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BTopenworld Wireless Starter Pack |
mhorton
Joined: Jan 13, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Just got this e-mail at work. I thought I would share
BTopenworld Wireless Starter Pack
Share your ADSL connection at high speed and without a wire in sight with this kit from BTopenworld.
Price : £369 ex VAT £314
Supplier : BTopenworld
Phone : 0870 729 2118
Web : www.btopenworld.com/wirelesslan
While BTopenworld discourages sharing an always-on ADSL connection across the network if you're subscribed to a home user tariff, business users are allowed this luxury. The launch of the wireless networking kit makes it even easier, since the Linksys hardware is actively made for sharing an ADSL connection across a network without wires.
The Starter Pack we're looking at here is designed to connect two PCs together wirelessly and share the connection between them. If you're running on the Business PLUS ADSL tariff, then you'll already have an Ethernet ADSL modem attached to one of your PCs, in which case you need the full kit reviewed here, including the Wireless Access Point.
WAPs the way
The Wireless Access Point (WAP) is effectively the wireless network hub, and it acts as the central connection between the Ethernet modem and the assorted computers on the network. With the Ethernet modem, you can't set up a simple peer-to-peer network without the WAP in the chain.
Setting up is simple enough, and the supplied drivers install quickly and without a fuss. Unless you have Windows XP - in which case a quick trip to the Linksys website is required because the WDM drivers designed for Windows 2000 on the installation CD don't seem to work. The network proved to be erratic and it's less hassle to install the native XP drivers in the first place. This applies for all three products in this range, and not just the WAP, but the drivers are a small download and easily upgraded.
If you're a subscriber to the Business 500 tariff, which connects using one of the USB modems supplied by BTopenworld, you can buy a smaller kit that doesn't include the WAP, or assemble the access combination you require yourself. Running without the WAP in what Linksys terms 'ad-hoc mode', the host PC that connects to the USB modem needs to be on permanently for the network to be accessible to other machines, whereas the full Infrastructure mode uses the WAP as the hub and any machines can be turned off at any time without losing the network.
XP problems
On systems running a version of Windows earlier than XP, the installation of the WAP, USB device and PCMCIA laptop card was flawless, with the network up and running within minutes. Install the drivers, plug in the devices, configure and go. At the most basic level, you don't need to change anything in the installation defaults because all adaptors will connect to each other on channel six. Be warned, though, that there's no encryption and anyone else within range using the same settings will, theoretically, connect to your network. To avoid this, you can change the default SSID and enable WAP encryption up to a strength of 128-bit, which we'd certainly recommend if your machines are switched on 24/7.
With Windows XP, we had numerous problems, even with the latest Linksys drivers. On two occasions, the network remained inaccessible no matter what we tried, until a third removal and subsequent installation finally did the trick. We have no idea what caused this, and it may be problems with the drivers or the core of XP itself because it's the first version of Windows to natively support wireless networking. However, once up and running, the sense of freedom you get is incredible. The stated range is 100 and 500 metres indoors and outdoors, respectively, and our tests bore this out. Being able to sit 200 metres down the garden on a fine spring morning while surfing the web at full ADSL speed is nothing short of a revelation. Once tried, you'll find it hard to go back to cabled networks.
Get connected
In speed terms, the network provides more than enough bandwidth to cope with an ADSL connection, and is fast enough even for real-time video editing over the network. It may be expensive, but if you feel like unlocking the potential of your broadband connection then it's well worth investigating, although you may want to wait until the technology matures slightly and prices drop.
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mhorton
Joined: Jan 13, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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I found this about Audiogalaxy.
Audiogalaxy to go legitimate
Another file sharing service gets its collar felt
The peer-to-peer file sharing service Audiogalaxy has been leaned on my legal representatives of the music industry and is to remove all music for which is doesn't have specific permission to distribute from the copyright holders, which is virtually everything. The company is also to pay an unannounced sum in back-dated royalties. From now on it has to strictly filter all music added to its system for copyright permission, a conceivably time-consuming and difficult job. This also means that the five music publishers can simply turn off the supply of new music and leave it with the independent and homebrew labels.
Audiogalaxy is the latest target of the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Music Publishers Association, the music industry heavies. Napster suffered a similar fate and died soon after. Kazaa soon ran out of money fighting the case. As with Napster, people are expected to simply turn to an alternative system. Anybody who is running such a system now no doubt waiting for that call.
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mixin
Joined: Jan 26, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Notts, UK
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£369 just to set up a home LAN, bit expensive dont ye think.
just buy 2 network cards, come cable... costs £30 and your away 
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mhorton
Joined: Jan 13, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Well a wireless kit is expensive. You get a wireless router and 2 wireless network card.
I have seen that sort of set up for about £ 250 to £ 300. Like everythink though you always can get it cheaper somewhere else if you shop around
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Eamonn
Joined: Nov 30, 2001
Posts: > 500
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very expensive 
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mhorton
Joined: Jan 13, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Not bad though
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lingart
Joined: Feb 20, 2002
Posts: 89
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LOL
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy BT expensive CON
I set up my wireless network for less than £200 in total and Im on Pipex adsl only £23 a month - I think if youre not very technical BT might well be the way forward but otherwise go buy a book and figure it out for yourselves and save some valuable drinking money  |
mhorton
Joined: Jan 13, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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lingart
I agree with you. The one that BTopenworld are selling to you is a top end router and network cards,
But people for sure can get cheaper if they now what they are doing. But if you would call ADSL helpline for any reason they wouldn't have to help you because you are running though a router
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lingart
Joined: Feb 20, 2002
Posts: 89
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you wouldnt need to tell them you are running a router at all - as long as the service is working on their end. Obviously any networking issues they wont support but if its a connection probs they will help.
Like I said maybe best for novices not to do it but for others shouldnt be a problem? |
mhorton
Joined: Jan 13, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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They would be able to tell you if the line or exchange is having any problems.
But they aren't allowed to help you at all if you are running though a router. or even have a network card inside your computer
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Access the forum with a mobile phone via esato.mobi
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Posted: 2002-06-23 22:19
ink p800:: 
urple t630:: 
