i'm a networking newb, i've never networked anything, and i know nothing about it. i have comcast internet, and i would like to share my connection with my neighbors who live above me cause they are willing to pay half my bill. how do i go about setting this up? my questions : - can i use any NIC with any router? - which equipment do you recommend? - what do i look for when choosing my equipment? - how do i set it all up? thank you for your help.
- can i use any NIC with any router? Yes, all you need to connect router to NIC is standard CAT-5 patch cable - which equipment do you recommend? I personally use a Wireless Router Modem. LinkSys, Belkin or Dlink (Not in that order, but all good) - what do i look for when choosing my equipment? You do not need to pay top dollar for a good setup, some wireless routers come with a USB Network Adapter which pairs up nicely with router. - how do i set it all up? Routers come with a easy to use Setup CD, follow the step by step guide but remember to setup the WEP (wireless security), you don't want other people to share your internet
thanks for the help.... how do i attach a cable from my pc to her NIC? correct me if i'm wrong, but the router would be connected to my pc, and the NIC would go in her pc, i live in the basement, and she lives in the 2nd floor, so how do i attach a cable from my router to her NIC if she lives 2 floors above me? that doesn't sound right, i thought this was wireless? - what do i look for when choosing my equipment? > You do not need to pay top dollar for a good setup, some wireless routers come with a USB Network Adapter which pairs up nicely with router. ok, but how do i tell if one is better than the other? what makes one router better than another? you know how a 512 video is better than a 256 video, what do i look for in routers to determine if one is better than the other? like range, security, or a faster connection. what makes the number 1 router and NIC number 1? i need to make sure i get this right the first time, so the wireless signal needs to make it up to the 2nd floor without any problems.
The Gain in the Antenna. Most start at 2dBi stock but can be upgraded to 16dBi. Also look out for High Power, Super Fast Modes and Security. I reccomend the Buffalo HP Range. Your neighbours will need a Wireless adapter to connect to the network. Come in many versions. I get the one from the same make as my router. Dave
As [bold]dsgtrain[/bold] said the better the gain (how far the signal will reach)and Superfast adapters are the way to go. Most routers will go through a couple of floors anyway (signal degradation depends on what the floors are made of). With regards to connecting to your PC, most routers come with a patch cable to set the unit up in the first place via your NIC card. Gadget.
