I need advice on wireless networking

[trackrat]

A neighbour has just had a nice new shiny Vista computer.

I went round his house to help him set it up and got everything working (much to my surprise), except for their AOL Internet connection.(which they are quite happy with).

I put the set up disk in and it could not find any Vista drivers for the BT Voyager modem, I said before I put the disk in it was very unlikely that the drivers would be on the disk, so they will have to phone AOL for a disk with the drivers for Vista.

They phoned AOL who told them that the BT Voyager 102 modem will not work with Vista, so they have two choices.

1/ buy a later BT Voyager model that works with Vista.

2/ Go Wireless with a free wireless modem and a cheaper £9.99p a month then £14.99 a month for a maximum 8mb connection.( they are only half a mile from the exchange so should get a reasonable speed).

Now to the questions as I have a wired network and know nothing about setting up a wireless network.

How easy is it to set up, is there anything special I need to know.

And is WEP the way to go for security and if so, how do you set that up

[-pops-]

Do they really want to go wireless?

As far as I can see, the only reasons for having wireless are 1. if you are operating multiple machines from one modem/router, 2. the computer is a long way from the telephone point, 3. to show off.

My reason for a having network it the first one and both my son and me have given up on wireless as being complex and unreliable and gone on to through-the-mains networking which is very easy to set up and is very reliable.

If your neighbour wants to have the simplest connection, and has only one machine close to the phone point, the best way is to get an Ethernet router then use a wired connection to the machine. If there are two machines then the second can easily be connected via a through-the-mains plug system - provided there is more than one Ethernet outlet on the router.

[Irene]

I managed to set up our wireless system.

I just followed the instructions in the pack. B)

The WEP etc., I have to admit I did struggle with somewhat. However, I did get there in the end.

It works just fine now.

The moral is, if I can do it, I'm certain you can and with less difficulty. :D

[trackrat]

Pops, they have already decided on the wireless modem, that is why I was asking those questions.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Irene. :D

When are you going to settle on your finished animation Irene, every time I log in it is different?.

[Irene]

When are you going to settle on your finished animation Irene, every time I log in it is different?.

:D .. See this thread...

http://www.windowsforum.org/forums/index.p...c=33475&hl=

I thought I might do a 'Signature for the Day' for a while.

Then see which looks best. :lol:

Good luck with the networking. ;)

[Alan2273]

I thought I might do a 'Signature for the Day' for a while.

Then see which looks best. :lol:

Is this a variation on the Alan Ho thought of the day?. :) :) :)

[Irene]

I thought I might do a 'Signature for the Day' for a while. Then see which looks best. :lol:

Is this a variation on the Alan Ho thought of the day?. :) :) :)

It could be.

[Irene]

Back on topic, Trackrat...

I also found the Networking Board on the forum very useful. :)