Is XP Firewall enough?

[my3kids]

If the items from CC don't work, I'll try the Netgear piece Staples has. Will it work with the router I listed?

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by my3kids
If the items from CC don't work, I'll try the Netgear piece Staples has. Will it work with the router I listed?

Supposedly, all 802.11b and 802.11g devices should be compatible with other brands. That's why it's called a standard. Some brands do use proprietary methods to achieve certain functions that may not be part of that standard. So the only way to know for sure is to try it.

If you get the one from Staples, it will most likely need to be configured to be a repeater as it's probably configured to be a WAP by default.

 

[my3kids]

What exactly is the difference between the Staples piece and the USB thingy I found? Is the Staples piece solely for transferring the signal, and the piece I found for picking up the signal and getting it into the PC?

 

[emmagata]

The USB "thingy" is used just to "connect" a PC to the wireless router. It won't boost the signal like the device at Staples will.
You would plug the device from Staples into a wall outlet somewhere inbetween the PC where the router is and the PC in the far end of the house.

It would basically just sit there (no connection to it other than the AC cord) and repeat the communications it gets from the PC upstairs to the router down stairs and visa versa.


The basic idea of a wireless system is that you have one device called a WAP (Wireless Access Point) and one (or more) wireless adapters.

The USB thingy is a wireless adapter that hooks to the remote PC(s).

Each wireless adapter communicates with the WAP which allow those PCs to talk to each other and get access to the internet.

The device from Staples is a dual purpose device. It's a WAP that can be configured to be a repeater (or booster in simpler terms).

There are also devices that are just repeaters (like the Netgear device I linked to).

 

[my3kids]

So if my thingy still isn't strong enough, I could add your thingy to boost the signal? Would I have needed to buy my thingy even if I bought your thingy? Otherwise how would the second PC get the now boosted signal?

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by my3kids
So if my thingy still isn't strong enough, I could add your thingy to boost the signal? Would I have needed to buy my thingy even if I bought your thingy? Otherwise how would the second PC get the now boosted signal?

Ok, this is getting a little too personal with all this thingy talk.


You've mentioned a lot of things you've bought so I don't know exactly what you have now.

At minimum you need one WAP/Router and one Wireless adapter.

If they can't communicate because of the distance or interference, you need to go to plan B. Get are repeater/booster
device (either Staples or the other standalone repeater I linked to early because it's cheaper).

Plan C is get two powerline ethernet adapters.

 

[my3kids]

I'm wireless!!!! At least the PC upstairs is. Thank you for the NetGear name!! It took about 3 minutes to set up my computer, maybe 5 for the scond one. Strong signal. Thanks to all here and to NetGear!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Great. What hardware are you using??

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by my3kids
I'm wireless!!!! At least the PC upstairs is. Thank you for the NetGear name!! It took about 3 minutes to set up my computer, maybe 5 for the scond one. Strong signal. Thanks to all here and to NetGear!

You're quite welcome. Glad to help. Actually, I enjoy this kind of troubleshooting. I've been a service tech for the last 25 years so I guess you could say it's in my blood!

 

[my3kids]

Dan: I have a NetGear wireless router (a g one, but not the new super duper one, or the slower b one. I'm a middle of the road kind of person. ) Other pc is an antenna that connects to the pc with a usb cable. Worked right out of the box.

And thanks again for the recommendationsand advice on thingys!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have the G, same as you, cabled to my desktop. I have a wireless card for my laptop, excellent signal if nearby, by a poor signal if only maybe 50 feet away in a different room. Same floor, just a few regular platerboard walls in between. Any thoughts?