Wireless 'Net for Dummies

[Aggie]

Need a crash course in the basics of setting up a small wireless home network (2 computers plus transient laptops) - cheaply if possible. Any tips or good online guides? I'm sure I will be able to handle the actual setup; I'm more interested in what hardware I should be buying.  Recommendations on specifications and brands are very welcome.

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While we are at it, I need a new PC eventually and could use some pointers there, too.  We are non-gamers, so the use I need to optimize for is streaming video.  My wife complains about how slow things are, which may be mostly because she's trying to access Korean sites over Canadian networks (but also because we haven't had a new computer in years). What are the key specs I need to be looking at?

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I imagine you connect to the internet using either a cable modem or a DSL modem. Any of those should have an ethernet port with which you should be able to connect to a wireless router. If your modem doesn't have ethernet (USB would be the case) then you need a new modem with ethernet. Sometimes the modems come with the wireless router already (my FiL has a DSL modem with WiFi in one box).

Assuming your modem has ethernet, you should get a wireless router. I have been mostly lucky with D-Link but Linksys is OK too. In some cases it may be advisable to upgrade the firmware (I did that with my new D-Link) but if the box works well out of the box it may be better to leave it alone.

After that the usual configuration is Modem --> Router (WAN port) --> PC (LAN port) + WiFi. Some boxes have a CD to autoconfigure and it may be easier (in my case I had to clone the MAC address of the modem to get to the internet, and the wizard may take care of that easily). After that you should be able to connect wirelessly. Note that certain parts of the configuration may be only accessible through the web interface of the modem, like security (open networks are generous with the neighbors but they may try to read your data or use your connection for P2P) in which case WPA* encryption may be a good idea.

As for a new PC if you are of the adventurous kind I would suggest to build it yourself. It will be cheaper and you can control the parts. I could give you a suggested shopping cart if you want.

This is an overview, we can go into more details but that would depend on the actual hardware.

*WPA II is better but the adapters from your laptops may not be able to use the standard (that's what happened to me, at least).

[Aggie]

As for a new PC if you are of the adventurous kind I would suggest to build it yourself. It will be cheaper and you can control the parts. I could give you a suggested shopping cart if you want.

One day.  I have more money than time at the moment, unfortunately.
And while I feel very comfortable tinkering around with mechanical items and simple electronics, I still have a "don't muck with what's in the box" paranoia with computers.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

There is a little problem buying an OEM box nowadays: Vista

If you wait for about a month you'll be able to get Windows 7 that should work a bit better than the abomination referenced above.

Mmm, checking Dell I found this which has XP and a decent video card (Intel integrated graphics sucks badly and nVidia has been having problems with their chips, leaving ATi as the only decent option). Dunno if that model is available in Canada though.

The price isn't impossible but you can build it yourself with better specs for ~$300-$400. 

[Aggie]

Ayuh, the Vista issue....   if it's a month, I can wait.  One computer shop here is offering a free upgrade to Windows 7 for systems bought with Vista:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/

I've heard grumblings against Dell; HP and Gateway have been recommended.  I was pretty happy with my old HP, until it blew up (almost certainly choked on dust in our last apartment).

[Bluenose]

We can still access HP PCs with XP "downgraded" (pre installed).  This is only for business class machines, but for a non-game machine it may well be worth finding a business supplier.  The cost is about the same as a similalry configured retail box (except for the very cheapest, and usually nastiest, ones).

I imagine it is the same over there, you just need to get out of the reatail/consumer rut and find someone who supplies PCs for business uers.

Just my 2c.

BTW, I like Linksys wireless routers, but if you get one with the "automatic" secure setup, unless you have Linksys network adapters throughout the network (and you won't) don't use it.  You can set up security manually, its not hard.  I agree with Zono about WPA too.

[Aggie]

If I'm password-protecting the network, do I need to encrypt as well? 

I am assuming from the setup Zono gave at least one PC will still be 'hard wired' to the 'net (I have a cable modem with ethernet, btw) and that this PC shouldn't be subject to someone poking around in my airwaves.

[Griffin NoName]

Endorse Bluenose on XP downgradeable and the business route. I always buy business and it costs no more than "home users".

My home network is dead simple.

I have a wireless-router modem (a single piece of kit) and two machines connected wirelessly. Occasionally I connect one of them via USB but that's just when I am fiddling with the set up.

I don't use ethernet but could as machines and router have ethernet ports. Most decent ones have wireless/USB/ethernet. The reason to use ethernet for you would be speed although the limits to speed maybe outside whatever set up you go for anyway. In any case if the ethernet was faster, you'd need to be watching the streaming on the ethernet conected machine.

Go for biggest memory you can afford on the PC/laptops.

Yes to encryption. Absolute must. And go for WPA.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I haven't had as many issues with Dell as with HP but in the end is pretty much the same thing: the parts come from the lowest bidder.

About the 'free' update I have a little tale: right when Vista was about to come out many OEMs offered a free upgrade to Vista from XP (worst idea in the world but nobody knew then) and when the time came frequently it wasn't really free but most importantly there were compatibility problems upgrading.

IMHO you should either go XP now or wait to get a W7 properly installed in a month.

If I'm password-protecting the network, do I need to encrypt as well? 

I am assuming from the setup Zono gave at least one PC will still be 'hard wired' to the 'net (I have a cable modem with ethernet, btw) and that this PC shouldn't be subject to someone poking around in my airwaves.

Password protected = encrypted

If you leave the network open someone connected to the wireless network could see any shared documents on the wired computer. If you get someone really interested it can hack the system that way, although a really interested party would know how to hack WEP and/or WPA, so the best thing is not to have someone really interested...

Ideally you would use WPA2 for security but there is a chance that it may not work with your current adapters.

In anycase Griffin is right about having a wired computer, once you have the wireless you can perfectly not have one wired. The reason for the wired usually is that desktops not always have a wireless card/adapter (oh and it is faster regardless).

[Bluenose]

If you leave the network open someone connected to the wireless network could see any shared documents on the wired computer. If you get someone really interested it can hack the system that way, although a really interested party would know how to hack WEP and/or WPA, so the best thing is not to have someone really interested...

If you use WPA2 with AES encryption you should be fine as long as you don't choose an easily guessed pass-phrase and the you're not doing anything to attract the attention of serious dudes with overcoats and dark sunglasses and names like "Agent Smith".

[Aggie]

About the 'free' update I have a little tale: right when Vista was about to come out many OEMs offered a free upgrade to Vista from XP (worst idea in the world but nobody knew then) and when the time came frequently it wasn't really free but most importantly there were compatibility problems upgrading.

IMHO you should either go XP now or wait to get a W7 properly installed in a month.

I will look into XP-based business systems (probably less crapware off the bat in any case); the upgrade is done by the retailer, who is probably more service than retail-oriented in any case - i.e. they know what they are doing.

If you use WPA2 with AES encryption you should be fine as long as you don't choose an easily guessed pass-phrase and the you're not doing anything to attract the attention of serious dudes with overcoats and dark sunglasses and names like "Agent Smith".

LOL, I don't even guess easily-guessed LPWB's.  And the most interesting thing I do online (from a security perspective) is banking.

[beagle]

If I was you and wanted a desktop I'd find the Canadian equivalent of somebody like http://www.woc.co.uk who will use decent parts to build you a better machine than the HPs or Dells of this world.  Doesn't mean you have to pick every last bolt yourself.
Remember to buy cheap OEM versions of Office etc at the same time (unless you're into the hippyware stuff  ).

If you want a portable I'd go Toshiba/Sony *.  Or even convince your boss you need a Panasonic Toughbook, though the toughened machines are usually a bit behind ordinary ones on the performance spec front.

I'd put it off until after Oct 22, when you can get Windows 7.  I think XP will start to look very old soon after that.

* I like Sony, though I think Griffin had trouble after I recommended them to her.  All the Sony computers I have bought still work.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

I'd put it off until after Oct 22, when you can get Windows 7.  I think XP will start to look very old soon after that.

I'll echo the Windoze 7 thing.

Alas, this is one I'm gonna have to shell out $$ to microsquish for... (based on the never buy alternate-number versions of Microsquish products...)

Fortunately, I'm hooked up with a local computer builder, and can get the OEM version of Windoze 7 on the cheap.  Sure, I don't get a printed manual.....wait.  Microsquish quit doing that years ago...

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Remember to buy cheap OEM versions of Office etc at the same time (unless you're into the hippyware stuff 

I just finished re-installing windows* for a friend and I did the hippyware for him: Firefox, VLC, OpenOffice, SpybotSD, AVG, etc. If you need MSOffice let your boss pay for it, otherwise 'hippyware' does 98% for free.


* And the gods of irony prevent me from moving him to Ubuntu because he still uses dial-up and the bloody modem is an emulator on top of the audio card.

[Griffin NoName]

* I like Sony, though I think Griffin had trouble after I recommended them to her.  All the Sony computers I have bought still work.

Only trouble with Sony was they messed up the registration of my support pack but I eventually got that sorted. The real trouble was Vistaaaaaargh!

I love my Sony.

[beagle]

I'd put it off until after Oct 22, when you can get Windows 7.  I think XP will start to look very old soon after that.

I'll echo the Windoze 7 thing.

October could be interesting. I'm guessing Apple will announce their grown-up-iPhone portable at the same time to steal MS's thunder. 

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Who wants an oversized iphone when you can get an Archos 5 with Android now. 

[beagle]

Who wants an oversized iphone when you can get an Archos 5 with Android now. 

Looks interesting. I get the impression Android has a bit of an image problem still. It's not wholly boring-corporate-compliant like MS and it's not so wow-cool-young-fashionista-i'd-spend-my-own-money-on-this-compliant as Apple.  With enough good apps it could shift that IMHO.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Actually that assessment suggests that they're doing something right, besides they seem to be selling a good number of handsets and more and more manufacturers are embracing the system. Oh, and the apps are quite decent nowadays. 

[beagle]

Oh I think they're doing stuff right, just not as right Apple.  However the weight of phoneset manufacturers who need to respond to Apple must help in the long term.

Who wins in the end can depend on all sorts of peripheral things. Like here you can get iPhone on pay as you go contracts, but not Android (at least I haven't seen any).

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Who wants an oversized iphone when you can get an Archos 5 with Android now. 

Read the Amazon reviews-- eyeopening.

And not in a good way....

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

There are no reviews for the Android one (it's on pre-order). I have seen mixed reviews for the Archos with it's own system, though.

Given that I already know and like Android I would be inclined to get one once you can get one for a decent price, but I'll check the reviews as soon as those become available.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

There are no reviews for the Android one (it's on pre-order). I have seen mixed reviews for the Archos with it's own system, though.

Given that I already know and like Android I would be inclined to get one once you can get one for a decent price, but I'll check the reviews as soon as those become available.

I looked closely, but couldn't locate the actual specs on the OS.  I was most curious-- I really like my G1 (android) cell phone, for example.

T-mobile?  Not so much...

________

That being said?  I'm really in the market for a palm-top computer running Android, and with a built-in cellphone.  I really would prefer a larger device than my current cell-- one with a proper screen & such.

I hope someone creates one of these-- I'm even looking seriously at taking a palm-top computer, buying an unlimited cell-data plan, and using VOIP on it for my telephone, and something like a paid Skype account (so I can get a land-line phone number), with a bluetooth headset.

I already own 5 or 6 quality bluetooth 'sets-- and I found one last Friday that I thought I'd lost... (fell down behind the seat in my truck).

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I wouldn't be surprised if T-Mobile sucks in your area, in mine the data coverage is quite decent and I haven't had many problems with them (as opposed to ATT whose network might be OK but are severely lacking -or should I say abusive- in customer service).

I believe you can get a netbook with wireless internet from various vendors, or you can get the netbook and use one of these.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Yeah, "netbook" is what I've been looking at.  Linux Netbook

So far, the best candidates are the one's running Linux.  And I like the T-Mobil dongle thing.   It would be a must, until my T-mobile contract is up...

The voice on T-mobile is adequate.  The data is what sux... But I knew that going in.

And you're correct AT&T customer abuse hotline is setup to actively discourage anyone calling in more than once... <eyeroll>


Edit:

This looks interesting.... Gidum

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I would be inclined to get a netbook with XP and add the correspondent partitions for Ubuntu but you have to do your homework, there are certain models with driver problems.

The alternative is getting something like this but I would not buy it with Vista so you would have to wait until it is available with W7.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

I would be inclined to get a netbook with XP and add the correspondent partitions for Ubuntu but you have to do your homework, there are certain models with driver problems.

The alternative is getting something like this but I would not buy it with Vista so you would have to wait until it is available with W7.

Too big.

I'm looking at those smaller ones, with a solid state "hard drive"-- something I could, if I wanted, clip on my belt... something about the size of a paperback, only thinner.