network n00b confused

Stripe · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:52

hi,

I'm planning on setting up a simple network in my house. I have 2 desktop PCs and 1 macbook planned. I'm with NTL and have 1 desktop PC about a foot from the modem. I want to share the internet connection with all 3 devices and if possible, share files as well.

I just wondered, should I be getting a cable or ADSL router?

is the setup i have planned easily possible?

I'm thinking of going with a usb dongle. any particular products you could recommend for this set up?

thanks

Beerbaron · 5 Jul 2006 at 22:53

you want a cable router for NTL

Freakish_05 · 6 Jul 2006 at 13:21

Beerbaron said:
you want a cable router for NTL

^^ Aye

If you plan to be moving about a lot with the Macbook, I suggest a wireless router. AFAIK the Macbook has WiFi capability as standard so no extra hardware required there. If the 2nd PC is in a different room to the 1st I suggest getting a PCI WiFi card or USB WiFi dongle as you suggested - saves the time and effort of running cables through the house.

Sharing files is easy. Assuming you're PC's are running WIN XP, just run the Network Setup Wizard and you're away. Not sure how easily the Macbook will integrate into that setup, but it will have internet access for sure.

HTH

Musashi · 6 Jul 2006 at 21:21

If you are on NTL Cable you will need a cable router. If possible on your desktops, I would hard cable them, if the files that you intend to share are of any size. Wireless is fine for transfering small amounts of data, but for sustained data transfer of larger files it pretty much sucks. If you are not going to hard cable them I would use PCI wireless cards over USB although I have had reasonable reults with the Linksys WUSB54GS Wireless-G USB.

Also if you are using either of the PCs for ping critical gaming hard wired networks are better than wireless.

Stripe · 6 Jul 2006 at 22:58

thanks chaps. All seems as simple as I would have hoped. Not really that bothered about sharing files and not yet decided on the gaming front.

any router/dongle combination recommendations though please?

BenST · 7 Jul 2006 at 12:33

I'd get the Linksys WRT54G router and try to hard wire my network connections. The WRT54G can be had for around £45 and stability-wise is rock solid. It also has wireless capability should you want to use the WiFi on your Mac.