Sorry, I've tried to research this before making this post, but haven't found the answers, probably because the queries are so basic that they're obvious for most people !

Starting from scratch, I want to obtain two (Windows XP home)laptops and a (cheap and basic) printer, and network them wirelessly (including broadband internet access).
Intend using a wireless modem/router, and wireless PCMCIA cards in each of the laptops.

Right, now for the dumb questions :

a) Does the modem/router connect to the 'phone line via cable, and then the laptops connect to the router wirelessly, or, must there be a cable connection between one of the laptops and the router ?

b) Presumably, the printer connects via usb cable to the router ?

c) Since the router will contain a modem, does this mean that there's no need for the laptops to contain modems ?

d) Since the router will contain a firewall, does this mean that the laptops don't need to have firewall enabled ? Presumably each laptop still needs antivirus software ?

Hey, I said they were basic !

Any advice appreciated :)

Most new laptops will have a wireless card built in to them. Check before you buy.

a) The phone line plugs into the router, and the laptops connect wirelessly to the router (and each other)

b) No. Cheap printers have USB connections which must plug into a computer UNLESS you buy a USB print server, which would cost you £30 or £40 probably. Then you'd plug a network cable from the router into the print server, and the printer plugs into a USB port on the print server (only a small box).
Or you can get more pricy printers that have a network port built in, so you don't need a print server.
I'm sure you can but wireles print servers too, but I haven't looked. Try places such as www.ebuyer.com or the like.

c) That's right but broadband modems are different from dialup modems anyway. Laptops will probably include a dialup modem anyway, but never a broadband one.

d)It depends. Some routers have better firewalls than others. You preferably want one that says it's an SPI firewall. Many will sy youi still need third party firewalls on your laptops. But if you wil lonly use it for going to trustworthy websites you could get away with just the Windows firewall. Others will slap my wrists for saying that.

Yes you'll still need antivirus software on both. I suggest AVG. www.grisoft.com. There's a free version, but it's only for single computer, home use. For multiple PCs or business use you should buy the full version (there is a firewall version too).

a) Does the modem/router connect to the 'phone line via cable, and then the laptops connect to the router wirelessly,

YES

or, must there be a cable connection between one of the laptops and the router ?

NO

Presumably, the printer connects via usb cable to the router ?

You don' normally get usb connections to routers. I you have a printer that's a usb connection, then you will have to have it plugged into a PC. You can get printers that have an ethernet port that will enable yu to connect it directly to the router.

Since the router will contain a modem, does this mean that there's no need for the laptops to contain modems ?

Correct

Since the router will contain a firewall, does this mean that the laptops don't need to have firewall enabled ? Presumably each laptop still needs antivirus software ?

You would be advised to have a firewall on every PC, as well as the one in your router. You can install a free one such as AVG, or Zone Alarm which are as effective as paid for versions. One scenario multiple firewalls could protect you is if you get a virus payload on one laptop, then the laptop firewalls may help to protect the other laptop from the infected one. Use one of the above mentioned firewalls, the XP firewall only works on inbound packets.

Mario

That's made things MUCH clearer !

Many thanks :)

a) You might need to connect a PC-to-router wired in order to configure the wireless network in the first place. Thereafter, there is no need for any PC to be wired.

b) As mentioned already, normally you would need a separate print server. BUT it is possible to buy a box with a USB printer port built in. e.g. http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2600g.html
"Print Server capability via built-in USB port."
This is quite unusual. So if you need it, make sure the box you buy provides it.

ATB
Nige

Nige,

Thanks for that - as regards (a) I'll bear that in mind.

Think I'll get a separate print server, which should mean that there's no restriction on the choice of printer.

If you have the printer connected to a computer in the normal way, the other PC can use it through the wirless link.

It depends. Some routers have better firewalls than others. You preferably want one that says it's an SPI firewall. Many will sy youi still need third party firewalls on your laptops. But if you wil lonly use it for going to trustworthy websites you could get away with just the Windows firewall. Others will slap my wrists for saying that.

Slap! But probably not for the reason you expect! The Windows firewall doesn't really give you much that the router doesn't.

However, neither give the same protection from rogue outward connections that most other software firewalls do.

Yes you'll still need antivirus software on both.

When considered in conjunction with the previous statement, that seems an odd thing to say. If, and that's a big "if", you are going to restrict yourself to trustworthy sources to the extent where you don't need a software firewall, then you don't need anti-virus software either!

Use a software firewall and, unless you can be confident that you can lock down your browser, mail client and anything else that accesses the Internet, anti-virus software.

nybbler

Just a postscript on this - bear in mind that wireless will only give you a reliable connection when devices are in line of sight. You will *probably* get a connection around a corner, on the next floor, etc. but don't count on it. There are many factors in a house that attenuate signal strength.

You may find you need to run a wire from the router to another room or two, unless you want to shell out for bridging routers, etc. Which you don't, believe me.

Just out of interest.

I have a wireless acess point (its a linksys model, can't remember the exact spec) off the back of my cheap netgear router.

The WAP is situated in my converted cellar, but I can get a storng signal anywhere in my house, and even outside in my garden.

I would never have risked putting a WAP in my cellar (which we now use as a study/office, plus a little storage for my collection of wine which I keep drinking) but I was able to pick up my neigbours wireless connection in my house using my laptop. My neighbour's house is about 20 foot away from my house, and I know the actual router is situated in their lounge, around a further 20 foot again, and yet the signal strenght is around 80%.

Maybe its something to do with the environment, we are pretty close to the top of a hill, not much else in the way of buildings around?
I can't think of anything else to explina this.

My boss had the same wireless access point, but couldn't get a signal between rooms, let alone between floors.
I still don't think he believe me when I tell him that i can get a string signal sitting in my Sons playhouse, a good 60 foot from the house!!


Apologies for going off topic there!

--Paulo

Just a postscript on this - bear in mind that wireless will only give you a reliable connection when devices are in line of sight. You will *probably* get a connection around a corner, on the next floor, etc. but don't count on it. There are many factors in a house that attenuate signal strength.

From my experience running wireless (Netgear) in a large 3 story building with walls a foot thick, this seems unduly pessimistic.

From my experience running wireless (Netgear) in a large 3 story building with walls a foot thick, this seems unduly pessimistic.

IF the walls are a foot thick, it's probably not a modern house where a single stud wall can block signals far more effectively if it uses foil-backed plaster board. We've had several threads on this subject, I can't find the one I'm thinking of but look at eg :

http://boards.fool.co.uk/Message.asp?mid=9560776&sort=wh...
http://boards.fool.co.uk/Message.asp?mid=9830973&sort=wh...

There's a good general introduction to hte subject at http://www.solwiseforum.co.uk/downloads/files/adsl-around-th... which anyone thinking of implementing a home network should read.

Here's one Homeplug thread : http://boards.fool.co.uk/Message.asp?mid=9481962&sort=wh...

I guess the only way to know for certain is to suck it and see - can you borrow a friend's router? I must admit, Homeplug frightens me a bit, I don't care how many precautions are taken, I just don't like getting any bits of the low-voltage end of my computer anywhere near 230V :-))) And it's not quite as secure as a dedicated Ethernet cable (and much slower) - you may well find that it's easier than you think to drop a cable down a service duct from the loft to ground floor, that's certainly the case in my house.

IF the walls are a foot thick, it's probably not a modern house where a single stud wall can block signals far more effectively if it uses foil-backed plaster board.


Good point. A couple of microns of foil will stop signals far more effectively than a foot of brick. As Mr Faraday proved with his cage.

IF the walls are a foot thick

Yeap - walls are a foot thick - its an old victoria house (I believe Victoria anyway, built circa 1890 something)

Although, the extension has studwork walls, something I can't stand.... Wish I'd insisted on at least breezeblock walls!!!

thanks
Paulo

It's not mass that attenuates so much as other factors such as live power cables across the path of the signal, RSJs in walls and other things. Ever wondered why a radio or a TV can pick up a decent signal in one part of the house but not another? The same sort of effect is occurring here. Reinforced concrete walls, those with steel mesh supports inside, and other things will do more to destroy signals than bricks and mortar.

But like I say, you will *probably* be OK. I'm being pessimistic. Consider though also that most of the time, laying a boring old ethernet cable to a wall socket is 100% reliable, while only a bit less bothersome than setting up wireless.