You're much better off using a dedicated hardware device to be the gateway/router/dhcp/wireless access point. They are far cheaper and easier to maintain than a computer, and because they're dedicated there is no worry about when you reboot your machine or any such hassles. They do it all and have built in 4-port 10/100 switches plus the wireless.
Most of the networking hardware vendors have solutions that cost $100 or less. Linksys, Netgear, D-Link, Microsoft, they all make decent products. I have a Linksys router that's been running solidly, and I've set up a Netgear that was quite nice. The Linksys comes with a better manual, but it's not current with the software flashed to the router. The Netgear has a better UI to it's administration and a nifty feature to support the free dynamic DNS services like DynDNS.org. Keep an eye out for deals. I picked up the Netgear MR814 setup for something like $60 after rebates. There are some nice product reviews here. http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-1037.html?tag=quick -Kevin > -----Original Message----- > From: Ian Skinner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 3:49 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Wireless Network Hardware suggestions/comments/discussion. > > > Ok, the wife wants a lap top for her birthday (two weeks ago). And when I > get my second paycheck from the new job (first full time, > permanent position > in over two years) next week, I am planning on getting her a simple one. > What I'm thinking of doing is getting it with a wireless NIC card > so that I > don't have to provide another internet connection in the apartment. I can > set up my current PPPe DSL connected computer as a > gateway/receiver and hers > can then be anywhere in the apartment and beyond I assume. What I would > like some help with is what wireless options I might go with? > > Me: A fairly intelligent code geek, but I don't know a great deal about > hardware and/or networking. > Her: Novice/pseodo computer phobic with 90% of her time on the computer > being e-mail and chatting, shouldn't need a lot of power to support. > Restraints: This is ONLY my second check, so not too expensive. > > I'm looking for something affordable, relatively easy to set up and > maintain. Decently secure, so that just anybody can not walk by and share > my computer, but not I'm too worried about overly serious attacks, if they > really want to know my Civilization III Play the World score, they can. > > Any suggestions? Helpful hints? Good hand holding sites for > choosing/setting up/securing/maintaining wireless network > hardware? Humorous > Puns? Most any comment would be helpful. Also any comments on > the trouble > I may be heading for if I where to consider an Apple laptop for her? She > possibly may like the generally considered simpler UI. > > Thanks > > PS Suggestions on good places to get inexpensive (under $1000, the more > under the better) laptops also appreciated. > > -------------- > Ian Skinner > Web Programmer > BloodSource > Sacramento, CA > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
