Wireless Network Advice

[Squid_uk]

I am interested in setting up a link/small network between a system in my room which has broadband, to a system in my lounge which has no internet access, i would like to be able to do this wireless, all im really after is being able to use either system for the net without the other having to be on at the same time and if possible to be able to exchange files from system to system, the distance between the systems is about 20 metres,

Would it be as easy as buying a wireless router and a wireless network card (for one of the systems as the other will already have one) and setting up both system to recieve the data or is there a bit more to it?

Also i was wondering if you guys would recommend any particular hardware for this task, my budget is between £50 and £120.

The current hardware i have in the system i would like to use in the lounge (the crapper of the two) is as follows:

Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

System Model
Intel Corporation

Processor
3.00 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
16 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Circuit Board
Board: Intel Corporation D865GLC AAC28906-411
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Intel Corp.

Memory Modules
323.92 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
142.58 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8161B [CD-ROM drive]
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-105 [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

Maxtor 6L160P0 [Hard drive] (163.93 GB) -- drive 0, s/n L402SC7G, rev BAH41G10,
496 Megabytes Installed Memory

Local Drive Volumes

c: (FAT32 on drive 0) 163.88 GB 106.69 GB free
h: (NTFS on drive 1) 160.04 GB 35.89 GB free

Printers

EPSON Stylus C62 Series on USB001

Controllers
Standard floppy disk controller
Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers (2x)
Primary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)

Display
Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller [Display adapter]
Packard Bell NEC CI A727 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, s/n 000056413038, October 2002)

Bus Adapters
Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D2
Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D4
Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D7
Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24DE

Communications

Alcatel SpeedTouch USB ADSL PPP
Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection


If you need anymore info from me about what im after or the setup of my systems etc please ask me!

[thecoalman]

Would it be as easy as buying a wireless router and a wireless network card (for one of the systems as the other will already have one) and setting up both system to recieve the data or is there a bit more to it?

Well that's what a router does. It allows silmultanous conections to the internet or connections to other computers within your home network.

[ranchhand]

All you need is a w/less router and a w/less NIC in your computer. Make sure the router is minimally the 802.11 / 2.4 GHz. If you get D-Link or Linksys you will be fine - I am partial to DLink, myself. They have great quality and in the US toll-free support. Just follow the setup instructions step by step and you will be up and running in no time.

One thing you definitely will want to do after you are up and running that many neglect, and that is lock down your network. Encrypt, change your SSID - don't use the default "admin" that comes from the factory, disable your SSID broadcast, and nobody will be able to leech off your signal, or worse, break into your network and have access to your computers.

[thecoalman]

One thing you definitely will want to do after you are up and running that many neglect, and that is lock down your network. .

I have two unprotected ones within range of me right now..... One with the persons name on it.

[Prot]

I would also filter MAC addresses. Only allow those you approve of to access your router.

[shelbyGT]

One thing you definitely will want to do after you are up and running that many neglect, and that is lock down your network. .

I have two unprotected ones within range of me right now..... One with the persons name on it.

At home I have about 10 internet connections up and running. Maybe half are protected. Of those other 4 that aren't mine, I can surf quite easily on two of them. The other two are too far away to connect really. Some people.

Oh yeah, our wireless network name is "Clownpenis", in case you don't find that funny, watch this:
http://webfeedcentral.com/video/clownpenis.mpeg (no nudity, and old SNL commercial, but still might not be SFW)

[ranchhand]

At home I have about 10 internet connections up and running. Maybe half are protected. Of those other 4 that aren't mine, I can surf quite easily on two of them.

The unfortunate thing about unsecured computers is that a skilled hacker (and there are a lot of them, believe me) can set the four unprotected units up as "zombies", and attempt anything from hacking in to Federal sites to storing illegal porn on the harddrives to using several as Denial Of Service attack computers against websites. The nasty part is that the Feds will come knocking on YOUR door when they trace this to your MAC address on your computer. The hacker is in the clear, no way of tracing him.

[isogonic]

Router makers claim all kinds of silly distances, the more walls inbetween the weaker the signal. also get a router that has SPI (firewall) to weed out those packets. you can also monitor your wireless connection for other unwanted MACs with a free app called airsnare.....