Connecting 2 computers wirelessly
Discussion
Me and a friend who lives across the road want to connect our computers wirelessly, but there are a few things we are not sure of:
-do we need a wireless hub or will 2 cards be enough?
-can anyone with a wireless network card access our computers if we have wireless cards in them?
-how easy would this be to set up? we've got a network going with 3 computers with a hub, is it more difficult if there are no wires?
Thanks in advance,
nige.
-do we need a wireless hub or will 2 cards be enough?
-can anyone with a wireless network card access our computers if we have wireless cards in them?
-how easy would this be to set up? we've got a network going with 3 computers with a hub, is it more difficult if there are no wires?
Thanks in advance,
nige.
If you want to share one internet connection (ie. broadband), an access-point + 2 wifi-cards would make sense.
You can then use the internet, even if the internet-connection owner's PC is off
The network may be restricted by making it exclusivly available for your computer's hardware-addresses (MAC).
One of my colleagues lives in a street, where some nerds live, and they have their own file-sharing network with several (relay-) access-points up the road.
Quite popular in dormitories too (if no network is provided by the university)
>> Edited by Bodo on Tuesday 2nd December 15:39
You can then use the internet, even if the internet-connection owner's PC is off
The network may be restricted by making it exclusivly available for your computer's hardware-addresses (MAC).
One of my colleagues lives in a street, where some nerds live, and they have their own file-sharing network with several (relay-) access-points up the road.
Quite popular in dormitories too (if no network is provided by the university) >> Edited by Bodo on Tuesday 2nd December 15:39
Bodo said:
If you want to share one internet connection (ie. broadband), an access-point + 2 wifi-cards would make sense.
You can then use the internet, even if the internet-connection owner's PC is off
It's just a normal network for file sharing, LAN games, etc., there isn't going to be broadband over this network. Will 2 Wi-Fi cards be OK for this?
Sorry for all the questions, it's just I don't want to buy a aby more equipment than necessary!
FunkyNige said:
If you want to share one internet connection (ie. broadband), an access-point + 2 wifi-cards would make sense.
You can then use the internet, even if the internet-connection owner's PC is off
It's just a normal network for file sharing, LAN games, etc., there isn't going to be broadband over this network. Will 2 Wi-Fi cards be OK for this?
Sorry for all the questions, it's just I don't want to buy a aby more equipment than necessary!
You are talking of setting up an "ad-hoc" network between the two wifi cards. There will be problems with range.
In short, yes, 2 wifi cards in ad-hoc mode will suffice to connect the computers, but if the PC connected to the internet is switched off, then the other user will not be able to go online.
If you leave everything in its default settings, then yes, passers by will be able to get on to your network, but this is easy to stop. (1. By enabling encryption on the wireless circuit, 2. By telling the 2 WiFi cards that they can only talk to each other and no-one else - This is called MAC address filtering)
Range will be an issue - you probably wont find it very useable beyond 30 meters unless you use booster aerials.
If you leave everything in its default settings, then yes, passers by will be able to get on to your network, but this is easy to stop. (1. By enabling encryption on the wireless circuit, 2. By telling the 2 WiFi cards that they can only talk to each other and no-one else - This is called MAC address filtering)
Range will be an issue - you probably wont find it very useable beyond 30 meters unless you use booster aerials.
Range probably not a problem if you're both at the front of your respective houses and the road isn't large. And depending on the kit in question, range isn't necessarily a bigger issue in ad-hoc mode (which is what you propose) vs. Infrastructure mode (using an Access Point: for optimum performance in this scenario, stations still need to "hear" each other, even though they talk to the world via a more favourably sited and potentially more powerful Access Point device).
As has been said: *do* turn on encryption as it will deter casual hackers. You probably won't find MAC-address-filtering available to you in an ad-hoc set up since it's usually only found in Access Points.
How you force your kit into ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) mode is anyone's guess, of course, it's different for every vendor out there. A quick fumble around the software shipped with the card should see you right though.
As has been said: *do* turn on encryption as it will deter casual hackers. You probably won't find MAC-address-filtering available to you in an ad-hoc set up since it's usually only found in Access Points.
How you force your kit into ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) mode is anyone's guess, of course, it's different for every vendor out there. A quick fumble around the software shipped with the card should see you right though.
As arcturus said, range will be the problem.
The cards probably won't be powerful enough to reach that far & get through the walls (depending on thickness).
I'm using the belkin 54g card's & they are simply not powerful enough for my house. They work through the floor, but not through my walls.
Depends on what kind of house you are in (mine's victorian with really thick walls)? If it's a modern building, you may be alright.
I'd buy them from a shop where you can return them though.
The cards probably won't be powerful enough to reach that far & get through the walls (depending on thickness).
I'm using the belkin 54g card's & they are simply not powerful enough for my house. They work through the floor, but not through my walls.
Depends on what kind of house you are in (mine's victorian with really thick walls)? If it's a modern building, you may be alright.
I'd buy them from a shop where you can return them though.
I have just setup a wireless network at home, range is fine with my access point as i have an extra aerial on my roof and cen get access to my home network from appox 250metres away.
Remember when you increase the distance of any wireless network the speed decreases i get 1mbit 250 metres away and 54 mbit in the house.
So if the signal has to go through some walls and across the road you speed will be poor and may not be quick enough to play the LAN Games. May be work you buying 1 or 2 access points and an external aerial so you get the best speed possible.
really depends on what speed you can live with.
Also some people do go around and look for wireless networks to hack, I do then i knock on the door and say give me £50 and i will set up your wireless network for you. and many times its 40 to 50 year olds working at home on there laptop with business work being shared. they pay up and i sort every thing out for them.
So be careful with wireless or all the street can have access if no security is in place
Steve
Remember when you increase the distance of any wireless network the speed decreases i get 1mbit 250 metres away and 54 mbit in the house.
So if the signal has to go through some walls and across the road you speed will be poor and may not be quick enough to play the LAN Games. May be work you buying 1 or 2 access points and an external aerial so you get the best speed possible.
really depends on what speed you can live with.
Also some people do go around and look for wireless networks to hack, I do then i knock on the door and say give me £50 and i will set up your wireless network for you. and many times its 40 to 50 year olds working at home on there laptop with business work being shared. they pay up and i sort every thing out for them.
So be careful with wireless or all the street can have access if no security is in place
Steve
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