[dsenette]

i haven't done much work with wireless so i dont know a whole lot about its configuration so i have a few questions:

1. if all i want is to give wireless access (obviously with restrictions) to my wired network do i need a router or just an access point?

2. what is the easiest way to configure this connection?

3. what is a good piece of hardware to get for this connection?

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heya, dsenette

1) All you "need" is an access point and a wireless NIC of some kind, but if you don't yet have a router, your money would be better spent just getting the wireless router. If you already have a wired router, I'd price check the difference between a wireless access point and a new(er) wireless router. Chances are good that the wireless router makes the best financial sense and has a similiar outcome: wireless connectivity on a home network.

2) All wireless routers/access points come with pretty detailed instructions on how to set them up. There isn't much more to it than following those... though I do feel that setting up the access point would be somewhat more simple than setting up the router.

3) I can't recommend brands or anything (because I don't have a favorite). D-Link makes good stuff, so does Linksys and Microsoft (though they're pricey). If you're looking at a wireless router or access point, make sure it's 802.11G. As for a specific brand: I'll just recommend the one with the best rebate right now.

Good luck. It really isn't very hard to set up, even for non-geeks.

[Guse]

heya, dsenette

1) All you "need" is an access point and a wireless NIC of some kind, but if you don't yet have a router, your money would be better spent just getting the wireless router. If you already have a wired router, I'd price check the difference between a wireless access point and a new(er) wireless router. Chances are good that the wireless router makes the best financial sense and has a similiar outcome: wireless connectivity on a home network.

2) All wireless routers/access points come with pretty detailed instructions on how to set them up. There isn't much more to it than following those... though I do feel that setting up the access point would be somewhat more simple than setting up the router.

3) I can't recommend brands or anything (because I don't have a favorite). D-Link makes good stuff, so does Linksys and Microsoft (though they're pricey). If you're looking at a wireless router or access point, make sure it's 802.11G. As for a specific brand: I'll just recommend the one with the best rebate right now.

Good luck. It really isn't very hard to set up, even for non-geeks.