Noob when it comes to wireless

[XeroState]

Well the title says it, I know computers, but I dont know jack about wireless stuff. I am getting a laptop. I have 2(well 3 if you count the server) home computers that run off the same router (duh). Now I was wondering if there is a wireless router out there that has normal ethernet plugs (so I can plug these comps into it). I know an easy way out is to just plug the wireless router into the existing router (though, thats pretty restrictive due to firewalls). Also, I may be asking on how to make it secure at some point tomorrow.

[XeroState]

Well after actually LOOKING for such a device, I found what I think will work. http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...95&catid=21119 will this work? Also, I don't want to spend big bucks, but how good is this (again, noob to wireless nubmers and mumble jumble)

[speedingredline]

well my router is a linux box. I configured my firewall with iptables. set up routing and all that, dhcp server is running to assign ips. so i plugged my wireless accespoint into the network, run the setup cd, set the access point to dhcp, it reconfigures it self, then using a browser I connect to the ap, and finish configuring, wep, mac addresses....etc..pretty easy stuff

[XeroState]

...........riiiiiigggghhhhhtttttt. I understood the dhcp part, and the linux part, after that, you lost me (noob to wireless and linux..though we have a redhat server, go figure it never needs matience so i don't care about it)

[speedingredline]

plug ap into switch or god forbid hub
use cd provided with ap, stick in a windows machine on the same network
is should detect the ap
configure as desired dhcp or static ip, wep, whatever else...its all up to you
configure laptop
like i said easy stuff

[XeroState]

Ah, thats better....lol. Yea, I'll probably have more questions tomorrow when I actually get it (after I clean my room so I can paint...damn not high enough credit limit, having to rely on parents to buy it to pay them back....lol)

[speedingredline]

I will be on the forum most of the day tomorrow, so I should be able to help you out a bit. A

[yrethguad]

I like the WRT54G. Don't know what the CA thing is in the model #. Canada? What the hell is the difference? I know when you flush up there it spins the wrong way, but what does that have to do with wireless?

I kid, I kid, but what I did was just set (on the router) the max DHCP users to my total of connections, and set the wireless MAC address list to only allow my specific wireless cards. Thus, in order for someone to get on the network they'd have to either get on my computer, steal my wireless card, or plug their computer in an ethernet port on the router itself. Wireless connections are stopped 2 ways: If all of my computers are connected, I'm at the max of DHCP users, and the router won't assign an IP for anyone else. Either way, it won't allow any connections from a wireless adapter that doesn't have MY adapter's MAC address. Not sure how many different addresses there are.

Yes, it has ethernet ports, and I have my Vonage® router behind the wireless router w/ no probs.

[XeroState]

Okay, I'll know tomorrow, but how good is the one I linked, like for speed of transfer and connection and stuff...lol, that sounds so noobish, but it explains it so well. (and either the CA means canada, as in where to ship too...lol, or its an upgraded model or something, like version a, version b, etc). And this is the nic that comes in the lappy "Network Card: 10/100 Integrated Ethernet LAN, Built-in Atheros Wireless LAN (802.11ag)". That good or no?

[yrethguad]

It should be good. If it conforms to 802.11g, the transfer rate is up to 54Mbps. It's a matter of getting good signal from there, I believe. The only issue I had with the WRT54G was when I stacked it on top of the Vonage router. They got hot, and I lost connection. I simply unplugged and plugged back in, put them side by side, and I was good.

It kinda sucks, cuz the Linksys routers are designed to stack too, but usually if you've got a lot to stack it's in a climate controlled computer-specific room. (servers and such)