[clever_j]

1) Wifi Cards and Blue Tooth devices.. can they both access my wireless network powered by a Access Point device or a Wireless Router?

2) Is it safe to say that WAPs (Wireless Access Points) are synonymous to regular Hubs/Switches but only without wires? If so, while switches have certain number of ports that allow users to "plug in", how about WAPS?

3) I used to setup my computer (or one of the computers in the wired network) to be an Internet Host and share internet connection to computers on our Hub/Switch (perhaps by using winRoute).. I enjoy this better than using routers because I can monitor connections, and limit bandwidth etc etc.. What are the steps i need to take to evlove this kind of setup into WIRELESS one?

If I am not mistaken, all i need to do is use a wireless access point instead of a regular hub/switch, and replace the regular NICs on our computers with wireless NICs. How close am i here?


Thanks guys

[m3trj]

1. Wireless cards and bluetooth are different and are incompatable usually.

2. Probably, but I think you need to attach it to a router.

3. Yeah that sounds right.

[clever_j]

1. Wireless cards and bluetooth are different and are incompatable usually.

sooo... how about Wi-Fi cards?

2. Probably, but I think you need to attach it to a router.

you mean access points dont have "ports"?? I wasnt trying to compare it with routers.. just regular hubs and switches.. coz my idea is that access points are the same.

[clever_j]

yo..

[m3trj]

I think you can plug a wireless access point into your computer and connect with the other computers using wireless cards. So what you proposed to do in the original question will probably work, just use the access point as a hub.

[clever_j]

i see... thanks..

would it be possible to extend the range of the Wireless Router with an array of Access Points?

[ShoobieRat]

1. A BlueTooth wireless setup won't talk to a wifi setup. BlueTooth uses its own protocols, seperate from any other.

2. WAPs operate the same as network hubs, accepting multiple users. However, the range of available ports depends on the model. Also, it is not usually recommended for a WAP to have more than a single connection point available, for obvious security reasons.

3. Just because you use a router, or any wire-based network device, doesn't mean you can't keep tabs on it. Especially if you put it behind your box in the network. If your PCs are stationary and within relatively close distance, wireless is probably a waste of your money. Using wires will be cheaper, not to mention less of a configuration hassel. Either way, if the computers already have solid NICs in them, it would be wiser to just buy a wireless adapter than a whole wireless card.

[clever_j]

Hey thanks man.. Yeah a wireless adapter would be better.. i didnt think about that thanks!

Just because you use a router, or any wire-based network device, doesn't mean you can't keep tabs on it. Especially if you put it behind your box in the network.

well my concern was if it was possible to do so via wireless.

Here's what i plan to do.. please lemme know if it will work.. the main point is:

1) create a wireless network
2) be able to monitor and limit connections

Setup 6 computers with wireless nics or wireless adapters... Then I 1 of the computers (mine) will have a regular NIC.. i will plug the DSL line into that regular nic..

I will then install and configure winroute on my computer and share my connection trhu my 2nd network adapter (which is the wireless nic)...

then i wil set the gateways for the 5 computers to point to my wireless nic's IP address..

will the above work? Got a better idea?

tea

[langers]

"1) Wifi Cards and Blue Tooth devices.. can they both access my wireless network powered by a Access Point device or a Wireless Router?"

Already answered above for you.

"2) Is it safe to say that WAPs (Wireless Access Points) are synonymous to regular Hubs/Switches but only without wires? If so, while switches have certain number of ports that allow users to "plug in", how about WAPS?"

Yes and NO, Wireless access points are half duplex devices, they also work on the basis that the more users you add to the wireless unit the less transmit time and bandwidth becomes available, for example 802.11g has a data bandwidth (your actual speed) of 24.2 mbps and if you had more users this begins to drop.

Some one also mentioned increasing the range of the wireless link by adding other access points, this is technical possible in som respects, you can bridge mutliple units but the quality of the network will suffer.

You can increase the range of a WAP unit with various antennas but this then breaks the 802.11 standard and funky things may happen. Also you cannot increase the power of your broadcasts because it again breaks the 802.11 standard, the polarisation of your antenna (relates to accuracy and ability to remove noise) will be out of sink...... and you would be breaking the law in most countries

[clever_j]

very informative my friends. thanks!