Wireless network connectors

[Ian Price]

Morning all, I've now got a wireless network in my house. Trouble is my main PC isn't wireless enabled. Is there some kind of USB connector that detects wireless networks and will allow me to connect?

[MrBump]

Yep - google USB wireless cards, or NICs and there are loads around.

If you feel adventurous, install a fully wireless PCI card.

[_tom_]

Wireless PCI cards are meant to be better/more reliable I think?

I have a Netgear WG311T in my desktop and it works well, was really easy to install and have had no problems with it so far.

[Ian Price]

Cheers Tom and Mr Bump. Wireless PCI cards look fairly cheap so I'll try one of those.

[Andrew W]

Before my beloved got a laptop with wi-fi built in she had a Windows machine without it.  She tried a couple of the USB based connectors and didn't have much success despite being parked just down the corridor from the base station.  We know it wasn't the base station as all my laptops connected fine. I think from experience that a PCI based solution is the way to go.

[Twinfan]

Ian,

I did a thread on wireless a while back:  http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14180.0

As a result, I bought these "Homeplugs" that use your power sockets as a network cable.  They work superbly, had no issues whatsoever.  Perfect for what you're after and totally recommended  :D

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=5351

[Ian Price]

Cheers Dave - they're a tad more expensive than what I'm looking to send though! I'll see how I get on with the PCI and take a closer look if it doesn't work out!

[noodleplugerine]

Ian,

I did a thread on wireless a while back:  http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14180.0

As a result, I bought these "Homeplugs" that use your power sockets as a network cable.  They work superbly, had no issues whatsoever.  Perfect for what you're after and totally recommended  :D

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=5351

Power plugs are truly truly frightening.

They work superbly, and seem to defy the laws of physics while they're at it.

Makes NO sense to me how you can transfer data through your power sockets... You'd expect the lights to dim when you're downloading :lol:

[MrBump]

Ian,

I did a thread on wireless a while back:  http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14180.0

As a result, I bought these "Homeplugs" that use your power sockets as a network cable.  They work superbly, had no issues whatsoever.  Perfect for what you're after and totally recommended  :D

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=5351

Power plugs are truly truly frightening.

They work superbly, and seem to defy the laws of physics while they're at it.

Makes NO sense to me how you can transfer data through your power sockets... You'd expect the lights to dim when you're downloading :lol:

Just copper wire, exactly the same as the stuff in shielded twisted pair cables such as Cat 5 (ethernet cables), only thicker...

... I'll get my coat.

Mark.

PS - wireless if FAR scarier.  How the f*ck does THAT work?!?!

[noodleplugerine]

Ian,

I did a thread on wireless a while back:  http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14180.0

As a result, I bought these "Homeplugs" that use your power sockets as a network cable.  They work superbly, had no issues whatsoever.  Perfect for what you're after and totally recommended  :D

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=5351

Power plugs are truly truly frightening.

They work superbly, and seem to defy the laws of physics while they're at it.

Makes NO sense to me how you can transfer data through your power sockets... You'd expect the lights to dim when you're downloading :lol:

Just copper wire, exactly the same as the stuff in shielded twisted pair cables such as Cat 5 (ethernet cables), only thicker...

... I'll get my coat.

Mark.

PS - wireless if FAR scarier.  How the f*ck does THAT work?!?!

Transmit radio waves, and adjust the amplitude as various data comes in - But you're not powering your house at the same time!

Is there some clever multiplexing going on in the powerplugs? I'll wiki it eventually.

[Ol]

Ian,

I did a thread on wireless a while back:  http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14180.0

As a result, I bought these "Homeplugs" that use your power sockets as a network cable.  They work superbly, had no issues whatsoever.  Perfect for what you're after and totally recommended  :D

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=5351

Power plugs are truly truly frightening.

They work superbly, and seem to defy the laws of physics while they're at it.

Makes NO sense to me how you can transfer data through your power sockets... You'd expect the lights to dim when you're downloading :lol:

Just copper wire, exactly the same as the stuff in shielded twisted pair cables such as Cat 5 (ethernet cables), only thicker...

... I'll get my coat.

Mark.

PS - wireless if FAR scarier.  How the f*ck does THAT work?!?!

Transmit radio waves, and adjust the amplitude as various data comes in - But you're not powering your house at the same time!

Is there some clever multiplexing going on in the powerplugs? I'll wiki it eventually.

Put simply, the homeplugs use a different frequency to the power.  AC power oscillates at 50Hz, and the data is sent at several kHz/MHz/Ghz so there is interference from the mains.

Ol.

[Bradock PI]

Only problem with the powerplugs is they can mess up poorly screened electrical items like video games, televisions, radios and hifi the signal to them is noise on the mains which they should filter out but some dont

There are several ways to use wireless I use mine to give a wireless bridge to where my main PCs are they connect through a high speed hub but then go through a wireless access point in client bridge mode to my wireless router connected to the internet. I turn off SSID bradcast and use WPA-PSK security to make sure no one is using my connection and bandwidth. If you have poor reception anywhere you can use a wireless access point in repeater mode to extend the network.