Home WiFi help 1

[Sherak]

Hi,

I have just dropped in from the programming section wondering if any of you guys could help out with a small home networking problem.

I have a desktop running XP SP2 which is connected to the internet via a ADSL modem, this also has a wireless card in it which server my internet to my laptop and ipaq via interent sharing.

So my question, we have a Xbox in the from room and was wondering if I could use my laptop as a wireless access point, so my laptop connects to the internet via the wireles connection on my desktop so can I connect the Xbox to the ethernet card on my laptop and connect to the internet/Xbox live via my laptop?

any help would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks.....

 

[GEO147]

Sherak,
I have a couple of XBOXs connected to XBOX Live at home. I have them connected through a router and this works fine.

But i would be very interested to find out whether you can connect in the way you were asking about ie. modem-laptop-xbox as i am getting a laptop today and dont have another port for use on my router.

Also if anyone could tell me haw to set up a wireless network with my router xboxes(2) and Laptop(1) and PC(1)i would be grateful. It has 2 output ports but it is also wireless ready what devices do i need to set up a connection between Laptop/Pc and router.

any feedback appreciated..
Thanks.

 

[Sherak]

Hi,

Well, I did try to configure my laptop as a bridge, I saw no reason why it shouldnt work after a bit of investigation, anyho I did get it to work with PC's but the Xbox keept throwing up errors so I ditched the idea, I also didnt fancy having to turn on my desktop, turn on my laptop and configure the network everytime I wanted to play on XBL, seemed like more hasstle than just running a cable down the stairs.

Since then I picked up USR wireless access point, dunno where you are from but Im from the UK and got it from scan for a measly £20 I configured it on my desktop then stuck it under the TV next to the Xbox pluged it in with the small cable provided and viola, XBL everytime I turn it on, no cables no messing around, pure sweetness

 

[Sherak]

Sorry in reply to your question, to set up a wireless network, you first have to make a decision, you can bin your router and buy a wireless router (easiest but most expensive soloution)

Alternatively you could connect your PC to the router, stick a WiFi card in your PC and then use your PC to route your connection the rest of your devices, this way you would have to make sure you desktop is turned on if you wanted to go online with any or your other devices, this is what I do as my desktop is always on.

Let us know what you decide and I'll talk you through configuring it, its very simple if all your OS's are XP

 

[Sherak]

Sorry you dont have to bin your router if it is wireless ready, depending on what that means, but also you coudl buy a wireless access point for your router.. there are many ways to acheive what you want, what is your budget?

 

[GEO147]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. My router is a USR Wireless router. It has 3 ports all of which are RJ45. 1 is the input and the other two output(cable straigh to 2 XBOXs).
It also then has 2 small antennae on top. So i hope that all i require now for the two PC's are recievers or whatever they are called.
Have i any clue wwhat i am talking about?

George.

 

[Sherak]

No problem,

And yes that is exacly what you need, just install WiFi PCI cards to PC's or PCMCIA cards to laptops and your connected. Configuring the cards is no differnt to configuring rj45 ethernet cards with the exception they call peer-to-peer ad-hoc.

If you are not comfortable instaling hardware to the inside of your PC's and they already have network cards installed you can buy what called a wireless access point for a similar price to a WiFi card. If you are from the UK or Europe I can point you in the direction of a couple of products from a relable retailer.

 

[GEO147]

Thanks,

I think i know what has to be done now. I'm from Ireland by the way. On a sepaerate issue, have you any recomendations on what package to use for virus protection?