Need help with a wireless solution?

Discussion in 'Macintosh Computers' started by flyfish29, Jul 1, 2005.

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  1. flyfish29, Jul 1, 2005

    flyfish29 macrumors 68020

    flyfish29

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2003
    Location:
    New HAMpshire
    #1
    Here is my hardware:

    A) flatscreen iMac WITHOUT a wireless card running panther (soon Tiger I hope)

    B) ibook G4 WITH airport extreme card running Tiger

    C) ibook G4 WITH either an airport or airport extreme card (was purchase last August new and I don't have it here to find out which card?)

    D) Linksys 5Port workgroup hub

    E) MOtorola Cable modem with four ports on the back (USB, ENET, Line1 Line2- The line ports look like ethernet size)

    I would like to be able to set up a wireless network on the cheap. (you might ask why on the cheap if I own so many Macs? Well, I only own one- the other two are school laptops as my wife and I are both educators and make peanuts for salaries.)

    Here is what I want to do:

    1) Surf with cable modem

    2) Network and sync the computers (I have .Mac. and will be able to sync much of what I want online through .mac, but I will also be using YouSyncronize software to sync(backup) some of the larger files between one of the iBooks and the iMac.)

    3) Print from any computer to an HP deskjet 842C

    4) Hook up my Playstation 2 (eventually a PS3 :D) to play online games

    The PS2 and iMac are currently run into a Linksys 5 port workgroup hub and that is run into the Motorola Cable Modem and both work flawlessly.

    I know enough about networking and such to be dangerous :rolleyes: NO really, I am a quick learner but need some direction and need it to be very cheap but am willing to pay more if need be to have the network be reliable or easier to set up. (I tried searching the fourm and found some info that was helpful but not everything I needed so any help is appreciated.)

    thanks!
     
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  2. thehuncamunca, Jul 1, 2005

    thehuncamunca macrumors 6502

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    #2
    ibook G4 has airport extreme (G)

    to get everything networked, you just need to go out and buy a wireless router (make sure it's 802.11G)
    any brand will do though i'd stick with netgear or linksys (or however you spell it) or one of the other major brands

    since you want to be able to print from any computer, i'm not sure on the specifics on that-if your printer was wireless it would be easier but since i'm going to guess it's a USB printer you'd need to get apple's wireless router which has a USB port in it for wireless printing

    someone correct me on that if there's another way for wireless printing

     
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  3. flyfish29, Jul 2, 2005

    flyfish29 thread starter macrumors 68020

    flyfish29

    Joined:
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    Location:
    New HAMpshire
    #3
    Thanks for the info- Yes, the printer is a USB printer.

    so I guess I need an airport extreme base station.

    However, that brings up some more questions...I was just reading up on the airport extreme base station and it says there is a USB and ethernet port- So how would I be able to connect both the iMac and ps2 ethernet cords to the airport along with my cable modem ehternet line? Would I use my hub for the ps2 and iMac than connect that to the ethernet out port next to the usb port. Then the cable modem to the other ethernet port?
     
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  4. sacear, Jul 5, 2005

    sacear macrumors 6502

    sacear

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    Jan 12, 2005
    #4
    Airport Express allows wireless printing

    Apple's Airport Express also acts as a wireless printing hub and allows wireless printing.

    I believe the Airport Extreme has two Ethernet ports, one for the incoming internet connection and one for networking. So you would need an ethernet hub to connect both the iMac and the PS2 via ethernet just as you described above. If your iMac has a wireless Airport card, then the iMac can connect wirelessly and only the PS2 needs an ethernet port. The USB port is designed for connecting a printer, altho' I've heard other things work too. A friend of mine has an iPod connected thru the Airport Extreme USB port.
     
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  5. mactastic, Jul 5, 2005

    mactastic macrumors 68040

    mactastic

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    Location:
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    #5
    You need an Airport Extreme if you don't want to buy a wireless card for your iMac, and you want to hook up your PS2. You'll also need a hub.

    If you are willing to share your printer through your iMac you could go with a cheaper wireless router like a Linksys or D-Link, but that means you have to leave that computer on 24/7.

    The one other option is to buy a wireless card for your iMac and set up an ad-hoc wireless network, however that also involves leaving that computer on 24/7.

    Bottom line, the cleanest solution is to get an AEBS and wireless cards for everything. The cheapest solution is to get a cheap non-Apple wireless router that already has 4 wired ports plus wireless ability.

    (And yes the AEBS has two ethernet ports, one LAN and one WAN. This means you need a hub to have more than one machine wired to the base station. The older 'snow' base stations had two LAN ports, but the newer ones do not.)
     
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  6. flyfish29, Jul 5, 2005

    flyfish29 thread starter macrumors 68020

    flyfish29

    Joined:
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    Location:
    New HAMpshire
    #6
    Thanks for your help (all three of you!)

    My last questions are these: I already leave my iMac on 24/7 because I am at home almost every day using it but I have it set to go to sleep when not in use.

    I don't print stuff very often at home, but iif the iMac is on but asleep can it still work as the printer host computer or do I need to wake it up each time I want to print from my laptop?

    You say with a Linksys or or D-LInk it would have to be on 24/7- you just mean to print right? Wireless surfing or networking would not be affected- correct?

    What about firewall and ease of set up with both the AEBS and other solutions such as the D-Link or Linksys?
     
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  7. lopresmb, Jul 5, 2005

    lopresmb macrumors 6502

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    #7
    Lets se here:
    1) No, you can't print over a networked printer connected to a computer when its asleep (all you have to do it wakr it up real quick though - not too hard)

    2)nope - surfing is not affected by the status of the computers to it (just the printers connected to those computers) If you have the printer connected via USB to the router then any computer can be asleep (except the one your printing from :p )

    3)not sure about firewall stuff with AEBS, but I have a linksys (running a software firewall at first in panther) and its been fine. If you find your not able to print over the network, mess around with your firewall settings first, before getting frustrated. (ours didn't work at first because the software was blocking it).

    4)setup is real easy, just plug stuff in where it goes, follow directions, ect...

     
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  8. sacear, Jul 6, 2005

    sacear macrumors 6502

    sacear

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2005
    #8
    Just to add to what lopresmb posted...

    No, the iMac (print server) cannot receive print jobs or send print jobs to the printer while asleep. Yes, you will need to wake the iMac up to print to the printer connected to that iMac from your laptop.

    The "print server" needs to be on in order to print. Internet connection comes from your internet gateway box (dial-up, dsl, cable, etc) and wireless transmitter, so web surfing will not be affected. However, each computer on a network that you wish to access, must be awake.

    Firewall and ease of set-up with Apple Airport products and 2Wire brand products (the two brands I use) are a snap, very simple and easy to understand.
     
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