Wireless Router Questions

[Guest]

New to the home pc, so I have several questions to make sure I am setting
things up properly. I have a Sony Vaio with Vista. It came with built in
wireless.

- Other than price, what is the difference between Linksys Wireless-G and
Linksys Wireless-N?

- I've heard that the location of the router can make a large difference in
connectivity. Is there a recommended location?

- What is an "access point"? What is is used for? How does it work in
relation to a router?

- How can I setup the wireless router so that only my laptop(s) will be able
to connect?

- I am looking at getting a printer as well. How does that work with a
router? Do I need to get a wireless printer, or can I somehow connect a
printer to a wireless router so that more than one pc can print to the
printer.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello vermin93,

see inline

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

New to the home pc, so I have several questions to make sure I am
setting things up properly. I have a Sony Vaio with Vista. It came
with built in wireless.

- Other than price, what is the difference between Linksys Wireless-G
and Linksys Wireless-N?

This is not Linksys this is Microsoft NG, please post there and read your
manual

- I've heard that the location of the router can make a large
difference in connectivity. Is there a recommended location?

Nereby the computer is always the best.

- What is an "access point"? What is is used for? How does it work in
relation to a router?

A connectivity device to prolonge the distance to the router.

- How can I setup the wireless router so that only my laptop(s) will
be able to connect?

This is not Linksys this is Microsoft NG, please post there and read your
manual

- I am looking at getting a printer as well. How does that work with a
router? Do I need to get a wireless printer, or can I somehow connect
a printer to a wireless router so that more than one pc can print to
the printer.

This is not Linksys this is Microsoft NG, please post there and read your
manual. Also you can look in the manual for network printer configuration.

 

[Barb Bowman]

1 draft N is fast and covers more distance than G
2 most definitely. you want to avoid walls, ceilings, duct work,
furniture, large appliances, mirrors, etc. a lot depends on the
building materials used in your location as well.
3. wireless routers have an embedded access point. you can also
purchase a stand alone access points and in many cases you can
change a router into an access point. a wireless router will handle
protecting you from the nasties on the Internet, provide wired and
wireless access in a single box.
4. You should use WPA2 for wireless security and not give the
passphrase to anyone else.
5. some printers include wifi networking. you can purchase a
wireless print server as an add on. you can also purchase printers
with built in ethernet that you can connect to a port on your
router.

New to the home pc, so I have several questions to make sure I am setting
things up properly. I have a Sony Vaio with Vista. It came with built in
wireless.

- Other than price, what is the difference between Linksys Wireless-G and
Linksys Wireless-N?

- I've heard that the location of the router can make a large difference in
connectivity. Is there a recommended location?

- What is an "access point"? What is is used for? How does it work in
relation to a router?

- How can I setup the wireless router so that only my laptop(s) will be able
to connect?

- I am looking at getting a printer as well. How does that work with a
router? Do I need to get a wireless printer, or can I somehow connect a
printer to a wireless router so that more than one pc can print to the
printer.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Guest]

Great info! Thank you, Barb.

Follow-up question:
Does either the Linksys G or the Linksys N "play nice" with Vista more so
than the other? Seems like I've been seeing a lot of wireless connectivity
challenges with Vista, but I do not (yet) have the depth of knowledge to
follow all that is being said.

Thanks again!

 

[Barb Bowman]

Anything on
http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/ProductList.aspx?m=v&cid=712&g=d
*should* work fine.

I am using a D-Link DIR 655 Draft N router that works beautifully
with Vista. In fact, I just wrote about it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/933872

Great info! Thank you, Barb.

Follow-up question:
Does either the Linksys G or the Linksys N "play nice" with Vista more so
than the other? Seems like I've been seeing a lot of wireless connectivity
challenges with Vista, but I do not (yet) have the depth of knowledge to
follow all that is being said.

Thanks again!

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/