High Speed / Wireless

[csonni]

Just was on the phone with our ISP.  We've been on dial up, and are now considering High Speed (through the phone line).  I am unfamiliar with the whole set up, and am concerned with Mac compatibility.  We have 1 PC in the house and 2 Macs- a Pismo and a G4 Desktop.  First, I was told I need a Network Card for the modem I would be getting.  It's a 10.100 Network Card.  Where would that go (in my Pismo)- in the PCMIA slot?  What about on my G4 350 Sawtooth?  Would that be a special card I'd have to install?  And then, if we want to have all 3 computers on High Speed, we would want to go wireless instead of having all the cables.  Wireless requires a wireless hub.  Is this possible with a Pismo?  How would I configure my G4 for wireless?  Any good links for info on all of this?

[kelly]

Your macs have Ethernet built in.

You don't need to use one of their Cards.

You will need to use their Modem to connect to your machine(s) with Ethernet.

To connect more than one machine a Router would be best.

If you want to go wireless get a Wireless Router.

Airport or another brand.

http://www.atpm.com/network/

[Paddy]

To add to Kelly's recommendations/notes - I would look at D-Link's wireless routers. Very good, easy as pie to set up and they actually have Mac support. Also a whole lot cheaper than Airport, and more wired ports. (and from my tests, the D-Link Dl-614+ that I now own has better range than the snow Airport base station I used to own). I have 4 wired Macs and one wireless PC set up right now - and one of the Macs can also go wireless, when needed.

Last week I bought a wireless Belkin router for my sister - after rebates it was $19.99 at CompUSA, though only available if you went to the store. You probably won't be able to find quite that good a deal on line, (or in Canada) but you should be able to get a good router online for under $70 CDN. Try here:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/cat...c.asp?CatId=373

Of course, if you go wireless for one or more of your computers, you will need to purchase either a wireless PCMCIA card (the laptop) or a wireless PC card for the desktops. With these cards you DO have to purchase Mac compatible cards - they are not platform blind like the routers. Routers will work with either platform, though some of them ignore Macs in their setup instructions. Setup on most of them is done through a browser interface though - so the Macs can do it just fine. You just have to reinterpret the PC instructions! Also, if they don't offer Mac support, should there ever be a update available for the router, you would have to do it from your PC.

[Mayo]

The Wireless Networking Starter Kit

[csonni]

I checked out TigerDirect.ca- wow- lots of various routers.  Not sure what one I'd go with.

[swhitset]

Get whatever router you can get the best deal on.  Most of the consumer level routers are very similar in features and functionality.  Some, such as D link have mac support.  I have a linksys and it has always worked flawlessly.  It is true they have no direct mac support, but none is really needed.  Routers are almost plug and play.  Most have a browser interface that work on any platform.

Steve

[sluggo]

I agree with kelly and Paddy. If your machines are have ethernet, as kelly suggests, then I don't see a need for a network card either. I currently run a Linksys router (although they're sorta known for not supporting Mac, but I've had it about 2 1/2 years) along with a D Link wireless base station for my old Wallstreet. The setup runs an iMac 600, a Performa 6400 (which did need an ethernet card) in another room and the Wallstreet wherever I feel like taking it in the house. Though as Paddy points out, I had to buy a PCMCIA card for the Wallstreet. Even though the card is from Lucent, Airport software runs it. The setup also ran a PC along with the Macs at one time. Using the router it was pretty much plug and play as I recall things.

[krissel]

Having just set up a network for the first time a couple weeks ago I know the uncertainty you feel. But it really is as easy as others claim.

I got the D-Link 614 that Paddy mentions which has four ports plus the wireless. You just need ethernet cables to connect locally to your Macs.

As for the wireless, I got something I believe is more effective if you think you  may have dead spots for reception. It's a small receiver tha is about the size of a man's thumb. It connects via USB to your laptop. The receiver is on the end of a 6 foot cable so you can put it in various places for better reception instread of a card in your PB. This also frees up the card slot for other use.

It's a D-Link product so it works with the router natively.

Wireless adapter

There is a $10 rebate on the item for a couple more weeks. Oh, the router I bought also had a $20 rebate when I got it and I just received an email yesterday that my rebate was being processed. Pretty quick turnaround.

[Highmac]

Hope you'll be your usual forgiving selves if I ask questions that go back to the very basics.

We're toying with the idea of setting up a wireless link for the iMac (traditional, running OS9.1). At present we have a USB modem (Speedtouch 330 - Alcatel according to Apple System Profiler, labelled as Thomson) bought at discount from our ISP when we went broadband. It's linked to the Mac via a trailing extension lead from the socket in the hallway. It all works fine, but is - well, messy and inconvenient (not to mention a safety hazard).

Am I right in thinking the set up would be: Phone socket -> modem -> wireless base?  Then, presumably a wireless card is needed in the iMac - will a wireless base station come with its own dedicated card for the Mac, or do I need an Airport one?. Presumably unless the base station I buy has a USB socket, I'm looking at a new modem as well? And presumably we still need the ADSL filters?  The house has solid brick internal walls downstairs - is that likely to pose a problem? The furthest the Mac would be from the base would be about 35 feet (approx 10 metres for you metric folk).

Sorry about the number of questions, but I find the more I read, the more reader-knowledge seems to be assumed by the writer! (As the song went "There are more questions than answers..."

[Highmac]

Forgot to mention - when finances allow, we would like to add a second Mac to the equation....
Thanks in advance.

[kelly]

Hmm. Not sure how your USB Modem would attach to a Router.

Airport or others. New modem would be easiest I guess.

Not sure how this gets around the need for some wires from the phone jack.

Don't know what use this would be with one computer.

Airport Manual.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=52002

AirPort Base Station (Graphite): How to Set Up Wired Clients

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58576

Airport or other wireless Router and a Wireless Card are seperate items.

This might be handier with more than one computer.

Thick stone walls might block signals. Or not.

Do you have electrical outlets to try RHP's solution?

Do they sell them there?

http://www.techsurvivors.net/forums/index....t=ST&f=1&t=4511

[RHPConsult]

I rise to reinforce Kelly's query

IF you're interested in having a network w/o stringing ethernet cable around the house, BUT don't especially expect to find that carrying your Pismo outside is something you might be doing, then PowerLine Bidges are so simple you won't believe it.

You'll find that you already have a network . . . it's your home's electrical circuitry, and PowerLine Bridges turn that into an accessory to ethernet.

Slick!

Working perfectly here.

PS: Amazon has 'em Here for NetGear PowerLine ethernet bridge

It's all you need. The cable (approx 6') is included w/ea box. Open the box, plug it in. You're d-o-n-e. That's the way I like it . . . I own a Mac  

NetGear page is
Here

[kelly]

Well Highmac. I've been looking for a way around that first wire.  

Haven't found one.

You can certainly have the Modem and wireless Router by the phone jack.

No wires between there and your computers.

But there still has to be that first connection.

[Highmac]

Thinks.... that Powerline Bridge sounds great. Course there had to be a catch. Netgear UK doesn't list it and when I checked your link I noticed the magic symbol 110v.  Ours is 230v. Oh well, maybe one day  

Kelly Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. No problem with the initial link to the phone socket, that would be out of the way, anyway. Just wasn't clear on the way things connected up... but I think I'm getting there now!

In fact, just got the latest MacFormat which has a review of the Netgear DG834G, which gets five "mice". For 130GBP (nearly $240 at present exchange rates - for comparison Apple's Airport Extreme base station with modem is 189GBP) The Netgear is described as an all-in-one wireless router with a built-in ADSL modem.  Sounds like it might be the route (no pun intended) to go. Presumably the iMac still needs the Airport card?

Many thanks for the info and links. It would be tempting to order the Netgear through Amazon for their $165 (90GBP) or so - but for that 230v thing )

[kelly]

Yes the mac would still need an Airport card.

That's very high for a Wireless Router.

I guess the built in ADSL Modem makes it so.

Sounds like a good solution for you though.