A Networking Question from a Newbie

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rev. Ed Blonski
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Rev. Ed Blonski

Ok, here's what I got.

I've got a broadband wireless router.
My main computer has a USB wireless network card. My laptops have external
wireless cards. I do not have internet access where the network will be (nor
do I actually want it at this point).

What do I need to get this network up and running?

Thanks in advance,

Rev
 
Rev. Ed Blonski said:
I've got a broadband wireless router.
My main computer has a USB wireless network card. My laptops have external
wireless cards. I do not have internet access where the network will be (nor
do I actually want it at this point).
Click to expand...
What do I need to get this network up and running?
Click to expand...
(smart alec answer) The knowledge to set it up. ;)

It's likely that your broaband router will serve DHCP. If that's the
case, just set it up to do so, then have your clients associate with
the broadband router and you're good to go.

Make sure the settings are the same (encryption, workgroup/domain,
etc) on all clients.


Things that would increase the likelyhood of getting a helpful answer:
OSs of the various clients
Models of the wireless cards (what encryption level will they do)
Model of the broadband router
Abilities desired for the finished network.
(file sharing, printer sharing, domain login, etc....)
 
Philip Lewis said:
(smart alec answer) The knowledge to set it up. ;)
Click to expand...

I already new that! HA!

Ok, here's some more specifics. (I warned you I was a newbie)

One laptop is running XP home. The main computer and the other laptop is
runing XP Pro.

Here's a list of my hardware:
Desktop has a TRUEMOBILE USB ADAPTER,DESKTOP
TRUEMOBILE 2300 802.11B/G WiReLesS BroadBand RouTeR
NETGEAR WG511T 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card

Now, here's the real newbie question.

Just how do I set this up? Can I do it with an internet connection?
(Whenever I read about setting up a wireless network on the Windows site or
the Dell site, it seems to imply that I need an internet connection, which I
don't have).

Do I just run XP's network setup?

I really am relying on your patience and understanding.

Rev
 
Rev. Ed Blonski said:
I already new that! HA!

Ok, here's some more specifics. (I warned you I was a newbie)

One laptop is running XP home. The main computer and the other laptop is
runing XP Pro.

Here's a list of my hardware:
Desktop has a TRUEMOBILE USB ADAPTER,DESKTOP
TRUEMOBILE 2300 802.11B/G WiReLesS BroadBand RouTeR
NETGEAR WG511T 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card

Now, here's the real newbie question.

Just how do I set this up? Can I do it with an internet connection?
Click to expand...

That should read withOUT an internet connection.

Also, the other laptop has the same kind of wireless card, just a differnt
manufacturer. Each laptop has a wireless card, the desktop has a wireless
usb adapater and the router.
 
Rev. Ed Blonski said:
(Whenever I read about setting up a wireless network on the Windows
site or the Dell site, it seems to imply that I need an internet
connection, which I don't have).
Click to expand...
What you are setting up is exactly the same as the above situations,
except without the internet... so much of what they say will be
applicable. You're on a good start... just need to follow through.


Usually what you have is:
internet-> dsl/cable modem -> router -> several PCs on the local network.

You will have:
router -> several PCs on the local network.

The router (which is likely a router/switch) takes a single internet
connection and allows all local network PCs to connect to the internet
through it using something called NAT (network access translation)
NAT is like having an errand boy for an office:
Jill asks him to pick up lunch, and Bob wants him to drop letters off
at the post office and buy stamps. The boy then takes both orders,
goes off, and returns with Jill's lunch and Bob's stamps.

Do I just run XP's network setup?
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good plan. IIRC, XP also has something like "create a
network disk" which you then put into the other systems and it'll set
them up with all the right parameters.

Do you have the setup guide
(http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/network/p57205/) for the router... it is
likely to have instructions for setting up the "local network" side of
things.

Set up the DHCP server and Wireless access point and set your client
wireless cards to associate with it and you should be good to go.
You might need a wired connection to do the initial setup. find a
friend with a network card, or buy one for your laptops/desktop.
(the laptop card will be more expensive, but more useful... since you
have several laptops)

Just ignore the part about setting up the "internet" or WAN (wide area
network) side of things.

good luck.
 
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