[Headshot]

I have just opened a storefront, and another Mac artist has a storefront 2 doors down, way less than 300'. He offered to let me share his internet connection, he's running a Powerbook with Airport, and I assume he's got a wireless modem signal.

My other buddy has a D-Link AirPlus™ G DI-524 router which the dummies at the MacConnection sent him in addition to an airport card. He doesn't need this router, so it sits in a box waiting.

I have an old 333 iMac at the shop which I just kicked up again and installed Panther onto, and is this D-Link router all I need to get his signal?

Pardon the newby questions, I know zilcho about wireless stuff, I assume I'll use a common Ethernet cable to the D-Link.

Thanks!

-matt

[ghporter]

I don't think that particular router will meet your needs. The problem is that it doesn't have a "bridge" mode, so it won't run as a simple translator from wireless to ethernet. That's the kind of device you need; either a dedicated bridge, or a router that has a bridge mode. Products like the Linksys WET54G bridge or WRT54G router, the D-Link DI-624+ router, and the NetGear WGT624 router are all options.

Once you have such a wireless device and set it up as a bridge, then setup would be very much like setting up any wireless client; you select the wireless network you want to join, basically tell it to remember which network it is, and you're set.

[ink]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Products like the Linksys WET54G bridge or WRT54G router, the D-Link DI-624+ router, and the NetGear WGT624 router are all options.

FYI, I had to install the open-source firmware for my WRT54G to get bridging as an option in the web interface. We bought it last summer sometime, so maybe they ship with better firmware now.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by ink

FYI, I had to install the open-source firmware for my WRT54G to get bridging as an option in the web interface. We bought it last summer sometime, so maybe they ship with better firmware now.

Linksys' current shipping firmware says it does bridge mode-I checked the manual before I added that one.

[Headshot]

Are you sure the WRT54G Linksys is a bridge router? There isn't anything in its descripts that says the word "bridge", but it does mention "Access Point", which is what the guy at Micro Center says is what is important. They got one for $70.

What the hell do I do with it then? The Instruction Manual I downloaded has PC instructions only.
You would think now we might have made some noise the past couple years...

[ghporter]

The manual you downloaded has PC instructions because it hard for a basic PC user to originally set his computer up for networking. You don't need that kind of help with a Mac, really.

Most of the manual is about the router; you can ignore the PC instructions. If you need help in connecting your Mac to the router, ask here-and since you're here, you probably won't need much help.

[Headshot]

Alright Glenn,
Leave it to the geniuses at Micro Center, I had to get the Bridge (WET54G), which was twice as much!!!
Well, I don't even know where to begin, I wasted 4 hours playing with myself at the shop, when I should have been here trying to get advice from you guys.

This is the one I got: http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0160461

My neighbor was sick, and handed me a card with 2 4-digit numbers and said here, the password is one of these. He has an SBC 2Wire DSL Modem. That is all I have to go by.

-I don't know any other info about his account.
-I don't know if this thing is even picking up a signal, how am I supposed to know? All 3 lights are green and steady.
-The tech support guy from India, I mean, Linksys, says they don't really offer Mac support getting on, but he'd do his best. Made me enter the IP address of the bridge into my Explorer, and set it at Automatic.
Tried to go over Internet Connect, Setup Assistant, and Network Preferences with him, and we were definitely not even speaking the same language.

All I know is that "Automatic" & "Built in Ethernet" are starting points for me.
It's kinda difficult to approach this neighbor and start asking personal info about his account, I mean he is doing this as a favor!
(I know someone here is going to chastise me for being a cheapskate and not wanting to get my own acct, but he's offering, and for the time being, I have other expenses like interior decorating adn startup costs)

I can't imagine the signal won't go thru a frame house in between us when the Linksys website says this about the Bridge:

"You can also use the Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge as a kind of "cable-less cable" to connect remote areas together. Maybe Shipping is all the way across the warehouse from Receiving. Or maybe you want to set up a home office in your detached garage. With a Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge in the garage, and another one (or a Wireless-G Access Point) in the house, you're connected -- no digging trenches, and no overhead wires."

Any suggestions???

Thanks so much in advance!!!
-matt

[Headshot]

UPDATE.....

OK, well, the bridge is an expensive little box that sits on top of the shelf all lit up, Linksys won't support Mac (it is supposed to work they just won't tell you how), and someone just asked me why I havent looked into the obvious...Air Port Extreme Base Station???

Again, this is the simple setup I want to achieve:
Neighbor 2 doors down is willing to share his internet connection with me, he has a DSL wireless (2WIRE634) modem, and is using it for a Powerbook with Airport card. I've gone with the suggestions here, bought a $150 Ethernet Bridge, a Linksys WET54G, which I don't know how to configure.

Shouldn't I be able to plug the Base Station into my Ethernet Port, and pick up a his signal automatically?
And if I have to go thru 3 walls, I can put an omnidirectional antenna in the window?

I just called the Apple Store and they seem to think the Base Station should pick up any signal that's the 802 standard.

Well, whady'all think?

Thanks!

-matt

[Captain Obvious]

Relax.

Are you even sure you are getting the signal all the way to your place? Just because it says 300 feet doesn't mean it gets that far in all situations. You need to have him or someone with a working laptop go to your place and scan for a signal before you go through all this. I am not sure why you just don't get your own DSL connection. Since you are stuck on a desktop the cost of that bridge alone would pay for 7 months of SBC service since the modem is free.

By the way, you got ripped off on the price of the bridge.

[tiansa]

Question regarding Dl-524 versus Dl-624... Could you simply disable DHCP on the Dl-524 router attached to the computer, essentially converting it to a simple bridge mode??? Or is that option not available on that model - the reason which I ask is that I have been attempting to have my father go wireless on iMac DV 400 (G3 model), the least expensive solution would be the Dl-524 (<$20 after rebates at Bestbuy), however if could not be used as a bridge that would be a problem...

[Headshot]

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

Relax.

Are you even sure you are getting the signal all the way to your place? Just because it says 300 feet doesn't mean it gets that far in all situations. You need to have him or someone with a working laptop go to your place and scan for a signal before you go through all this. I am not sure why you just don't get your own DSL connection. Since you are stuck on a desktop the cost of that bridge alone would pay for 7 months of SBC service since the modem is free.

By the way, you got ripped off on the price of the bridge.

Well Cap'n, I don't know yet, but my neighbor's going to bring in the Powerbook to see if HE can get his own signal. I wouldn't know if I'm getting it or not!

Also, if I was to get my own acct, then I'd have to get phone service, eh? No way. One cell, one #. That's it.

On Wed, someone from this thread will come by and try and configure this, I'll keep folks here updated on the success. Thanks again for all the input.