Internet sharing?

[EQarigon]

I have fixed wireless and I just talked my dad into using it. We are in a rural area where that is are only option for a high speed connection. I dont know much about the topic of sharing a connection. He has two computers, his and my brothers what would he need to make this work?

[Player0]

I would go buy a nice Netgear Firewall/Router for $50. It will provide security, and give you easy inet sharing.

[EQarigon]

Ill look into that. Im a complete newb when it comes to this. I wasnt sure if there was a difference between dsl/cable vs fixed wireless which is what he would have.

[naxos]

Ive had great success with linksys...its easy to use and from what i hear it provides good security.

[EQarigon]

Is there a performance hit using wireless networks vs ones with cables?

[WesM63]

EQarigon,
What kinda of wireless are you wondering about?

ISP wireless?

Home Network wireless behinde Cable or dsl?

I have a wireless ISP, I live in the middle of nowhere so its good, but you must have a direct line of sight. I do, but it's still flakey at times. But if your like me and its the only means of a high speed connection by all means get it.

Home wireless works great, you will not notice any performance diffrence unless transmitting huge files constantly. Any more its just an ease of use factor, really up to you.

[EQarigon]

Yea I already have the Wisp, I was wondering about the wireless network I guess its pretty much plug and go ?

[naxos]

Pretty much, i dont know mucha bout these wireless isp's but im assuming it comes into some sort of accesspoint/modem and then from the modem you have an ethernet calbe? Take the ethernet cable and plug into the WAN port on a wireless router. Hopefully it will be that easy....i have found sometimes wireless can be a little more finicky, but its nothing you shouldnt be able to handle on your own, or with a few calls to the manufacturers.

Good Luck

[EQarigon]

It comes into this black box that they call a radio, and then the ethernet cable comes from the box to the network card. I guess that doest make a difference.

[WesM63]

What they call a "radio" is actually a ethernet bridge ;)

[EQarigon]

One of the things confusing me is the whole Mbps thing. Im looking at the wireless routers and it seems the Mbps rating is lower on these, atleast on the cheap ones. Assuming he is going to get the same service at me mine is showing 100mbps. I suppose I should look for a router if he goes wireless that atleast hits that number?

[naxos]

Well, the fastest wireless technology now, is G technology, and that is 56mbps. A 100mbps network would be a wired network. But to share an internet connection the wireless connection, even a or b is fine. If you swap huge files around on your lan, then i would go for the wireless G, if you just want to share the internet, get a cheaper b router. Because your internet isnt going to come close to tying up all the bandwidth of a 10mbps wireless connection.



hope this helps.

[EQarigon]

Yea much clearer now thanks.