RE: Wireless Lan for dummies

["Aidan Williamson" <fluff@xxxxxxx>]

As with normal networks you can do it cheap(er) and easy or in a (IMHO)
better, but more costly way.

Cheaper route is peer2peer. 2 or more PCs with wireless adapters (PCMCIA,
PCI, ISA or USB) talking to each other, kinda teh wirelss equivalent of
thinethernet(BNC) with a bunch of PCs daisy-chained. Fine if you'll only
ever have a basic setup.

The other option is to use an acess point (AP), which acts as a hub (wired
network analogy) All PCs talk to it & info is distributed through it.
This
gives more scope for growth, but costs more  initially (not much more these
days)

Depending on how much you want to spend the AP can have a variety of
options. Most have a UTP ethernet interface to connect to an existing
network. This can also be used to connect it to Cable Modem, or ADSL
connected PC with routing option. Some have a built in modem and can
autodial your ISP. If you scan about (and watch the list) an AP + one card
can often be had for under ?200. A good card will set you back at least ?70
so worth it if you can afford the extra.

If you only have 2 machines now but plan to expand some APs can be
connected
directly to an ethernet card with a crossover cable. Effectively peer to
peer, but ready to grow.

A DHCP erver is also common (be carful adding to existing network) and if
you wantto spend more, firewalls, and more adanced gateways.

There are quite a few different types out there, but most of the industry
has settled upon 802.11b or WiFi. My personnal recomendation is to follow
this as will be available for a long time & a lot of people have it
(cheap
kit does appear)

Hope that's clear. If not I appologise but it's been a long day.

Here's a couple of basics docs from 3Com. Not recommending them, just the
only address I can remember.

http://www.3com.com/corpinfo/en_US/technology/tech_paper.jsp?DOC_ID=148
http://www.3com.com/corpinfo/en_US/technology/tech_paper.jsp?DOC_ID=149


Night

Aidan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: zrowdyates [mailto:rowdy@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 06 February 2002 22:23
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] Wireless Lan for dummies
>
>
> Sorry guys, but I've lost the plot here a bit. Could someone explain
> in simple terms what I would need for a wireless lan, is it a simple
> case of wireless cards in each PC? The reason I ask is following some
> of the previous posts, I've looked at the likes of Dabs and they also
> do things like gateways, which are more expensive, what are these for?
>
> Any help would be greatley appreciated or any pointers to further
> information.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Keith
>