I need some pointers for getting up to speed and understanding the whole Wireless network thing (have got a home phoneline networking set up at home and a standard ethernet network at the office).

Is there someplace to get the quick course on wireless networking?

And, more specifically, if I get a PCMCIA wireless card with 802.11b is that all I will need to be able (sometimes) to discover open networks for web access?

YOu don't even need a book, just go to some of the maker's sites, they have fairly good descriptions. Take mine for example.

I have a wireless router that has four ports for wired connections on it. It plugs into the DSL modem that use to plug into the PC.

Now the router handles all the DSL stuff for any PC (or MAC) I wanted to add. The desktop is plugged directly to one of the four ports, and my wife's work laptop has a usb wireless connection so she can work anywhere in the place when she works from home and get full speed DSL.

Choose USB because the laptop didn't have an available pcmncia slot, and if you take the cards in and out every day, eventually (not that far in the future) will need to send it for repairs.

In answer to the second question, yes, if you have a wireless connection or it's built in, all you have to do is walk around, it will eventually pick up a network and turn green.

That's correct. You'll also want "NetStumbler", a free windows program to discover/list Access Points.

You can get a Lucent/Orinoco/Wavelan/Agere Gold card for about $70 these days, it's IMO one of the best cards on the market, and it has a connector on it for an external antenna.

Helpful responses; thank you. To take it further, is there a bridge (is that the term) or router that will connect from my DSL modem to both my home phoneline network and provide a wireless access point if I want to add wireless access to my laptop? (Am I even asking the right questions )

What's the difference in it and the $20 cheaper version on the same page
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...1&sku=10259367

Is the external antenna extra with most cards? Is it necessary? Desirable?

Thanks again for the info!

The Lucent version is the best in reception. The cheaper Linksys brand sometimes has trouble with reception.

Generally speaking, PCMIA wireless adapters require external antennas. New laptops have them built in, so no external antenna necessary.

Get rid of your home phoneline network. Replace it with either all wireless cards, or if practical, ethernet wires.

Ethernet cabling is not an option.

Do any of you have suggestions for reasonably priced wireless hardware (DSL modem, 1 desktop adjacent to modem, 3 laptops i the house)?

Thanks for all the wisdom, everyone.

An important note: Wi-fi or 802.11 wireless networking still has security issues. Your should not transmit sensitive data such as credit card numbers over this network. Be sure and educate yourself on this before using your new network.

------------------
Michael Steinberg
Editor
BizTrip
www.biztrip.com

I just bought the Netgear MR814 and one of their USB devices, the router was $99 and had a $30 rebate on it, the USB thingy was I believe $49 with a $20 rebate on it. Those rebates and prices changed a week or two ago (got in on the last day), but check Microwarehouse, I know they have the router for $109 with a $30 rebate, the adapter for $60 with a $10 rebate, not sure if the other stores are offering it anymore.

Computers4sure.com is offering the router (again the 814, four hard wire ports, wireless, and a port for your cable or dsl internet) and a PCMCIA card for $140, the router alone same as microwarehouse.

Watch for the rebates as the new stuff is about to roll out, there are some very good deals out there. I went with the Netgear because over in the forum for my DSL service in www.dslreports.com everybody who had it said it was a breeze to set up and use, but there are certainly other brands out there (though I would always start at DSL reports and ask for what works for your service, chances there are many people there doing it already).

Michael, if you are making a purchase, the SSL encryption, coupled with WEP, should be more than secure for most people... Same goes for VPN. If you log on with VPN encryption, it will be an added layer of security on top of WEP, which is far more secure.

One more obvious thing too, make sure you change the pass word of the router's admin access, way too many people leave it defaulted, and anybody who can attach to the network can then change the settings.

I've used several brands of wireless routers, and I think the Netgear MR814 mentioned above is the best for a number of reasons.

First, for me, the range seems to be the best of the ones I've tried. Also, it has the cool ability to interface directly with dyndns.org, so you can have it automatically update their DNS servers with your latest IP address, allowing you to point a specific domain name to your connection at home.

The only downside I can find with it is that if you're using DSL, there's no way I've found to have it keep your connection alive indefinitely like the LinkSys. I think there's a max of like 220 minutes after the last activity.

If you have any specific questions about it, feel free to let me know.

I just installed a Siemens Speedstream wireless router here, after shome shopping around I came to the conclusion that it was the best one for my needs. It's just $99 and comes with a built in printer server too. Has all the regular security features and after the security test at dslreports.com the line here is considered "safe".

Keep in mind that the Linksys WAP11 1.0 (with USB) unit is the Honda Civic of the wireless world. It can be tweaked, boosted, patched, upgraded, folded, spindled and mutilated.

And for $86 is an excellent choice for the home user.

Linksys is now even offering a signal booster.

I may get one for my home, and dare the hackers to come and get me!

[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 01-21-2003).]