Wireless G network and extension

[MSM0603]

Hello! Thanks in advance for reading and your advice.

Bought D-link wireless "g" router and PCI cards at Best Buy with good rebates. The current network is up and running well, but now I am exploring how to extend it so that all four computers are connected.

OP SYS: WIN 98SE

Current NETWORK: Cable modem to D-link DI-624 "g" router hard wired to 2d floor computer. 1st floor computer connected via DWL-520 "g" PCI adapter. Two computers in standalone configuration.

Previous NETWORK: four computers ICS via Homeline telephone line connection.

Q1: Can I use WIN 98SE ICS on the 2d floor computer to re-establish the network to the other two computers? What performance problems/issues might I experience?

Q2: Price becomes an issue...what about using "b" USB adapters to re-establish the network to the other two computers? USB gives me the flexibility to elevate the adapter for good signal reception. Will I take a performance hit with "b" and "g" adapters on the same network?

Q3: Any other options to re-establish the network to the other two computers without breaking the bank?

Thanks for any advice!

[Midknyte]

Do NOT use ICS with a router! ICS should detect that there is a dhcp server anyway, so it might not even install. If anything, you would need to use ICS, then disable the router's dhcp and use it only as an access point. Not the best way to do things. :(

you will take a performance hit with B adapters on a G network. Your router has to be set to mixed mode instead of only G.
Take a look around this site:
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article47-page1.php

If you want to go wireless, you just gotta shell out the $$$. since you already went with DLink, I would highly recommend that you stay with DLink wireless adapters.

[cat5e]

The main point of getting a Router is to Skip ICS. You can connect more the 100 computer to your Router through switches, and share.

Wireless Client, actully USB is better.

Why?

Wireless is depending on signal propagation.

PCI Wireless Client Card ends up been stuck behind the computer's case, resultant in obstructed transmission and poor performance. USB is connected to the Port with 2-3' cable allowing the Antenna to be placed above the System for better Transmission.

However a PCI card is a good choice when a powerful external Antenna is needed for long distance. Many Wireless PCI cards come with a removable Antenna.

Using 802.11b and 802.g at the same time might pull down the 802.g speed. It would not matter for Internet surfing. It will slow down LAN Transfers.

[EldestNorski]

Let me see if I understand. You have the wireless router; one downstream port goes to the upstairs computer, and a downstairs computer comes in wirelessly. You also have two other computers and some old telephone line networking gear. You're wondering if you can use it to sew all four together.

If this is right, then the answer is . . . maybe.

Your choices are dictated by whether the telephone line networking gear has RJ45 connectors. If so, your best bet would be to hook it into a free port on your wireless router.

If, OTOH, these are, say, PCI cards, you can only plug them into a computer as a NIC. So say you do that on the upstairs computer. Now you have a computer with 2 NICs, and two separate little networks, only one of which leads to the router.

So now you need to configure Windows to connect those two NICs, and hence the two little networks. Here is what Windows XP help says about that:

To bridge connections
1. Open Network Connections.
2. Under LAN or High-Speed Internet select each of the private network connections that you want to be part of the bridge.
3. Right-click one of the highlighted private network connections, and then click Bridge Connections.

Caveat: I've only used this feature for some lab hacks, so I'm not sure how solid it is. It may help to start up the bridging computer before the two that it bridges to the router.

Hope this helps.