I am in the process of creating my Christmas List, and I have a few questions. I have reviewed all the forums and everything on Aximsite for setting up a home network between my Desktop Computer and my Axim. I use standard Dial-Up Internet. From what I can tell the two things I will need will be a Wireless Access Point and a CF Slot Card. I have choosen them and will post the sites:
I was just wondering if this would work for Dial-Up Internet, if they were good products, if there was anything else I needed to setup my home network, and any other info. you could provide. Thank you for all of your help!
In theory these should work. I have the Belkin AP and it works very well for me and the Socket card is considered the best on the market. Hopefully someone with both of these can confirm that there isn't any issue but I would not expect there to be any problem with them.
Setting up a network with dial-up can be a little tricky. The WiFi How-to has a section WiFi with Dial-up WinXP worked out by an AximSite user, snathanb.
Just so you know, you could use a wireless network adapter in the PC that is dialing your ISP instead of the AP. I imagine the AP will give you better range and the price isn't that much different. The main issue if you go with the AP is that you need to make sure you have a network interface card (NIC) in the PC. This is a port that looks like a larger version of the port in your modem where you plug in the phone line. You'll need the NIC to attach the AP to the computer using a RJ-45 (Ethernet) cable.
__________________ -Ike-
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Thanks for the reply. I did not know about the NIC. Good thing you told me. Let me see if I have this right: I need three devices, 1. An AP, 2. CF Card, 3. NIC Card. So does the NIC act as my Modem, or what role does it play? I am just slightly confused on what the NIC will do? Can you recommend any type of NIC? Thank you!
No, the NIC doesn't act as a modem - it simply connects the Access Point to your PC. As I mentioned (although maybe wasn't clear), instead of the AP, you could get a wireless network adapter for your PC. In addition to replacing the AP, this would replace the NIC so you would have 1. WiFi CF card (for the PPC), 2. WiFi adapter (for the PC). This would be cheaper if you do not have a NIC in the computer already (many PCs over the past 2 or 3 years come with them already installed - check the back of your PC to make sure you don't already have one).
As I mentioned in the previous post, an AP would have greater range but for home use, you probably wouldn't have problems with just the adapter in the PC.
The way all this will be set up, whether you use the AP or the adapter in the PC, is to enable Internet Connection Sharing on the PC. This program allows the PC to provide IP numbers to other equipment (such as the PPC) and channel the flow of information from the auxilary device to the internet. Check the What is the least expensive way to use my Axim wirelessly? question in the WiFi-FAQ for more details.
PS - I generally don't make recommendations for equipment. I've never seen major differences between any of the major brands. They all have their quirks but with a little playing around and paying close attention to the setup instructions, I think they can all work. IMO, customer service is mediocre on all of them. One person will likely say they've had great luck with brand X while the next person will say they weren't able to get any satisfactory answers from them and you should definitely go with brand Y.
__________________ -Ike-
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I think I might as well not get the AP if I am just using it at home. Plus, it will save me a lot of money. Can you tell me of some brands of WiFi Adapter for my PC. Then, I can go to their websites' and check them out and see which one I like. I have no idea who makes WiFi Adapters for PCs. I have a Dell Demension L733r Series. I am almost set to go....just the Adapter for the PC and I am set. Do I need anything else to get started? How can I tell if my High School has WiFi? Thank you!
When shopping for WiFi cards, consider and compare the sensitivity and output power range among the available cards on the market.
Look for sensitivity in the high 80 to low 90 range. On output power, most cards hover in the 14dBm to 17dBm range. Some manufacturers like SMC make cards with a 20 to 23dBm output power. Remember, the better the sensitivity the better it can pick up signals; the better the dBm value the farther it will transmit.
Some cards have built-in antennas and jacks for adding an external antenna. Adding an external antenna can improve the radiation pattern of the card. (If you are a tinkerer, you can find plans on the Web for building your own Wave Guide antenna using a Pringle or Coffee can.)
As for brands of adapters for the PC, all the major companies carry these - check Netgear, Linksys, Belkin, D-Link, and SMC. Most have choices of internal (PCI) cards or external with a USB connection.
__________________ -Ike-
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Don't get the truemobile card from dell! I have that one and it doesn't pick up a good signal. Dell sells the socket low power one, I hear that's an excellent, but not wallet friendly, card. Or check out the deal compusa is running on the linksys cf card for $30 after rebates.
Thank you! I have also heard some bad stuff about the Dell one. But im going with the wallet buster. Socket. Christmas!! Do you know if belkin has a good Card for a dell demension L733r?
I wouldn't buy anything from Belkin. It appears that they are "spamming" their customers from their routers. So if MORE ads are ok for you then that's ok. But if you feel that you see enough ads already and don't want your router popping up more ads for you, then avoid Belkin.
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