Re: Setting up home wi-fi network that includes my PocketPC.
From: finndo (finndo_at_nospam.sc.rr.com)
Date: 01/15/05
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Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 23:39:46 GMT
my 2 cents....
ADSL is DSL for reference to those who do not know (digital telephone
lines), whereas "cable" refers to an internet connection via the same
"cable" that your "cable television" channels come through (used to be
channel 555 on road runner, time Warner, in the USA).
By definition 802.11g is compatible with 802.11b but NOT with 802.11a
(different frequency for transmission). HOWEVER, please make sure you set
up the 802.11g system to be in "mixed mode" else your 802.11b will not be
able to connect. (options should be something like: 1. G-Performance 2.
Mixed mode B - G (or "compatible") 3. 802.11b. Now, to avoid frustration
and other problems with maintaining a connection to the network, you are
better off buying all 802.11g equipment, and using option 3. 802.11b for
your adapter configuration on ALL devices (I recently spent 2.5 hours on the
phone with Microsoft trying to figure out why my PC lost connection with an
"excellent" signal, on a regular basis). Buying 802.11g is for future
upgrades of your PPC.
I have not wirelessly sync'ed my PPC as of yet, it is just easy enough to
let it do it when I put it in the cradle to charge. (speaking of which I
need to do that now, my battery is running low...)
The earlier recommended method of: ADSL modem ---> PC1 ---> Ethernet
ard ---> Wireless router ---> other devices Is a perfectly good
system, however at least 1 company in the USA (Verizon I believe) will GIVE
YOU a FREE ADSL wireless modem/router, so it is worth looking into in New
Zealand. HOWEVER (again) you will need a method to connect your wireless
router to the PC via Ethernet (CAT5, 5e, 6) in order to change the built in
setup options, therefore you WILL need to have an Ethernet card in PC1, but
will not have to utilize it, except when performing firmware upgrades and
for some setup changes. a USB dongle is not recommended if you move about
in your home with your notebook, as it tends to fall out, get "ripped" out
(sometimes breaking hardware pieces), is easily unplugged and forgotten when
you roam, thereby causing "group hunts" as you try to find it, and if you
have a PCMCIA slot (I am assuming yes due to the comment you made about
purchasing one) it is very convenient to just pop it in and go.
If you have signal problems (use your PPC to roam the house and see how good
the signal is) getting a network extender / access point is always an option
(some will also allow an Ethernet connection, so a visiting friend with a
notebook with no WIFI will be able to hook up at your network extender, or
you can hook up a video game console via the network extender.
Cheap is not always bad (although my entire house is networked with
Microsoft hardware...) make sure to check websites such as www.neoseeker.com
or www.tomshardware.com for product reviews. as well as the manufacturers
website to check availability of firmware and driver updates (as well as
support of the device you are planning on buying). I have learned the
hard-way that spending more may cause you less headaches, but can also mean
having to buy a piece this month and a piece 2 months latter and so on...
As long as the connection is only being used to share the internet
connection and not run programs or transfer files to / from PC1, it will not
cause major slow down on MOST PC's (I would say a 700mhz or faster with 512
meg or more ram will be well suited to it, if you are also using that PC
regularly.) If you are not using PC2 very much, it might be better to hook
everything up through PC2 (the router, modem and such) so as to "save" you
the resources on PC1. 6 years ago my college ran their entire Internet
framework through an IBM PS/1 x386 40mhz PC and a very old Macintosh 6000
series, neither system ever caused bandwidth problems (however I am sure
they both were serious bottlenecks) In windows XP you can "bridge" the
internet connection (same thing as using it as a "gateway" I believe) and it
works well, although not too intelligent it once let me do the following
configuration: cable modem ---> wireless router ---> PC1 via Ethernet AND
wireless ---> bridged wireless connection to Ethernet connection --->
wireless router. Not really sure if that actually does any good (certainly
not the way I had the cables on the router), but windows did it,
automatically I might add.
does that help you some? it basically boils down to "do it however you
want, with what ever resources you have, as long as it functions for your
uses." You may not get a high paying computer tech job for your work on
networking your house, but like I said, if it works... who cares how you got
it to work?
"Westie" <RideWestieRide@invalid.co.nz> wrote in message
news:%23gqC8NH%23EHA.3840@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> OK, have decided to finally spend a few hard earned dollars on a (cheapest
> option) wireless network at home. I have one main computer in the house
> that has a D-Link ADSL USB modem attached to it and I sync my brand new
> HP4700 :-) with it using the cradle. I also have an older Toshiba
> laptop and another desktop PC.
>
> I want to network the whole lot together and have wi-fi access for the
> PocketPC.
>
> Questions:
> The PocketPC is 'b' standard wireless.
> I can use the 'g' standard devices for my network, can't I? The
> Accesspoint and NIC's in the desktops and the laptop can be 'g' can't
> they?
>
> Will the PocketPC sync with the desktop via wi-fi in the same way that
> ActiveSync works? Or do I have to use the cradle to activate ActiveSync?
> Not a major issue for me, just curious mostly.
>
> I'm trying to avoid throwing out the USB modem and spending more on a
> Wireless router/accesspoint thingy. I'm looking at getting a Genius
> Access Point (USB for maintenance only, no network cable jack). I'll
> use a couple of Genius wi-fi PCI cards in the two PC's and a PCMCIA card
> (or maybe just a USB dongle) in the laptop. Is there anything that I am
> overlooking?
>
> Genius is cheap. Is cheap bad?
>
> ICS will be enabled on the PC with the internet connection. Will that
> work OK? Or will it suck system resources on the host computer too much?
> This main computer is on 99% of the time so I shouldn't have to worry
> about loosing internet access from the network if I turn it off.
>
> Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions and help.
> --
> Jason
>
>
>
- Next message: Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]: "Re: Make Letter Recognizer the Default"
- Previous message: Walt Basil: "Re: Pocket PC for Money 2005 on Axim x50v & ActiveSync 3.8"
- In reply to: Westie: "Setting up home wi-fi network that includes my PocketPC."
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ]
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