Wireless Access Point
 

Right, my uncle wants me to install his wireless network tomorrow, heres the situation.

He has ordered a wireless access point, not a wireless router. Does that matter?

He is going to have 3 computers accessing the internet.

Can he just plug in his wireless access point to the ntl cable modem and it will be ok or will it not work?

Re: Wireless Access Point
 

Yes, it does matter.

A wireless access point is kind of like the wireless equivalent of a hub.

It cannot be used to share an internet connection.

If he wants to use more than one PC, he needs to either buy a router & a wireless access point, or just buy a wireless router (which is effectively a normal router with built-in wireless access point). Wireless routers are very cheap, & work out cheaper (& easier) than buying a router plus separate wireless access point.

He cannot simply plug the wireless access point into the modem.

See this thread for wireless info: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=16296

Re: Wireless Access Point
 

If he has wireless adaptors can't he use peer-to-peer (ad-hoc) mode to network the PCs and just connect one PC to the modem? It would mean it would have to be for any other computer to access the net, but might save you worrying about a router, or losing money on that access point.

Re: Wireless Access Point
 

i have broadband through NTL using a set top box - since i get Sky through it.

At the moment i am using the USB to connect into the back of my laptop to get the connection

Is it a wireless access point? Wireless hub? that i need. Is it a case of just plugged it into the back of the set top box??

i already have a wireless PCMCIA card

Thanks

Re: Wireless Access Point
 

Definitely need a 'Broadband Wireless Router' - look on Amazon for WRT54G - it has an WAN connection as well as the Wireless function.

A simple access point has no way of getting your IP address from the Cable DHCP server. It also has no NAT firewall.

Most decent wireless routers should work straight from the box, but you would be well advised to read up about Wireless Security (see thread quoted above), as by default there is no WEP and no SSID hiding.

Re: Wireless Access Point
 

Yes, unless he already has a router, in which case he can plug the WAP into the uplink port (normally the last one) on the router.

It will not work like this...

As he has already forked out for the WAP (unless he can return it) he just needs to get a simple/cheap router, and plug this in - if he can return it, then he can probably get a wireless router for the same price as the WAP ( or even less).