God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

CaptainMench

CaptainMench

Carbonite Member
God bless Linda! She finally agreed to go cable. No more 52K dial-up.

So...

I've got this Mac G4 and a PC laptop thingie my wife uses. How/What is the best way to go here?

One modem with wireless? Wireless? I am without a clue.

Thoughts?

Thanks

CaptM
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

If your new pad does not have ethernet cabling throughout the house already, then wireless is the ticket.

I'll let someone else describe what you will need to put into place (I have ethernet cabling in my home so I can't speak from direct experience).

WOW! 52K to broadband. Now you don't have to start your download at night and watch the DVX clips with coffee) 8)
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

Wireless may not be the best way to go if you're in a close-quartered neighborhood -- security isn't so good. An issue to think about.

I just ran white CAT5 cable under the carpet along the walls. Took about an hour. No problems; no security worries.
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

Wired networking KICKS ASS. i am against wireless as its hard to set up between pc/mac, costs a lot and you can get low signals.
i run a cable under the carpet from my room to other peoples rooms, NO setup was necessary, even my mac recognized internet immediatly and its much faster than wireless
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

Running wires is so...2000 :). WiFi rocks--it's cheap and easy to setup, secure, and much more flexible. Using a laptop is pure pleasure with a wireless internet connection. No tethers, you can sit on the couch or in your backyard and stay connected. With a good firewall and an 802.11g system you're pretty secure.
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

UGH!!! So many conflicting posts! Almost as bad as... "I'm wondering if I have enough money to buy this camera..." (wink wink, Michael Summers!!)

Yes, our houses are so close we share a bathroom with the neighbors. You have to leave the bedroom if you want to change your mind. Put the key in the door and the window at the back of the house broke!

OK -- I'm a security freak. I watch the ScreenSavers. 802.11g! G??

So - I'll need a base unit. The comcast cable hooks into that?
Then pcmcia card for the laptop?
PCI card for the mac?
This is where I don't have a clue. Don't want to go to CompUSA without a plan.

Barry?

CaptM
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

i just wrote a long paragraph about wired until i noticed you wrote that you had a laptop. I am stupid. please forgive me.

GO WIRELESS!!@@##111
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

My vote is for wired. It's dirt cheap, and much more secure. For ease of use, I have two networks at my house, an Ethernet network downstairs, which uses the old PhoneNet system to link to the upstairs. Every phone jack is a potential network connection, no interference with the phone system, and still fast enough for broadband internet.

But, I'm kind of a paranoid security freak. Wireless dominates the shelves at the stores, and it obviously has its advantages. But for security purposes, I agree with David, and I chose wired.

As for ports, many (if not most) computers include an ethernet port nowadays, don't they? I'd think it'd be fairly hard to buy a computer that doesn't have some sort of networking capability built in... but you can get USB ethernet adapters, or cheap network cards (they're only like $20 or so). I'm no networking expert, so I'll gladly defer to someone who knows this stuff a lot better than I do...
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

OK -- smallish house, but I know my wife would kill to be able to take her laptop anywhere -- even out on the deck here in sunny CA!!

BUT - if I was to go wired... what would I need?

(Oh -- let's keep away from the stereotyping again... ugh! I'm almost embarrased about posting on the BHBlows thread.)

CaptM
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

o captain my captain,

seems like we have a similar setup...i have a mac g4 and a pc connected to a toshiba cable modem connected to a netgear router via ethernet .  the router is the mr814 802.11b(11mbps).  you can also go w/ the mgr614 802.11g(54mbps)...i also have the netgear ma111(11mbps) wireless usb adaptor connected to my tivo(which you can plug into your laptop) which reliably connects to the network. or if you decide to go 54mbps 802.11g, you can go w/ the wg111...just a suggestion since i've never had one problem w/ this setup for my mac and pc...here's a diagram to give you an idea:

http://www.netgear.com/products/details/MR814.php?view=
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

if i were you, i would buy a wireless card for airports/hotels and resturants but keep wired in the house.

you would need just a wired router, i got mine for 19.99 at best buy with 4 ports, this is my router

http://www.etronics.com/products/I140899.jpg

A wired router can be compared to a splitter for a phone line, in that this 4 port ROUTER splits the cable into 4 outputs (still using the same speed as the original if one user is on at a time, i cannot tell the difference when three people are online) You plug your modem into the MODEM IN port and plug your ethernet cables into the other ports and put the other end into your computer. DO NOT BUY CABLES FROM RETAIL STORES. you will get screwed over. http://www.ebay.com
i got a 100ft ethernet for 15$
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

Ok - so if I go wired...

1) Cable modem
2) Router
3) Ethernet cables (had problems with this once... must they be "cross over" 10T cables?)

Down the road - when my wife wants a tan - I can hook up a wireless port off the cable modem, right? I've been lugging this G4 from room to room as I'm still in base housing trying to close on my house and I'm DONE! Once this puppy gets in the new house it's NEVER moving again. WIRED!

Thanks. Thanks boo... I'll see.

But then again... how much would it cost comcast to drop a cable line in the back bedroom/office??? If we stuck the cable modem at the... oh hell.

CaptM
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

Ok -- I like the price of the netgear. Wired and wireless.

g verses b -- the cable modem will only have a certain bandwidth I'm sure. So, is the G what I need? Would the b be enough? We don't transfer files too much... but then again, my TwoBoys and I could play games together now...

CaptM
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

I mean transfer files across platforms in the house. LOTS of ups and downs on the internet. Especially from this site.

CaptM
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

I've got a Netgear 802.11b wireless setup, but you might as well go for the latest standard--802.11g--it has a better level of security. My GF's brother in-law is the head of computer security for a very large government agency. He has a team that travels around the country trying to break into government and US infrastructure computer systems. His opinion is that it takes some effort to break into your computer if you're using wireless encrytption and a firewall. If someone wants to hack in they can, but they would be *targeting* you for some reason. If no one has a reason to target you, then you're fairly safe. There are way too many totally unsecured systems with no activated firewall and wireless encrytion turned off that offer easy access for the casual hacker.
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

i'm not sure between b vs. g but b has been plenty fast for me. if your wife wanted to go outside w/ her laptop, you can use one of the wireless usb adaptors whether you go w/ a wired or wireless router. yes, crossover ethernet cables are the way to go...
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

Go wireless seriously.  You can make it completely secure if you would like.  People who say its "not secure" don't understand how to set up networks.  If you have some dough buy a Proxim router they are the best in the industry.  I have been setting up networks for businesses all over the chicagoland area since 2000 and trust me, wireless is the way to go if configured correctly.

PM me and we can chat on the phone if you would like. I could give you steps on setting up and configuring a completely wireless and secure network...
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

I have a netgear wireless router. I use cables to my tower PC and wireless to my laptops. I like that setup. But as Barry S said, you just need to set up the router properly. Make sure you only have ports you need open open. If you are real paranoid make sure you don't have your IP address on the DMZ. If you are really really paranoid you can run Zone Alarm. Although it's not really needed since the router itself is acting as a firewire.  

Also I suggest a fire wall especially if you are using cable. Your IP address stays the same unlike DSL.
 
Re: God bless my wife (cable modem plus)

Just found the Netgear G for $19.99 at Fry Outpost.com. 59.99 with 40 rebate. Bought a PCMCIA card for the laptop too.

I love www.dealmac.com!!!

Thanks all.

CaptM
 
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