Networking Question

[BroncoJoe]

OK, so I have a home network. My wife and my computers are hardwired, and the kids are wireless. The way I have it set up is with an Actiontec modem that is wireless, but with only one hardwire port. The kids use the wireless from this modem, but then I have a Lynksys router so my wife and I can be wired. Only my wife and I can "see" each other on the network, and the kids can see each other as well, but we can't see everyone.

Problem - the kids use the wife's printer for printing homework, etc. Because we're not all connected, they have to email stuff for printing. Not a big deal, but it would be easier for them just to print over the network.

Suggestions?

[NightTrainLayne]

OK, so I have a home network. My wife and my computers are hardwired, and the kids are wireless. The way I have it set up is with an Actiontec modem that is wireless, but with only one hardwire port. The kids use the wireless from this modem, but then I have a Lynksys router so my wife and I can be wired. Only my wife and I can "see" each other on the network, and the kids can see each other as well, but we can't see everyone.

Problem - the kids use the wife's printer for printing homework, etc. Because we're not all connected, they have to email stuff for printing. Not a big deal, but it would be easier for them just to print over the network.

Suggestions?

I have had a similar question. I have a Linksys wireless router as well, and was curious how I would go about networking my workstation and laptop, vs. just being able to access the internet through the router.

What is required to do that?

[Thnikkaman]

The easiest but probably most expensive would be to replace the linksys router with a wireless router with at least 2 hardware ports, or to replace it with a switch.

The problem is that the wireless computers are on a different subnet than the wired computers, and unless you set up a domain (aka headache for a home network) or some sort of port forwarding (I'll get to this is a second) your kids computers can't see your network.

Subnets are groups of I.P. addresses. We will say that the wireless modem uses a subnet for the computers that are on the internal side of an address range of 192.168.0.1-254 , and that your linksys router uses I.P addresses in a range of 192.168.1.1-254.

They can't both be on the same subnet since the modem and router act as gateways for their internal network. And for the linksys router to communicate with the modem, it has been given an I.P address in the 192.168.0.xx subnet.

Port Forwarding:

If you know the port number for printing (a number in the range of 1-65555 (I think)) you can set up any printing requests from your kids computer to be sent to your wifes PC. I am seeing if I can figure out what port windows network printing uses to give you some better information on how to do this.

[Thnikkaman]

So far I'm not finding anything promising for port forwarding windows networking. Especially since windows networks want to be able to communicate with the computer directly.

I think getting them on the same subnet (on the same router or on the modem using a switch) is probably your best bet.

[BeefStew25]

Joe can't you put everyone on the same router?

[claymore]

Joe you have to share the printer. But off hand I dont know think you can do it with XP/Vista home edition.

[BroncoJoe]

So far I'm not finding anything promising for port forwarding windows networking. Especially since windows networks want to be able to communicate with the computer directly.

I think getting them on the same subnet (on the same router or on the modem using a switch) is probably your best bet.

I actually have a Belkin router with four ports that is wireless. It just seemed that the wireless signal wasn't as strong as the Actiontec. Guess I'll just have to go back to that one.

[BroncoJoe]

Joe can't you put everyone on the same router?

The router isn't wireless... I need both.

[BeefStew25]

The router isn't wireless... I need both.

SO you need a 4 port wireless router, right?

[Zweems56]

Joe you have to share the printer. But off hand I dont know think you can do it with XP/Vista home edition.

Tnik is right. They need to be on the same subnet. Not particularly where I shop, but here's a link for what you need

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8741365&st=linksys&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1202648529130

You'd just go from the modem/router that was provided by your ISP into the new linkysys wireless router and set it up. It'll put them on the same subnet, and you can run shared folders, and share the printer out to the laptops too.

[BroncoJoe]

Joe you have to share the printer. But off hand I dont know think you can do it with XP/Vista home edition.

The printer is shared. I could print on it, but the kids can't. We're on different sub-networks because of the modem and the router. I was hoping there was a way to change the settings on the router to make it part of the main network.

[BroncoJoe]

SO you need a 4 port wireless router, right?

I have one, but the wireless signal isn't as good as the one that I have hooked up now.

[BeefStew25]

I actually have a Belkin router with four ports that is wireless. It just seemed that the wireless signal wasn't as strong as the Actiontec. Guess I'll just have to go back to that one.

Ok, just saw this.

I just bought a D-Link N router from the Tiger Direct Outlet in Miami. My old VOIP Linksys G sucked ass. The new N router is blazing.

The new one was $40 I think.

[Zweems56]

Ok, just saw this.

I just bought a D-Link N router from the Tiger Direct Outlet in Miami. My old VOIP Linksys G sucked ass. The new N router is blazing.

The new one was $40 I think.

Yeah, N is awesome. I should have linked an N, but I have a meeting in 5 seconds and the G was the first I found

[BroncoJoe]

Ok, just saw this.

I just bought a D-Link N router from the Tiger Direct Outlet in Miami. My old VOIP Linksys G sucked ass. The new N router is blazing.

The new one was $40 I think.

Do you need a compatible N card for the computer as well? Or, can you use the existing "G" card?

[claymore]

Do you need a compatible N card for the computer as well? Or, can you use the existing "G" card?

I think you should throw your computers away.

[BeefStew25]

Do you need a compatible N card for the computer as well? Or, can you use the existing "G" card?

No. It is backwards compatible. My laptops all have built in G cards. All you need is the router.

[BroncoJoe]

I think you should throw your computers away.

I would love to.

[BroncoJoe]

No. It is backwards compatible. My laptops all have built in G cards. All you need is the router.

Sweet. Thanks. I'll check into that option. Mainly because I can't find the damn powercord for the Belkin!

[BeefStew25]

Sweet. Thanks. I'll check into that option. Mainly because I can't find the damn powercord for the Belkin!

This is the one I got, but for much cheaper:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8305568&type=product&id=1173577562535

[BroncoJoe]

This is the one I got, but for much cheaper:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8305568&type=product&id=1173577562535

OK. Buy me one where you got yours and I'll send you a check.

:behindsofa:

[Thnikkaman]

OK. Buy me one where you got yours and I'll send you a check.

:behindsofa:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3334084&sku=D700-2328&srkey=DIR-615

[BeefStew25]

OK. Buy me one where you got yours and I'll send you a check.

:behindsofa:

I'll do that Joe, if you want. I can ship it Pony Express if you would like. You can also get one on Tiger Direct's site. I think the total coast with shipping is like $47.

[Thnikkaman]

Or you can go to newegg and they will throw in a free Wireless N pcmcia notebook adapter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127241&Tpk=DIR-615

[BroncoJoe]

I'll do that Joe, if you want. I can ship it Pony Express if you would like. You can also get one on Tiger Direct's site. I think the total coast with shipping is like $47.

Just kidding... I saw it on the site.


Or you can go to newegg and they will throw in a free Wireless N pcmcia notebook adapter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127241&Tpk=DIR-615

Now that's a pretty damn good deal.

Ordered.

[Thnikkaman]

Just kidding... I saw it on the site.



Now that's a pretty damn good deal.

Ordered.

You saw that deal in the combos at the bottom of the page, right? Want to make sure I didn't steer you wrong.

[BroncoJoe]

You saw that deal in the combos at the bottom of the page, right? Want to make sure I didn't steer you wrong.

Yep. Thanks again.

[gnomeflinger]

This thread scares me. :shocked:

Here's a question I have. I have Vonage for phone service. It all used to work swimmingly, now, not so much. I can either have the phone hooked up or the internet, but not both. The desktop is not wireless. Other than giving Vonage the boot, how do I get both to work at the same time?

[Thnikkaman]

This thread scares me. :shocked:

Here's a question I have. I have Vonage for phone service. It all used to work swimmingly, now, not so much. I can either have the phone hooked up or the internet, but not both. The desktop is not wireless. Other than giving Vonage the boot, how do I get both to work at the same time?

Do you know if anything has changed? And when you mean internet, is it that your computer is turned on?

It could be that your computer has become infected with a virus or something that is just spewing traffic and not allowing vonage enough bandwidth.

[gnomeflinger]

Do you know if anything has changed? And when you mean internet, is it that your computer is turned on?

It could be that your computer has become infected with a virus or something that is just spewing traffic and not allowing vonage enough bandwidth.

I did have a virus last week, but I had to remove it manually. I should try hooking it up again. I shall return and report. Thanks Thnikk.