Dongle?

[george]

Existing set-up at home. In my little den one G3 Beige one G4 mirrored doors one pc all hooked up  via Netgear 814 router.
Everybody happy? not quite, enter one wife (mine for the past 48 years) computer illiterate and says that laptop (pc) that you bought me for  Xmas well I would like to be hooked up to your broadband, I replies no problem, runs a cable from router through to the kitchen and Bingo it works. Life ain't that simple "I'm not having that cable running through the hallway where our grandchildren may trip over it". Right I says, unhooks cable and connects via the Alcatel modem supplied by server, this works but my wife (Rhoda) I do not care to go through all this carry on to every time I want to go on line!. Me (ever the patient man (har har) ) decides to take advice from so-called guru (relation) and his answer was "invest in a couple of dongles' I, not wanting to appear uninformed said words to the effect oh yeah why didn't I think of that...............now in the relative safety of TS where one can ask a so-called stupid question and get an informative answer can some tell me what  @W%%£$@!CXZ my nephew was trying to tell me.
George.
   

[pendragon]

A dongle (pronounced DONG-uhl) is a mechanism for ensuring that only authorized users can copy or use specific software applications, especially very expensive programs. Common mechanisms include a hardware key that plugs into a parallel or serial port on a computer and that a software application accesses for verification before continuing to run; special key diskettes accessed in a similar manner; and registration numbers that are loaded into some form of ROM (read-only memory) at the factory or during system setup.

If more than one application requires a dongle, multiple dongles can be daisy-chained together from the same port. Dongles are not in frequent use partly because enterprises don't like to have a serial or parallel port preempted for this use.

FWIW, I  am not in favor of the dongle solution, but then I have never gone that route.

As an alternative, you may be interested in something like RHP is getting (in satisfaction of much the same problem). See http://www.techsurvivors.net/forums/index....t=ST&f=1&t=4382

In all fairness, I have not gone that route either, but the reviews seem to indicate it would be (much) preferable to the dongle scheme

Harv

[zodraz]

Here's another definition:

 
Definition:
 

/dong'gl/ (From "dangle" - because it dangles off the computer?)

1. A security or copy protection device for commercial microcomputer programs that must be connected to an I/O port of the computer while the program is run. Programs that use a dongle query the port at start-up and at programmed intervals thereafter, and terminate if it does not respond with the expected validation code.

One common form consisted of a serialised EPROM and some drivers in a D-25 connector shell.

Dongles attempt to combat software theft by ensuring that, while users can still make copies of the program (e.g. for backup), they must buy one dongle for each simultaneous use of the program.

The idea was clever, but initially unpopular with users who disliked tying up a port this way.  By 1993 almost all dongles passed data through transparently while monitoring for their particular magic codes (and combinations of status lines) with minimal if any interference with devices further down the line.  This innovation was necessary to allow daisy-chained dongles for multiple pieces of software.

In 1998, dongles and other copy protection systems are fairly uncommon for Microsoft Windows software but one engineer in a print and CADD bureau reports that their Macintosh computers typically run seven dongles: After Effects, Electric Image, two for Media 100, Ultimatte, Elastic Reality and CADD. These dongles are made for the Mac's daisy-chainable ADB port.

The term is used, by extension, for any physical electronic key or transferable ID required for a program to function. Common variations on this theme have used the parallel port or even the joystick port or a dongle-disk.

An early 1992 advertisment from Rainbow Technologies (a manufacturer of dongles) claimed that the word derived from "Don Gall", the alleged inventor of the device.  The company's receptionist however said that the story was a myth invented for the ad.

[Jargon File]


2. A small adaptor cable that connects, e.g. a PCMCIA modem to a telephone socket or a PCMCIA network card to an RJ45 network cable.


 

MAYBE they were refering to the second definition, or maybe they were just throwing out a buzzword to see what you'd do?


Maybe I'm missed it; but why not go wireless?


There have been some great deals on wireless hubs. The slower  802.11b Broadband Routers have had 100% rebates (FREE!) You'll need to add wireless capabilities to your wife's PC, most likely through a PCMCIA card. Those too have been on sale.


FYI "802.11b" is what Apple calls "AirPort". And yes, you can get a "wireless" PCI card for your Beige.

I don't know all the specs, but my father-in-law, set up his PC and Macs that way.

Good Luck!



     

[george]

Thanks Harv, a trifle expensive  for my simple needs I'll wait until RHP comes over the horizen, if, as you say he has already gone down the wireless route.
George.

[pendragon]

George, The system RHP is getting is not exactly wireless in the strict WiFi sense of the word. It's more akin to using the electrical system in one's home to connect the computers.

While I am WiFi fan, each approach has it strengths and weaknesses. So of course, it all boils down to what is best for you, um, er, I mean Rhoda.

RHP has already ordered his new gear, so a preliminary review may be available in a week or so.

Harv

[RHPConsult]

George:

I'm on this side of the horizon now, waiting for the postal service to  bring my Netgear PowerLine  Convertors. I decided  on the Netgear model, since I have a Netgear hub/router that has functioned very well and I thought it wise to stick with the brand.

My idea is to be able to have a different location(s) in the house for 1 of our 3 Macs (which are "normally" on an ethernet LAN) w/o the necessity to invest in base stations and airport cards or, even more inconveniently, stringing more cable (not necessarily "down the hall")      

Only the purchase (2 ea)  of the XE102s) is required.

I'll chime in in a few days and report how well it seems to be working.

RHP

PS: In case you're not familiar with the use of electrical circuritry in this manner consder this. Within 25 years, most (maybe) major cities of the "First World" will have all electricity, TV, telephone, entertainment on demand, internet connections etc. etc. etc. supplied by the one "wire" the electrical utility brings into homes and offices. In the interim, more and more homes will become "smart" - - I prefer the term "obedient" - - in that more elements and appliances therein will be controlled remotely by devices using the structure's electrical circuitry. Much of this flows from discoveries made 30 years ago by your countrymen, as they invented what we now know as X-10 modules.

[george]

RHP, from what I can gather Netgear Powerline Converters are available in the US (110 volts) and not in the UK (240 volts) nevertheless I will be interested to hear how you get on.
Back to my original thread ie dongles, on which it has been explained by Zodraz.......now I am hearing about Bluetooth dongles, I'm now even more confused1.
George.