Computer Network Question
 

(i thought about putting this in "programming and discussion" but i don't think this fits there)

My girlfriend wants to set up wireless in her home, as she has a laptop but can't get on the net with it.

They've currently got 2 computers (wired) into a router downstairs. The family don't want to mess around with the current router (and frankly, I don't want to - it's piled behind loads of shelves and stuff and it's too much effort).

Is there a way of using a standard wired modem/router, and plugging something into it that then transmits a wireless signal?

I've seen a couple of things that might fit the bill and was wondering if anyone here could give me pointers:
1. This odd thing that plugs into a wall (with a cat5 cable to the router) and then somehow transmits the internet signal around all your plug sockets in the house. Remarkable - is this really what it seems?
2. An access point - so it would just plug into the network socket in the router and then transmit a wireless signal?

Cheers!
(also recommendations on products/prices would be cool if available!)

Re: Computer Network Question
 

You will be wanting a wireless access point, if you have a wired router. Throw that into Ebuyer or something and see what comes up - hell, use Amazon, they're all much of a muchness.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

There are of course many products that will do what you need, but to get you started.

Wireless Routers (Plugs into your existing modem to provide wireless connectivity):
D-Link DI-524
Netgear WG602

Powerline (Allows transmission of data via the household electrical wiring):
D-Link DHP-301
Netgear WGXB102


In my experience though it is often cheaper to buy an all-in-one modem/wireless router.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Yes and that's exactly what you need to do. Go buy a wireless router.

I've had no experience with the "powerline" stuff djbass spoke about. That all sounds quite magical.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Yes, it is. I happen to have a router that transmits it's signal through the power sockets of the house. I was also very skeptic about it, but it seems to work, somehow. I didn't want to get a wireless router because I didn't like the idea of sending radiation throughout the house all day and all night. They already warn about cellphones causing cancer, dna-deficits and impotence, so I figured other devices that microwave your house couldn't be that healthy either. It's a good alternative (to ballcancer). As far as I know it's no different from using cables, though I connected it a long time ago and I've always just kept it plugged in, so i'm not entirely sure.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Oh for heavens' sake.

Your cellphone puts out anything up to 2W
802.11 routers put out about 1W
You're probably getting more radiation sitting in front of your PC than you will from an 802.11 router, unless you shove it up your arse.

Work with 50kW radars and then start worrying if someone left the power on, but really, don't even start to care about radiation until the Tx power goes above 100W or so.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Keep telling yourself that - if you have a death wish.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Not a great fan of these as they work on the ring networks which are setup in your house so afaik if your modem is plugged in upstairs you cant get a connection downstairs.

I use the WG602 which bass linked above, never had a problem with it. So easy to use my dad could set it up.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Yesterday I discovered a lump in my breast so I unplugged my wireless lan. Today it's gone. I'm never using wlan again!

Re: Computer Network Question
 

I had a headache this morning. I thought it was the Guinness from last night punishing my insolence, but now that I know I can blame my wireless LAN I can drink all night, every night and not feel guilty!

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Obviously you have read the answers and any or all of them will work, my concern is more with proliferation of WiFi networks.
I ask myself if WiFi is so safe why have a number of schools in the UK (and elsewhere) had it removed? Why are questions being raised about it's safety if there are no safety issues. No smoke without fire?

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Throw enough mud and some will stick.

Metaphors are fun. They seem to provide evidence when there is none.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Jews did 9/11.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

They probably removed it from schools to stop the little shitheads getting free & easy access to their MSN & myspace.

That aside, the answer to your question is paranoia.


There are endless amounts of electromagnetic radiation bouncing around at any given moment. Light (including that of the sun), magnetic fields, radio/tv, mobile phones, microwaves, infrared, x-rays etc are all examples. Any of these can be potentially harmful with high enough exposure.

The source of some but not all of these are man made, and infact pretty much any metallic object with energy running through it could be considered a source of electromagnetic radiation (including any electrical wiring, lan cables, usb cables, power cords, infact if its metal and has electricity running through it, no matter what voltage, some of that energy is radiated from the metal).

So in short there is no escaping exposure to some kind of radiation. Even if we shut off all electronic devices in the world you would still have natural sources such as the sun and general cosmic radiation.

As I said eariler any of these can be potentially harmful in large enough quantity. Unfortunately electromagnetic radiation from the microwave spectrum tends to get singled out due to its known effects on water molecules at very high energy levels. A microwave oven for example may typically operate at 700 W (700 000 milliwatts), where as your typical WiFi network operates at 0.035 W (35 milliwatts).

That part of the spectrum (2.4Ghz) is not unique to these two technologies, it is also used by bluetooth, some cordless phones, two-way radios, remote controls, wireless video cameras as a few examples. The full microwave spectrum (0-300Ghz) includes services used for some mobile phones and free to air TV reception and in significantly higher power ratings than those used in wireless networking.

The main reason for concerns is purely erring on the side of caution because these are still new technologies and we have not yet had the time to fully access any long term health risks. Consider however that powerful radio transmissions such as FM/AM and TV have existed for a very long time and have demonstrated very little in the way of harmful effects from long term exposure. To date studies done on the short term effects of wireless devices have not yielded evidence to suggest any negative side effects. (WHO Link)

Conclusion? You are far more likely to cook your brain from watching TV or chatting on your mobile than you are from surfing pr0n over a wireless network.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

I said in my first post that I didnt want to mess around with the existing modem/router setup.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Go get a wireless access point then, like one of these.

Most people will probably prefer an all in one router/switch/wireless/modem thing, but you could always just use a seperate access point and connect it by ethernet to the existing router.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

As djbass said, it's all about paranoia.


"No smoke without fire" is a shit cliche since I could call you mentally ill, then someone else could come along independently and argue for you to be sectioned because "there's no smoke without fire".

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Alessio sounds like the guy who came to work for us straight out of Uni/Masters and was working on a Ph.D

He read a book about Electromagnetic radiation and was concerned with the wide variety of sources. I was discussing it with him one day and mentioned

'Well, even your PC screen is radiating"
"Really?'
"Yes, really"

At this point, a lightbulb went off in my head

"In fact, your monitor looks a little bright, I'd turn in down a bit if I were you"
"OK, Thanks"

I spread the news to the rest of the team, each and every one of them would walk past the guys' desk and comment on the brightness of the monitor.
By the time we got bored of it, the monitor was effectively off and the guy had to squint at the thing with hi snose to the glass in order to read anything.
He probably got more radiation that way than when we started.

Fun days...

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Saying "your mobile phone gives out more radiation than your router" doesn't mean much if we still aren't entirely sure of the amount of damage that mobile phones are doing to us...

It's all relative!

Re: Computer Network Question
 

relative to everyone else you are a spastic

Re: Computer Network Question
 

I cooked a frozen chicken with a RN frigate's radar once. It took about 5seconds.

So, yes, I guess everything's relative, but on a danger scale of one to a hundred, where sitting on top of a radiating AWACS dome is 100, I think a router's emissions come in at around "not much".

Then again, CB radio's are allowed to transmit up to 4Watts, so maybe there's something in it after all...

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Relative to everyone else you are fast becoming (or already have become) the new Sunday8pm.

Desist.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Right, but surely sitting on a radar for 5 seconds can't be compared to sitting next to a router for 8+ hours every day for 5+ years (about 14500 hours) though.

I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just saying that scoffing at something that we don't have that much information about (in terms of long term effects) is a little silly.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

i meant plug the access point into your existing setup. thought i didn't mention access point, so my mistake. (incidentally, am i the only one who hates it when people say "my bad"? south park is a tv show, not an english lesson!)

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Aside from the dubious nature of claims of people cooking poultry on radar domes (moreso since the mythbuster guys spent quite a lot of effort attempting just this feat with a frozen turkey, and failed every attempt).

Microwave energy is non-ionising. It does not directly effect the structure or makeup of chemical bonds in molecules. This means that unlike say radioactive materials there is no residual or build up effects from long term exposure, all of the harmful properties come from directly heating water molecules. So if several hours of exposure to minute amounts of microwave energy are unable to have significant heating effects in soft body tissue, on & off exposure over several years is unlikely to result in anything at all.

It should also be noted that when the FCC established the safe allowable levels that devices in this class are allowed to use (anything up to 200mw), they also made sure to allow plenty of legroom for prolonged and excessive exposure.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

vote for an increase in djbass's post volume.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

Seconded.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

From looking at the Discovery site and how the Mythbusters tried it, I'm not surprised it didn't work.

Satellites work on receiving energy at tiny levels, which is why you don't need a high power source to get a link with one (Iridium, anyone?) and why the dishes on a truck don't emit anything like the power you'll see on a real radar system.

Anyway, I ate the chicken after it was cooked, and it was lovely. It needed more basting, but switching radars off and on in order to do that was more than the guys I was with were willing to do.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

So can we attribute Dead_Meat's unnaturally lengthy life to some sort of super powers he received through radiation...?

Re: Computer Network Question
 

My unnaturally lengthy life is made possible by the love and respect I feel flowing from GD's users.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

I'm not that surprised either with most of the tests they did, but one did involve attaching it to the big spinning radar antenna on a navel vessel. I can only assume it is not dissimular to the one you were using.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

100 ringing mobile phones couldn't fry an egg on brainiac :(

Re: Computer Network Question
 

How many monobrows does it take to fry an egg?





None, but it just takes one to make posts on GD! :salute:

Re: Computer Network Question
 

How mainy hairs does it take to... :rolleyes:

Re: Computer Network Question
 

I'd personally avoid wireless if it's possible.

Not because they'll irradiate your genitalia and lead to your children having the power to-do-anything-a-spider-can, but they just seem to have more problems. Yes, I am aware of wireless connections that never go wrong, but overall there is more scope for connectivity issues which entry level users find difficult to fix. Equipment is no doubt miles better these days, but when I get asked these sorts of questions by colleagues I tend to give them a bit of RJ45 cable. If nothing else, if a cable is five metres long people tend to realise their connection range is about 5m. With wireless connections, people expect them to work between any two points even when said points are several miles apart and divided by lead shielded concrete barriers.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

I'm working with a customer that expects exactly that.

Different technology, same dumb attitude

"You said it would work with these units within a mile of the basestation"
"Yes, but we're in the cellar"
"So? We're only half a mile away"
"In a lead-lined coffin?"
"So? We're only half a mile away"
"Switched off?"
"So? We're only half a mile away"
"**** you"

Re: Computer Network Question
 

I like wireless because I tend to snap the end of the wire so it never clicks into place.

Re: Computer Network Question
 

People who do that need to [strike]die[/strike] be smacked around a bit. This joke would be marginally better if those tags actually existed.