Can wired and wireless coexist?

planning on purchasing a laptop/notebook soon but I'm wondering if it's possible to use my laptop wirelessly combined with my current wired internet setup. I currently have 4 standalone pc's sharing a wired (cable) internet connection (modem to 4 port router) and would like to continue doing so. Is there a way to incorporate a wireless router into the mix and use it solely for my laptop. I'm still leary of the security of wireless setup, but I like the mobility of laptop for around the house use.

Thanks for your replies and suggestions.

 

ofcourse you can.........but why dont you just buy a router with wireless on it already.....that way you can takeup the 4 wired ports included and use the wireless as well..........something like the wrt54g is quite fine

http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php

 

remember, wireless routers also have ports for wired signals. You could buy a wireless router, give wireless to your laptop, and send a wired signal to the other four pcs. a wirelss router is the same as other routers, just has a wireless capability with it,

 

darn,

You people are fast and informative! Sorry for the lame ass question - I didn't realize that wireless routers included wired ports also. Last roadblock to mobile computing is down!! (well, besides the money of course )

Thanks again

 

grateful,

thanks for the lead on the linksys router. However, I visited the Linksys website and was overwhelmed with the choices:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...nksys/Common/VisitorWrapper&lid=3600100349L06

I plan on using my laptop primarily at home around the house. Are the other seemingly higher end routers just whistles and bells or do they give me extra secuity that would be useful to have?


thanks

 

You can actually just use an Access Point without even having to swap out your router. However, that'll usually cost as much as a router anyway. Although some routers actually have a switch on them that allows them to just be an access point.

If you want to buy a wireless router to replace your current router, this is the standard option. It'll work fine, assuming your house isn't enormous. I used to have that model in my basement and I could just barely get a signal two floors up. If you have three floors, it's best placed on the middle one.

That's kind of why I like access points (or routers being used as access points) better than wireless routers. The thing about access points is that you don't have to plug them into the router directly. With routers, it needs to be wherever the hookup for the modem is. If your house is wired for ethernet, you can plug your wireless access point into wherever you feel you'd be using it most or wherever you'll get the most coverage from.

 

thanks for the heads up. An access point seems like it would be a better option for me. Reason being is my current router has been acting a bit buggy for a while so I ran out and bought a replacement wired router (past 30 days so can't return it). Didn't get around to replacing the buggy one so when I do, I can just go out and get a wireless access point like you recommend.

So to clarify things a bit, is an access point a way to extend or expand an existing connection. Kinda like a power splitter when you want to run 2 case fans using a single 3v power supply lead?

Thanks again

p.s. I know this is not the right forum, but as far as brands go, which do you think is best:

HP - easily found; web or brick and mortar; ? issues with responsiveness of keypad

ASUS - not so easily found; but the G1 seems very inviting a bit too pricy; also reported cpu issues when charging battery.

Lenovo - built like a tank, bland-looking

Dell - not so hot customer service; long wait to ship

 

the simplest way to go is just buy a wrt54g.......pretty much the entire internet is dedicated to hacking it, plenty of documentation, its $50 and it will do exactly what you want

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124010&Tpk=wrt54g

http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47259

http://hardware.mcse.ms/message180722.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G

http://wiki.openwrt.org/OpenWrtDocs/Hardware/Linksys/WRT54G

 

I have a wired and wireless router and you just plug on the the wired ethernets to the first plug in your wireless one(not the normal in one). But then again you can just use the wireless becuase it should hold 4 ethernets plus wireless.

 

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards just getting the Linksys wireless router. A potential issue is that my modem and router will be on the ground level of our house. I wonder if the wireless router will reach the various areas of our house without too much interference. There will definitely not be a direct line between the router and the laptop.

Does wireless a/b/g/n etc play into this picture?
Maybe an access point (sorta of relay I guess) would be better here since I could set this up on the main level of our house where the bulk of the laptop activity will be. Thought?

Thanks for all your inputs

 

In 2 colleges I visited in CA,

there is still the ethernet

plug woking on the tables ...

but everybody is using wrls

 

the wireless should reach no problem. i have my wrt54g on the 2nd floor and it reaches fine down in the basement. also, it reaches far down the block. for simplity reasons, i suggest you get the wireless router rather than access point.

 

Well, the range depends on a lot of things. Personally, I never got great range with the wrt54g. It was in the basement in the center of the house. I could sometimes use it two floors up in the center of the house, but not always
How to test range: Go to Best Buy, pick up any router(s) you want to test. Plug them in and wander around your house with a laptop looking for dead spots. Return whichever ones you don't need or all of them if you plan on finding a better deal online. You have 30 days to return them, even if they're open.

I currently use a wireless router that's in the basement as well as a wireless access point that's on the middle floor. The one in the basement works great for the Wii and for my room in the basement. The one on the middle floor works great for wireless upstairs. For most people, having one wireless connection in their house is hard enough to deal with, heh.

All an access point does is take a wired ethernet connection, wherever you decide to plug it in, and make it a wireless connection. So yes, essentially it just expands your current connection. In theory, I could have a wireless access point in every room of my house with an ethernet jack, but that would be pointless and silly

 

Also buy a router that has an easily replaceable antenna so you can install some better ones on it. The rabbit ears included with most routers are only 2dBi compared to up to 10dBi for better rabbit ears or more than 18dBi for dishes. You can also overclock certain routers to increase range (DD-WRT and WRT54GL come to mind) and some routers can be flashed to operate on channels not normally used for networking. (Most routers will only work on channels 1-11 but some can work on 12, 13, or even 14.)

 

Wow,

My first post here and I gotten so much useful feedback to my question in just one day. Thanks a bunch to all who responded. Now on my next question: Asus vs Lenovo vs Dell??

 

Dell baby! Fill out the questionaire btw and post it in the "what notebook should I buy" forum