I have a laptop in my work room where I repair and program trains. The room is not ethernet wired from our router, and I’d rather not run a cable.
The laptop has a wireless networking card in it. We have a wired router connected to our cable modem. What do I need to wirelessly connect the two? Is that a Wireless Access Point? An ethenet cable coming out of the wireless access point I would connnect to an open port in my router, and the wireless access point would communicate wirelessly with the wireless network card in the laptop? Do I have this right?
I don’t think you can easily do what you want. You either need a wireless router or you need to connect the PC to your existing router with ethernet cable. There are routers that are both, that is what I have. I can connect to one router by either method. I hope that helps.
Yes, an Access Point device is the way to go. You did not mention the Router/switch device you already have but if you have a free ethernet port left - the access point would connect to that port. Also make sure you get an AP that matches the type of wireless card you already have - such as 802.11b (11mb), 802.11g (54Mb) etc. Then you would configure the AP per the manufacturers instructions. I would recommend that you check to see if your existing Wireless card supports WPA security (better encryption/security then older WEP). I use Linksys equipment at home so I am more familiar with those products. I would definetly advise you to look for devices that support WPA and MAC filtering (pretty much they all do at this point). Also when you setup the device it is recommended that you turn off SSID broadcasts, change the SSID to something unique. Also use the MAC filtering feature to only allow the MAC addresses of your wireless network adapters. This makes your network much more secure. Most manufacturers now provide fairly good instructions on securing your wireless network.
A wireless acces point plugged into a port on your wired router will work. But, I suspect you can buy an entire wireless router(with 4 wired ports) for less that the ‘access point’. This is what I did two years ago. A Linksys wireless G+ router purchased about 2 years ago for $70.00(plus a $20.00 mail-in rebate) is still running my home network.
True enough - I just picked up a Linksys WRT54G at the local CompUsa for $49.00 - on sale. It includes the Router/firewall, 4 port fast-e switch and wireless 54g access point.
I have a Digitrax system. My layout is in the basement and I used my old Pentium III with Windows 98, to connect to my Digitrax LocoNet via MS-100. The old PC recently died. I do not want to buy a new computer for the railroad.
My house is hard wired (Linksys Router) and has wireless (Linlsys Wireless Router) network. I have a new Windows XP computer in my den. I would like to use the computer in the den as a dispatcher for operating sessions. I will need to get a USB LocoBuffer II as the new computer does not have an RS-232 port. In my previous home I had the contractor install an empty junction box in the Den and run a conduit to the basement. It was easy to run a LocoNet cable from the basement to the Den. I overlooked this important issue on our new home.
I would like to conect my Digitrax LocoNet to my home computer network via one of the LAN jacks in the basement. I do not want to drill holes in the floor or walls and pull wire to the Den. I was thinking of connecting the USB LocoBuffer to the USB port on a Linksys Print Server.
i have no idea if a Locobuffer USB will work when connected to a print server , in theory it might work . maybe check with the locobuffer yahoo group to see if anyone has tried it .
how to connect … locobuffer connects via usb cable to print server in basement , print server connects via ethernet cable (lan wall jacks) to router upstairs , router connects via ethernet cable (or lan wall jacks , or wireless) to your computer
on second thought i doubt it will work , the locobuffer software is going to be looking for it’s hardware on the usb port , not on the ethernet port
Thanks for all the info, guys. I think I need my hand held a little bit. Lol
Is there a reason to go wireless, other than the ease of no cables to run?
I’m assuming that data is transferred quicker over the ethernet cable than it is transferred over a wireless connection. Or do I have that wrong?
My D-Link Ethernet Broadband Router (model DI-604) is still happily running without any problems. I have ethernet cables run to where I need them (except for this one laptop in my workshop). I see that there are still Linksys WAP11’s around for about $20 closeout. I checked out the wireless network card in the brand new IBM laptop (from my wife’s employer), and it seems to me that it can work with both 802.11 b and g.
So, can I get away with that $20 Linksys WAP11 with no problems? Or is there a reason to upgrade the router? Like how about the newest video game machines … XBOX 360, etc … online game play … ethernet cables still provide the quickest date transfer?
A hardwired Ethernet connection is going to be considerably faster than the 802.11b standard. A bit faster than the 802.11g standard. There is new standard that will be coming out soon (some companies have jumped the gun and have released a maybe this will become the standard 802.11n wireless router )(with the thought that if this isn’t what the new standard will be… well you won’t mind buying a new one if this one was the wrong guess). The new standard will be faster than the 100T ethernet connection wired. If you are not in a hurry to get this done, you might want to wait for the new standard in a couple of months. Otherwise the 802.11g is not terribly slow. I will ultimately want to add a wireless router to my home/office setup as my old G4 laptop will end up doing duty in the layout room down cellar.
If it were me, for $20, I’d go for it! Especially since this is not for your main computer.
Hi GREG…if you go to Best Buy, or Circuit City,or Staples, they carry several models of “Combo” routers that have ports for Cat 5 ( wired) cables, AND, have a wireless antenna for for any laptop ( or other computers ) that want to connect to. Unless you need the speed for downloading large video files for instance, wireless should work fine. I have Cat 5 cable throughout my home ( split entry style ranch ) that I ran myself several years ago, it was no big deal at all. It gives my the best speed available today, as well as Security. You must remember when you go wireless, you are transmitting all your info over the air, which means that anyone withing range, and with the proper equipment, can receive your info. Is it a big problem, especially in rural areas? NO. Most of the newer equipment today has very good security measures. I took the time to hard wire because I knew I could do it without much difficulty. Only you can answer that question for your needs. Regards,
The Digitrax ‘Loconet’ is sort of like Ethernet, but not the same. I have a computer in the family room and have run a seperate CAT5 cable from the layout to the computer. At the computer I have a dual port faceplate - The upper port is Ethernet for attaching the computer to my home network. The lower connection is for the Loconet. I use a USB attached LocoBuffer II to interface the computer to the Loconet - about a 40’ run to the layout.
IIRC, I did ask Digitrax about the possibility of running the Loconet packets over my Home Ethernet network. One of the problem is that most switches/routers have no idea what a Loconet packet looks like and will not pass them. The cost/hassle of an IP ‘tunneling’ solution made me run the seperate cable. I even labeled the port on the faceplate with Digitrax logo from a set of decals Digitrax gave away at the National Train Show!
I also am having a computer network problem thought maybe somebody could help. Here is all the information I can think of. Have a desktop hooked up to a cable modem (internet,phone, and cable all together) Recently bought a laptop (acer) trying to set it up to a belkin wireless router . Had to hookup an netgear pci network card with ethernet because our desktop did not originally come with one. That is hooked to the router and another ethernet cable goes from the modem to the router . Went through the installation ok. Now cannot get the laptop to connect to the internet but it is shown as connected. Called Belkin tech support several times no luck . Getting frustratted any help would be appreciated HELP !!!
Train Fan - assuming you’re running XP, try Start-Settings-Network Connections. Find your wireless network connection. Double-click it. If it comes up and says “Enabling…” then that was probably your problem. These things can be connected, but unless you enable it nothing will get through.
You may have to go through some first-time setup stuff on the laptop, particularly if you are using any kind of security. You should use security, by the way. Once you set it up, it’s transparent anyway because the computer remembers the passwords, not you.
I bought a very cheap Zyxel wireless router for $15. It works OK, but there was a flaw in its software that caused it to lose connectivity every week or two and need to be power-cycled. Instead of putting up with this baloney, I put my old Linksys wired router back in and then plugged the Zyxel into the Linksys. I had to do some hanky-panky with IP addresses, but I eliminated the lost connectivity problem.
I have a D-Link Wireless N router, and I get full speed on the other side of the house. Consider how far away your workshop is from the router. Chances are wireless G won’t reach your workshop. G+ might, but it’s worth the little bit extra to get wireless N. It’s so much better than G. Wireless B is not even close to N.