Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

I have Broadband Internet Access with NTLWorld using a desktop PC and an NTL cable modem (ntl:home 120).

I am just in the process of buying a laptop and want to be able to use its wireless capability to share the main PCs Internet connection and also of course connect with the main PC.

I have some questions related to doing this and would appreciate your advice.

1. There seems to be all manner of wireless routers you can buy. The main PC does not have wireless capability so still needs to be able to connect to Internet via an Ethernet connection. Only the laptop will be wireless. So would this Belkin router be suitable (it comes with a lifetime guarantee) or would you recommend something else? This unit can be bought in Comet for £50 but I don't know if that is a good price or not?

2. When I set up the wireless network using the unit above or another router, what else would I need to do for the wireless laptop to be able to share Internet access with the main PC?

3. Is there anything else I need to buy or do to make this work?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Moved to Networking forum

As for router recommendations, that router should be OK, but a lot of people (myself included) recommend the Linksys WRT54G range.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Stuart - firstly apologies for placing my post in the wrong forum. Blindly I had not realised there was a networking forum. :dunce:

Secondly, there seems to be a wide choice of the router you recommend. From this list of variations, which one should I be going for with the setup I have outlined above for use on NTLWorld Broadband?

Thanks again.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

No problem.
The standard G is the one I have. The GS is supposed to have faster wireless (but you may need a linksys card in the laptop as well), and the GC is smaller.

They should all work with NTL (as will any router without an ADSL modem inside). Linksys's ADSL range uses different model numbers.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

As for 2 & 3, there's nothing else you need to do or buy to get things working.

I would recommend setting up wireless security on whatever router you buy. People on the forum will help you with this if you have any problems, it's best to get it working without security first....

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Thanks Steve and Cobbydaler for your help and advice with this.

So clearly the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router WRT54G is the favourite amongst you. I am intrigued that it gets such a hearty recommendation. I don't know why - maybe ease of installation and use? - but I am happy to go with that rather than the Belkin model, especially as Dabs, the company I am buying the laptop from, also stock the recommended model for £46.60, so I can order both at the same time.

Anyway, thanks again for your help. It is very much appreciated. :tu:

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

No problem, though if I'd noticed you were an AFCB fan before.... ;)

Being a lifelong Saints fan myself... :D

Well, at least neither team lost today!

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Another vote here for the WRT54G range, I personal use GS with a wireless GS card, but the G's are just as good.

You should be set up with Linksys in no time. Very user friendly routers. :)

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Yet another vote for the Linksys WRT54G here, running a Version 5. Lovely piece of kit, so easy to install, my mother managed it!

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Ahah! Now that's interesting. Two wins on the bounce for you then and doing very well - at least you have got rid of Mr Lowe, so you should be on the up! ;)

Please can we have Andrew Surman back? He did very well for us and I think he must be wasted at St Mary's. ;)

Thanks all for your votes for the Linksys. You have definately convinced me that is the one to get.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

I'm affraid I have to spoil the little Linksys fan party here and say my experience with them has been terrible.

I bought a WKPC54G networking kit for a mate who wanted his NTL broadband made wireless. The kit includes a WKR54G router which I believe is a cut down version of the WKT54G and a PC card (his laptop didn't have wireless built it).

I had nothing but trouble getting it to work. Dead dead easy to setup and get working but then stopped the next day and was intermittent after that. Eventually it just packed it all together and even a factory reset wouldn't fix it.

Fair enough I thought, these things happen, and returned it for another one. Which developed exactly the same fault. Checking the net it would appear that this is a fairly widespread problem that Linksys just can't be bothered to fix (the extent of their reply to email was "try a factory reset and reinstalling the software". The general feeling on most websites I saw seemed to be that because it's a cheaper version of a better product, what did I expect. :shocked:

Personally I found that quite shocking and so returned the second faulty one for a lovely Netgear piece of kit which is yet to put a foot wrong.

It's a shame because as someone who's worked with Cisco stuff which is generally rock solid reliable, day in day out for the last 15 years or so, I'm sorry to have say this, but I wouldn't touch Linksys again with a very very very long barge pole. :mad:

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

How many times do i have to tell people WRK54G's are NOT good routers. I had one, caused a hell of a lot of hassle. Everytime someone mentions one i tell them off.

WRT54G's are excellent, WRK54G's are crap.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Ive read a few reviews on the WRK54G's and they said the same thing...

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Oh well, sorry to hear this feedback against the Linksys router, but I have ordered one now (this one), along with my new laptop. Hopefully my experience with the Linksys will be a positive one.

I helped a friend this afternoon installing a Belkin router and that wasn't exactly straightforward but we got it working in the end.

Anyway, thanks for everyone's help and advice. I am sure if I do run into problems with the router, I can at least be assured of several Linksys users here who should be able to help. :)

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Anastasis: you choose well :) have one meself and never had a problem with it

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Yep. You did choose well. Admittedly, being bright blue, that router is as ugly as hell, but it works well.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

That seems to be the general opinion of most people but as it seems that the support Linksys provide is also just as crap, I would still prefer to spend my money elsewhere.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Dunno, never needed to call a support line, even with my WRK54G (which i sent back) No problems with my WRT54G, so couldn't care less what support is like.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Well chaps, my Linksys arrived yesterday and I had it setup and providing a wireless connection in around 30 minutes which I doubt is a record, but was good enough for me.

I was a little puzzled as to what security setting I should use. The Linksys browser-based configuration offered me about 6 different choices with no indication to someone like me who is unfamiliar with this what the best option would be out of:

WPA Personal, WPA Enterprise, WPA2 Personal, WPA Enterprise, RADIUS and WEP.

In the end I chose the first one in the list, WPA Personal, and it worked OK, but I have no idea if that is the best option for me. Any ideas?

I have still to set up a network between my main computer and the new laptop, but will look at that this evening. I realised that my Canon ip4200 printer is USB only, i.e. it does not have an Ethernet connection, so whilst not urgent at some time I will need to set it up on a separate print server. I know you can get mini devices to do this. It doesn't have to be wireless as the printer is located close to the router so can easily be cabled, but again with this, any advice as to the best value option (a balance between price and performance) would be appreciated.

Cheers everyone! :)

PS. You are right, Stuart C, the Linksys won't win any awards for being the nicest looking router, it is ugly, but so far I am very pleased with it otherwise.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

WPA personal is an excellent encryption system. WPA2 personal is better, but not all devices support it.

WPA Enterprise, WPA2 Enterprise and Radius all require a server to issue the security keys (so are actually slighty more secure than the personal versions, but expensive as you need the server, and therefore more suited to commercial deployment).

WEP was the first Wireless Encryption Protocol and is too easy to break.

So, you made the best choice.

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

WPA2 is a newer standard that uses AES.

A good explanation is here...

WPA should be good enough for home use, unless you've got something very naughty to hide.... ;)

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

Thanks both for your feedback on this. I am glad that I made the right choice. :)

Of course, I have nothing to hide! :p:

Do you have any thoughts on the best kit to make my Canon printer accessible on the network without needing to leave my main PC switched on?

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

If you want to print from any PC on the network, without any other PC having to be turned on, you need a print server.

I've no personal experience of home use of one of these, but Edimax do one. The PS-1206UWg / PS-1206PWg, depending if you need a parallel or usb port. There's a list of printers that it's been tested on on the product page...

About £30 I think...

Re: Wireless network advice for NTLWorld Broadband
 

So, there are others out there with exactly the same problem with the Linksys WRK54G as me!! I have gone bald through pulling out my hair trying to get the router to work properly. Should I just throw it in the bin and buy something else?
Suggestions (clean ones) please.