a second language
as well as you do.

 

[William]

Your English is *fine*.

First, all spelling flames on Usenet are lame by definition.

Second, they are almost always wrong in some way.

Third, "metre" and "meter" are two proper spellings of the same
word, and either is acceptable. (Dictionary quotes on request.)

Forth, few of the rest of use can speak or write a second language
as well as you do.

Thanks for the compliment
William

 

[Glittery Gary]

Your English is *fine*.

First, all spelling flames on Usenet are lame by definition.

Second, they are almost always wrong in some way.

Third, "metre" and "meter" are two proper spellings of the same
word, and either is acceptable. (Dictionary quotes on request.)

Forth, few of the rest of use can speak or write a second language
as well as you do.

gosh it's the self appreciation society.............you'll be askin' him for
his phone number next.

 

[William]

gosh it's the self appreciation society.............you'll be askin' him
for his phone number next.

Also my sincere thanks to you for your most valuable comments.

 

[Jon Danniken]

"Synapse Syndrome" >wrote:

Don't we say "maths" in this country, or have we already started saying
"math"? I think it sounds moronic when Americans say math, it just sounds
wrong; like saying physic rather than physics.

I think it's cute and charming (in an anachronistic sense) the way you
inbred, pompous, bad toothed, foul breathed, tea drinking, pansyball
playing, dirty limey bastards say maths.

Jon

 

[Jimmy]

"Synapse Syndrome" >wrote:

I think it's cute and charming (in an anachronistic sense) the way you
inbred, pompous, bad toothed, foul breathed, tea drinking, pansyball
playing, dirty limey bastards say maths.

Jon

Like Militree instead of military. Is in 'Hospital' instead of a hospital.
I am glad we all know how to speak American instead of Britain.

 

[bearman]

Don't we say "maths" in this country, or have we already started saying
"math"? I think it sounds moronic when Americans say math, it just sounds
wrong; like saying physic rather than physics.

ss.

Isn't math just short for mathematics? So why says maths?

 

[Schrodinger]

My neighbor has a laptop which uses the internet thru a cable modem
coupled to a wireless router.
What hardware/software do I need to use the same router. The distance
between the 2 computers is about 25 meters.

I think you'll struggle at that distance. My router signal is bordering
useless on the ground floor when on the top floor of our house (2nd floor UK
3rd floor US). It is a stone house with thick walls/ceilings, but only 8
metres or so away in a straight line.

Any 802.11g card will do anyway.

 

[George Hester]

My router is maxed out with four ports. The router also has a wrireless setup. There is IP room for more machines on the Network. My ISP is a cable modem. What do you think would be the performance if I put another machine on the Network but with a wireless PCI Network adaptor? The computer with the wireless card will be about 6 ft away on the diagonal and about 2ft below the horizontal of the router. The stuff between the machine and the router is a desk and chair.

 

[kony]

My router is maxed out with four ports. The router also has a wrireless setup. There is IP room for more machines on the Network. My ISP is a cable modem. What do you think would be the performance if I put another machine on the Network but with a wireless PCI Network adaptor? The computer with the wireless card will be about 6 ft away on the diagonal and about 2ft below the horizontal of the router. The stuff between the machine and the router is a desk and chair.

If you want utmost performance (especially so close that
intra-wall cable isn't necessary) consider adding a switch
to your router to give you additinal ports.

A rough approximation of wireless performance would be you'd
get performance in the 15-25Mbps range with
supposed-54/108Mbps 802.11g, or about 3/5ths of that with
802.11b. The disparty is the difference between theoretical
transfer and real-world rates after overhead, interference,
TCPIP and wifi overhead and other misc issues are factored
in.

 

[George Hester]

If you want utmost performance (especially so close that
intra-wall cable isn't necessary) consider adding a switch
to your router to give you additinal ports.

A rough approximation of wireless performance would be you'd
get performance in the 15-25Mbps range with
supposed-54/108Mbps 802.11g, or about 3/5ths of that with
802.11b. The disparty is the difference between theoretical
transfer and real-world rates after overhead, interference,
TCPIP and wifi overhead and other misc issues are factored
in.

OK what is a switch and how would it attach to the router? Does it go in one of the port openings which then has more port openings which the machines then hook into? The trouble is each port opening has an IP address. Would a switch having more that one port have trouble with IP address coming out of one port on the router?

I have just gotten a Hub but I think I'll ask about this seperately.