Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

bri-guy · Aug 11, 2003, 11:16 AM

Is it possible to share an internet connection between a G5 that will have a cat5 connection to the internet and an AE card and a PC laptop with a wireless card?

ghporter · Aug 12, 2003, 07:30 AM

Yes, but that's the hard way around. You wind up running the G5 all the time-any time either the G5 user OR the PC user needs a connection.

My advice is to buy an inexpensive router and connect both the G5 and the PC to it via Cat5. If you really need the PC to be wireless, buy a wireless router (they cost more, but not that much more).

bri-guy · Aug 12, 2003, 11:14 AM

Well, the G5 would be running 24/7 anyway and is just another computer on our home network. The PC laptop would be my girlfriend's and already has the wireless card. It's just that if she brings it over when visiting it would be easiest to use wireless instead of running a piece of cat5 from the nearest router (we have two), and with my discount an AE card is cheaper than a wireless router.

Is the setup for this straightforward, or will I need special software?

aaanorton · Aug 12, 2003, 11:33 AM

Originally posted by bri-guy:
... and with my discount an AE card is cheaper than a wireless router.

Really?

I agree with GHP, Just get a router. It will be easier to set up and maintain, have better reception and security and provide more features.

bri-guy · Aug 12, 2003, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by aaanorton:
Really?

I agree with GHP, Just get a router. It will be easier to set up and maintain, have better reception and security and provide more features.

I was thinking in terms of 802.11g, but you've got me there. I hesitate to buy an 802.11b router because in the future I may want to go completely wireless (I know I wont be living in the same place next year and running a lot of wires might not be an option) so I don't want "obsolete" equipment. Thanks for throwing out some other options for me to consider. I guess I need to do some thinking.

aaanorton · Aug 12, 2003, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by bri-guy:
I was thinking in terms of 802.11g, but you've got me there. I hesitate to buy an 802.11b router because in the future I may want to go completely wireless (I know I wont be living in the same place next year and running a lot of wires might not be an option) so I don't want "obsolete" equipment. Thanks for throwing out some other options for me to consider. I guess I need to do some thinking.

Here's a few things to keep in mind when comparing .11b (Airport) and .11g (Airport Extreme)... The speed only comes in play when transferring files between computers, and then .11b is only noticeably slower when the files are large. 802.11g is absolutely no faster than .11b for surfing the internet, because even .11b is much faster than any internet connection you may have. I don't know what kind of eqpt you have over there, but if you want to use .11g, then all your devices must be .11g. If there are any .11b devices on a network, the entire network slows down to .11b speeds to accommodate. But the biggest argument is probably: who cares? For 40 bucks you can hardly go wrong, even if you do outgrow it in a year.

kampl · Aug 12, 2003, 07:54 PM

I agree. No matter what solution you come up with, the bottleneck will still be at the default router which any technology you are using on your internal network will far exceed from a bandwidth standpoint. I'd go with 802.11b for a wireless solution if that is key to the design. It's here to stay.