Wirless Networking and NTL?

Just wondering if anyone has NTL as their ISP and has a wireless networking setup? If so, could you explain how it's set up, with which WAP/Router/Etc?

Eventually I'm going to have to lose my email addresses and force myself to endure the upgrade, but when I do, I want to be able to use my PC, my PSP and any other consoles I might have lying around ( PS3, possibly an XBox 360 ) without much fuss.

I have no idea how the 360 networks, but I'm assuming it supports WIFI. The PSP certainly supports 802.11b so that should be ok.

Just looking for a few tips and products to look at before I think any more about enduring the switchover and installation.

http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=2158&category_id=156&manufacturer_id=0

That one will do just fine - I have an 8mb connection and it's capable of full speed on a 54Mbps router. If you'd be planning to do a lot of PC to PC file transfers then you'd benefit from an 108Mbps model instead.

You'll also need wireless adapters for anything you want to connect to the router. Make sure you get the same brand as your router. Others will work but the connection may be 'wobbly'.

http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=2337&category_id=154&manufacturer_id=0 (USB)
http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=2118&category_id=154&manufacturer_id=0 (PCMCIA)
http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=2115&category_id=154&manufacturer_id=0 (PCI)

I have a d-link setup and can't fault it although its ADSL, not Cable, but the principle is the same - [edit] only difference is you'll need a LAN card too which I'd guess you already have. I've set up a netgear-based wireless network for a mate, too. Avoid Edimax gear - its complete crap.

From your post above I'm guessing you haven't set up a wireless network before. The biggest pitfall, is that you MUST set up either WEP or WPA encryption yourself, as most routers operate an unsecure network by default, meaning anyone can stop by and suck up your bandwidth.

You're right, I haven't set up any network before, let alone wireless.

The router looks good, and cheap too, and I like the range of wireless adaptors, didn't realize you could get USB ones.

Just one thing I'm not immediately clear on. Why do I need a LAN card as well as the wireless adaptor? I do have one BTW, just don't quite understand the setup. I was figuring wall to cable modem, cable modem to router and then wireless adaptors in everything which connects.

My brother and I used a Wireless setup with NTL.
Using a Buffalo Airstation G54 and Belkin wireless card each.

We both suffered horrible signal strength problems though.
Anything which stood in the way of the antenna's would cause Windows to constantly produce a popup telling us about low signal strengths or a disconnection. In the end we both got fed up and bought network cards together with ethernet cables to set up a direct connection to the router.

Seems these wireless routers really hate any kind of obstructions like walls and doors. Which kind of makes having a wireless setup pointless.
I could not even find a larger antenna to fit into the router.

Thing is, I assumed with the level of technology we have today all this wireless hoo haa would be a brease to set up and to be problem free.

Just something for you to take on board Gabriel.

Probably because...


Sorry, you don't. Too many late nights and too much ale - I was thinking wired connections. Edited to avoid confusion. :/

As I said, I have ADSL which is a bit different to DSL/Cable. I'd guess you plug the wireless router into your existing modem (ADSL models have a combined router/modem so this isn't an issue). As with all things computery, there's generally only one way you can plug stuff in so it'll all make sense when you've got everything laid out in front of you.

I have NTL as broadband connection - and a Belkin 54g router which supports up to 4 wired or wireless connections.

I have 2 PCs hardwired, and a further 2 wireless connections, to my laptop and my psp.

I use my psp and laptop from anywhere in the house or garden and it seems fine - with a £20 Belkin usb plugin dongle thing for the laptop which can be a little flakey at times. PSP works with the security key in place and although the psp is slow, the recent addition of flash makes life a little more fun.

The thing to remember is to follow the instructions to the letter, thats what I did. You controll the Belkin router through a browser page which you simply call up , provide a password for and then alter any of the many setups. Again I just did what the instructions told me to, I was up and running in about half an hour.

I added a security key to my setup and voila.

I also have the full suite of McAfee Internet Security Suite and there has been no apparent conflicts or problems.

I have been running the system for about 8 months or so.

The onlyu problem I have had was trying toplay Far Cry online - that just refuses to work. My other games MOH and COD work just fine and theres no change in any setups to use them.


IPete2.

I use a wireless router connected to my DSL modem. My main system is connected via UTP directly to the router. The laptop and XBox 360 is connected via wireless, signal strength is around 87% on the Laptop which is a few rooms from the router. My XBox is down the end of the house and it gets about 67%. Speed is pretty good, setup was just a matter of turning the equipment on and it automatically configured itsself. My only run in with wireless internet was when using a wireless hotpoint in a mcdonalds with the laptop. Again just a matter of turning it on and connecting to the network, it all should be pretty straight forward.

Great, thanks. I understand now.

JimB: Everything will be in the same room, so signals won't be an issue. I just need wireless because the PSP is wireless only, plus it's more convenient to have less wires. I suppose I could wire the PC to the router, since I do have a NIC, and that'll leave more bandwidth for everything else I might connect to the router.

And thanks to everyone else. Sounds simple enough to do, if I just bring myself to endure it.

IPete2 : Is this the same router you have?

http://www.staples.co.uk/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=,&webid=4m466&affixedcode=WW

I have a Staples real local, so if this is the same one, I might be able to save having to have anything delivered.