From Wired to Wireless

[KazooTom]

I have a new dv7 in transit. This will be my first experience with wireless.

I currently have a Wired Ethernet network at home connecting two desktop computers and two printers through a netgear router with hardware firewall and VPN, and to the internet via a cable modem. Both of the existing computers are running Windows XP SP2, the new laptop will be running Vista Home Premium 32 bit. I have been told that the systems should have no problem communicating with each other as a peer network.

Clearly, I can simple cable the new computer to the existing network, but would like to have the freedom of movement for the laptop offered through a wireless connection. The new laptop will have wireless "N".

What I am looking for are suggestions, or links to other sites, for connecting wirelessly to the wired network. The existing network is running so smoothly that I would prefer to leave the existing router in place if that is possible. Can anyone suggest a simple (read inexpensive) gateway to the existing router? Or, will the router need to be replaced to insure a secure and reliable network?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might be able to offer.

[Kalt]

Is your current Netgear router wired only or does it have the wireless feature built-in?

[KazooTom]

The current router is wired only, no wireless capability. Because everything is running so well, I hesitate to want to make a router change if it is not required.

If replacing the router is the most appropriate solution, I would welcome any suggestions as to which one, I would like something with a hardware firewall, and obviously at least 4 wired ports.

Thanks again for your assistance.

Message Edited by KazooTom on 12-05-2008 10:12 AM

[Huffer]

Then what you need is a wireless "access point" rather than a wireless router. The access point simply takes on an ip address within the range of addresses put out by the existing wired router and plugs in to one of the open ethernet ports on the router. Your laptop will see it the same way it would a wireless router, i.e it has an essid you can set. Some wireless routers have the option in their setup programs to be configured as an access point instead of a router. The beauty of this is that it is a simple add-on to your existing network. You can still set the AP up to have WEP or WPA security, etc. You will need to know a little about the existing network setup like the range of ip addresses it covers (like 192.168.1.1-100 or something like that). You take the AP out of the box and plug the laptop into it with an ethernet cable then run the setup disk that will come with the AP. Then you just attach it to the existing network after you configure it off the network. 

[KazooTom · Accepted solution]

Thanks again for your reply. It sounds like I might as well get a good quality "N" router to take advantage of the "N" capability of the new laptop. I was lucky enough to have configured the existing network with minimum conflict, I guess I can do it again. I did some cursory pricing of access point hardware and found it is only minimumly cheaper than a good router.

[ab]

Get an Apple Airport...  The best I have ever used...

[KazooTom]

Interesting thought ab, but, what on earth does that have anything at all to do with the subject of the original post??

[ab]

He was looking for wireless.  And the Airport is great.

[KazooTom]

I found the answer to my original question. A friend loaned me a "g" router (linksys) that I connected to my wired router through the ordinary wired ports on each. Turned on the wireless router and was able to connect with complete access to my network. Now I need to learn how to secure the wireless router and I'm set. It works great, in fact I am typing this from the other end of he house while watching the news.