I’m a lurker around here, and I learn much doing it. This might be a bit off topic, but here goes …
I want to use a laptop in my computer room to learn how to do some of the cool DCC stuff with it.
I’ m not up on the latest computer/networking gear. We have a regular router (that uses ethernet cable) hooked up to our cable modem. It would be a pain to run a cable to the train room’s laptop. Is there a “wireless ethernet connector” I could use? I plug a gizmo into an empty port on my router, and that gizmo would send the wireless signal to a gizmo in my train room?
Is there such a beast? Or are my only options either running that cable to the train room or starting over with a wireless router?
Thanks. This forum is such a great source of info for someone like me …new to it all.
Yes, you can get a wireless access point. It has an ethernet connection and a radio tranceiver, plugs in to a port on your existing router (or downstream hub if you have one), and you get a wireless card for your laptop.
That’s exactly what I do. I have most of the house wired, but haven’t bothered finishing off the cabling in the basment yet (I have an extra hub to mount int he electrical closet, to support a port in the kitchen at the desk and at least one port in the basement for the railroad computer). So for now, I just plug in my wireless access point and use a wireless card in my laptop.
I have a lot of computers - in my office here I have 5 running computers. Downstairs in the spare bedroom are two more, plus my laptop. My router has a 4-port switch. 3 of those ports go to my servers, the other goes to an 8 port switch that drives my workstations. Sitting on a shelf is my extra 8 port hub which I plan to put in the basement.
Yup, it’s do-able in the way Randy describes, or you could buy a router equipped with wireless networking and a PC card for your notebook as an alternative - best advice would be to check which is cheaper. Do make sure you secure the network properly - wireless networking is not secure as standard and is vulnerable to people hijacking your internet connection for assorted nefarious purposes (or just to use your entire monthly download limit on assorted music downloads!). It’s possible to secure them but takes a little effort and reading. Hope this helps!
About the hijacking, They use what is called war driving… In my college security class I witnessed one classmate war drive my area. In 2 hours he had collected about 82 hot spots including both of the school’s towers and 54 homes that are not secured. These homes failed to use WEP and it does not take long to get into “THIER” networks and out on the internet. The other hot spots between the gross total collected and the 54 unsecured ones were secured and would require the driver to gather 10 meg or more of internet traffic to break the codes.
I would simply string a cat 5 down to the basement… If you are willing to string miles of itty bitty cables to and from switches in limited spaces I am sure you can find a spot to “drill” a hole into the basement and drop your cable down.
I am also interested if it is possible to “Control” a layout with a Laptop.
Check on Tony’s Train Exchange about software to control the layout with a laptop/PC. I have not done it, but eventually in my layout building/DCC evolution process I intend to do have that capability (provided the software works).
I have a wireless access point sitting on my desk, not hooked to anything right now. I bought it when I had doubts about getting cat 5 cable from the basement (and switch) to the attic so that I could drop it down into the bedroom walls. That turned out to be pretty easy, so I have never needed it. Like HighIron says, I’m concerned about the network security, especially since my wife works at home and does everything on the PC. No need to needlessly run any risks.
When I was visiting friends recently, I spent three days with my laptop on a wireless connection to the internet. I thought it was theirs, until I discovered they were using a DLink wireless router and what I was connecting to was a Linksys.
It’s possible to control a layout. CMRI, JMRI, RR&Co, kam industries, WinLOk all are designed for this purpose. You need some interface to the layout. This is obviously easier for DCC users and then the program itself which ranges from free to expensive. JMRI is free but to do the signal logic and stuff prepare to learn some code. I use JMRI to program Locos on our layout and as a hostler because it can run more than enough throttles at once to make things easy.
there are wireless devides for high speed modems but I would strongly suggest not going that route because it gives hackers a much easier way into your system… I would just run the cable through some walls or even under the carpet if possible… this way you keep your computers safer than using wireless.
I use wireless to connect my laptop to the “big” computer in the living room. It works great, but I find the range of the radio transmission somewhat limited and dicey. At times it works 20 feet away from the main transciever and other times, it won’t work at all from the same location. I have not used the laptop to control the trains yet, but plan to as soon as I get my Digitrax and all the locos converted to DCC. Just FYI, I’m on SBC and am using their wireless “2Wire” supplied system you can get when you get SBC’s DSL.
I would also advocate the Cat5 wiring - I managed to install network links between our attic and 1st floor (and will be running more lines to the ground floor soon with any luck). Cheaper than wireless, far more secure. I might add a network link into the train room at the same time - wouldn’t be too tricky to come from a network switch next door into the room. If you follow the instructions with the kit to the letter it should function perfectly - I didn’t have any trouble and these were the first network cables I made up.
Wireless will do just fine - Make sure you enable WEP security…I have a Linksys Router with 4 cable ports and the ‘rabbit ears’ for wireless. I have run CAT5 to the train room and use an old P300 system for the Train Computer. I also have a port in the family room and an extra cable strung for Digitrax LocoNet if needed.