Hopefully someone will be able to help me...
I am about to purchase USB wireless networking hardware for 3 home computers to allow all 3 computers to connect to the Internet using 1 Road Runner cable connection. But I know nothing about networking except what I have read online. Below are some of the concerns that I have that I hope someone will be able to help my with:
1. I have read that many USB wireless connections do not work as well as PCI wireless connections, and not nearly as well as 'cabled' connections. The first (main) computer that is already hooked up to Road Runner is in the basement. The second computer that is going to be hooked up is also in the basement, but on the other side. The third computer is upstairs on the opposite end of the house and through many walls and one floor. Will the wireless networking work properly with all of these barriers? (We don't want to run a cable and we don't want to use any hardware that requires us to open up the computer. That is why we decided on a wireless usb connection.)
2. The second computer has a USB hub that a graphics pad, a printer, and a scanner are hooked up to. Can the USB Wireless hardware be hooked up to this USB hub as well? I have heard of some devices not working properly through USB hubs.
3. Can these computers be networked so that only the Internet connection is networked and nothing else? We do not want to share files between computers - only the Internet connection. If so, how is this done?
4. The first (main) computer that is already connected to Road Runner is on a Windows XP platform. The computer upstairs is also running on Windows XP. But the other computer is running Windows ME. Will this be an issue when setting up the network connections?
5. Since this will be my first time networking, I do not know very much about what to buy or what I will need for my situation. Can anyone offer me advice on what devices I should buy, what I will need for my situation, and what brands you recommend?
Thank you so much in advance for any help you can give me. I have spent so many hours online trying to find all the information I need without much luck.
Networking Help
I have read that many USB wireless connections do not work as well as PCI wireless connections
If dealing with 802.11b, you probably won't notice a difference. As a matter of fact, my Hawking USB wireless adapter works better than a Linksys PCI one. If you have 802.11g, then you definitely should be using USB 2.0 and not 1.1.
I have heard of some devices not working properly through USB hubs
Sure, it's possible. I would get a USB 2.0 hub regardless (as I have now).
Can these computers be networked so that only the Internet connection is networked and nothing else?
Certainly! Just don't enable any file and print sharing, and remove Client for Microsoft Networks, for that matter.
But the other computer is running Windows ME. Will this be an issue when setting up the network connections?
As much as I hate ME, it shouldn't be a problem at all.
Can anyone offer me advice on what devices I should buy, what I will need for my situation, and what brands you recommend?
Read through these forums, and also go to http://www.practicallynetworked.com .