How to setup a network with dialup wired pc's and laptop wireless

I'm running two desktops and three laptops on a wireless network through a Lucent Orinoco RG1000. (They've been going for about $75 on e-bay.) The desktops use a PCI adapter ($25 ea.), and the laptops use PC Cards ($25 ea.). I will defer to the previous poster (tentonine) regarding modem disconnection capabilities, but any 802.11b WiFi compliant PCI adapter (for desktops) or PC Card (for laptops) should work with the Orinoco RG1000.

With this scenario, you'd need these items:
Wireless Gateway / Router w/56k Modem: RG1000 - $75 (I have seen several of these on e-bay recently.)
Wireless PCI Adapter - $15 x 3 http://www.computers4sure.com/Product.asp?ProductId=1802317&iid=325
Wireless PC Card - $16 http://www.computers4sure.com/Product.asp?ProductId=1802316&iid=327
                  ___________________
                  About $125 to $150

An equivalent wireless gateway/router with a built-in dial-up modem is rare. There are other models, but not many and I can't recall which other than the re-branded Orinoco RG1000 model, like the Dell.
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I'm not familiar with wired networks, but as tentonine said you'd need a switch and four RJ-45 cables  running from it to a network adapter on each computer. He has provided excellent instructions for configuring ICS, but you could also extend a phone line to each desktop so you'd also have the option to connect each one independently and directly (if they each have a 56k modem).

With this scenario, you'd need these items:
Switch - $25 http://www.computers4sure.com/product.asp?ProductID=1109049&CatID=862&IID=863
RJ-45 Cables - $10 (15') x 4 http://www.computers4sure.com/store/cablefind_cabletogo.asp
Network Adapter (NIC) - $12 x 3 www.computers4sure.com/product.asp?ProductID=1109015&IID=370
Optional 56k Modem - $10 x 3 http://www.computers4sure.com/Product.asp?ProductId=1556562&iid=328
                    ___________
                    $50 to 100

To wirelessly connect the laptop to the wired network and the internet, it might be possible to use ICS, a PCI adapter in one of the desktops, and a PC Card in the laptop with the wireless network configured as Peer-To-Peer. (A peer-to-peer connection can be used without using a wireless router.) I'm not necessarily recommending this set-up however, and would still recommend the RG1000 or an equivalent wireless gateway/router with a built-in dial-up modem.

To add a wireless laptop you'd need these items:
PCI Adapter - $25 (peer-to-peer and ICS set-up) OR RG100 ($75)
PC Card - $25
         ____________
         $ 50 to 100

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I believe these numbers are fairly accurate, I would personally recommend the extra flexibility offered by the wireless network, though a hard-wired network between the desktops would offer higher speed for transfering very large files between the desktops.

GM

That's my two cents, but I hope others will offer additional insight.

Message Edited by GreyMack on 04-08-2004 07:56 AM

Right, I'd only recommend that as an addition to the wired network, which would include ICS set-up capability.

GM

Edit - Right, I'd only recommend that as an optional addition to the wired network, which would include ICS set-up capability as well as the prerequisite networking capability.

Message Edited by GreyMack on 04-08-2004 08:16 AM