advice: Going to be creating a network..

[tigerboyce]

Well after just buying my own PC a little ahed of uni starting next year because im impatient we now have 2 computers in our house, so i want to start a network that will probably be wireless. i have never done this before and have a vague idea of what to do but nothing too technical in this area.

Anyway heres how its looking:

• XP HOME FAMILY MACHINE (P42.2, 9550, 512mb)
• Vista Premium My Machine ("my system")

they are about 3M apart as the vista is in a room above the XP

spending £60ish but can go higher probably if its worth it

The XP computer is the current PC that is connected to the internet VIA a El'Cheapo BT voyager 105 modem to AOL silver connection.

Obviosly the first question that i need answering is which machine will be the main computer, preerably it has to be the XP as when i leave, the network is still in place. So if that is possible, is it possible to Link the two together and will i come into problems doing the cross OS's?

The next thing would probably be coosing a modem. This will Definetly have to be a MODEM/ROUTER as i cant wait to ditch this one (its cut out once so far since typing to here)
I have been looking at: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/produ...oductID=585374 but im unsure completely about what to get, this could be the most usefull advice area as it will have to be both AOL and VISTA capable.

My final question is will the modem have to be vista capable if it is connected to the XP with a USB dongle on the VISTA to pick up the signal.

I gueass another question is what will be better, USB dongle or PCI card?

[dave87]

PCI card is almost always better.

Modem/Router wise I'd suggest something made by either Netgear or ZyXel, having used both they are very good. Belkin aren't bad as long as you aren't doing anything demanding with it

Networking wise - Vista should be able to read XP File Shares/Printers, not sure about the other way round though.

[Avalon]

OK You won't have a main machine in the way you infer, the router will be your main 'main' machine and that wants to be near the phone point, idealy the master socket.

834's are like marmite, you either love 'em or hate 'em. The old silver v1's used to overheat but weren't bad if you got one that didn't, the v2's without wifi were significantly better and with were pretty good. The v3's with or without wifi (i've set up about 10 or so) are solid and reliable and AOL give them away free to new customers (could be worth a call ?) so they work perfectly with AOL. Your router doesn't need to be vista anything in the same way it doesn't need to support ipaq or linux box's tcpip is a universal standard (tell that to the ancient jetdirect 2 card in my printer!).

It's the same with wifi cards, they have an external antenna and that can be a great advantage but you generally have the ariel stuck to the back of the PC, they are a pain if you need to move the card from one machine to another but with a usb extension lead you can site the dongle more easily to get a better signal. You generally can't add a larger ariel if you need to.

Generally stick to one brand and you should be fine but check vista drivers are out and well supported.

[killie99]

The ZyXel stuff is superb (660HW series). Scan have them on offer this weekend for £41.71 http://www.scan.co.uk/todayonly/ comes with a USB dongle so that's all you'll need. I assume you already have a phone connection in the room of the existing PC so that pc should be hard wired to the ZyXel and your new pc should use the wireless dongle.

[Stompy]

Call AOL and have a bit of a go at them, then they will probably send you a free router. Worked for my friend.

[tigerboyce]

Ok i think ill Give AOL a call and ask them about the driver stuff for the 834 and hopefully push them for one for free seeig as we have been with them for about nearly 8 years! ever since the dial-up

I dont see why wer not entitled to one after that amount of £20odd pounds a month?

If not ill just buy one or look into the ZyXel

Thanks guys

[tigerboyce]

phoned up and they said that i will have to cancel my connection, and then rejoin to get the free modem which i think is a blatent scam as that will mean i have to go fro my £27 GOLD connection that is no longer available as a choice to the Platinum which in £29. it will also mean that i will be contracted for a year :/

i may give it anouther go tomorow as it was one of the usual half english speaking phone desks

[moogle]

i'd say get a new isp if you can. can't you get ntl or other isp's in your area? apart from that, my friend is on aol and he has his wireless set up. an adsl2+ dlink one. it's not hard to set up. you'll just need to have the aol password and username, and other stuff. ill ask my friend what details he needed.

[ionicle]

PIPEX are a good isp, but they dont send you a free wireless router unfortunatly, i am with them, but i bought a belkin router, seperatly, and it is really quite good quality for the price of £70 tbh ....have a look into that