URGENT: Networking Help Needed!

[christnp]

Okay, this should be a fun question for someone really intelligent to answer. Basically, I need to setup a small home network to host a printer (and maybe file sharing) so that my wife and I don't have to transfer files from our laptop to our desktop each time we want to print. The catch is, however, that we both get a weak wireless internet signal on our laptops, but our desktop does not get any reception (with a linksys wireless pci card); AND I'd like to use the desktop as the host for the printer.

Right now I am using my linksys WRT54G router as a "non-internet" access point and just switch from our "internet network" to our "printer network," which is a complete pain.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Let me know if you need more information. Thanks in advance!

 

[massahwahl]

Well if the desktop cant connect to the router than your shot from the get go. You cant move the router closer to the desktop?

 

[christnp]

I actually live on a college campus so I get free wireless from them (it is a weak signal, but I can pick it up with two laptops and not my desktop). So I don't actually "have" a physical internet connection. I merely have a "internet-less" wifi-router set up (literally on-top of the desktop's tower) so that I can have three computers communicate in order to share the printer. Does this make sense? Thus, I have to actually disconnect from the college wireless and connect to my "secure" wireless-network in order to use the printer. And what I'd like, is some way that I wouldn't have to do the "connecting/disconnecting" while also keeping it a private network (so people don't print to my personal printer). What would be really cool is if I could have two wireless connections enabled at the same time!!! But my guess is that this is impossible. So I am trying to get some suggestions from others.

So basically, adjusting anything as far as the internet goes is impossible (unless I were to actually buy it through Qwest or Charter).

Does this help clarify my situation?

My ideal option is to build a new desktop with a high-gain wireless pci-card and use it solely as a server. But this involves money, of which I have very little .

Thanks for the reply!

 

[DizzlyDood]

Okay, this should be a fun question for someone really intelligent to answer. Basically, I need to setup a small home network to host a printer (and maybe file sharing) so that my wife and I don't have to transfer files from our laptop to our desktop each time we want to print. The catch is, however, that we both get a weak wireless internet signal on our laptops, but our desktop does not get any reception (with a linksys wireless pci card); AND I'd like to use the desktop as the host for the printer.

Right now I am using my linksys WRT54G router as a "non-internet" access point and just switch from our "internet network" to our "printer network," which is a complete pain.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Let me know if you need more information. Thanks in advance!

From what I'm reading I'm assuming you live off campus, but close enough to still connect to the college wireless network. This is why you don't have a physical connection to the network, is that right?

If that's the case you're really pretty limited except moving the PC to the best place possible and buying either a better antenna or better/long range wireless card. Personally I would just pay the 30$ a month for my own high speed internet since your spending money anyways. Good connection all around and you can setup your server network the way you want it.

Not a whole lot you can do since you don't have access or any control over the wireless network you're using.

 

[christnp]

Almost there...

From what I'm reading I'm assuming you live off campus, but close enough to still connect to the college wireless network. This is why you don't have a physical connection to the network, is that right?

Yes, I live off campus (about a block to be exact), but close enough to pick up their wireless.

Personally I would just pay the 30$ a month for my own high speed internet since your spending money anyways.

This would be my choice as well, however, my wife and I are currently on a tight budget because she travels 100 mi 3 days a week to go to class and I am a full time student. So we live on her part-time job (which earns just enough to pay for bills, rent, and gas). Damn economy !

Not a whole lot you can do since you don't have access or any control over the wireless network you're using.

I'm not sure that I am making my self quite clear with what my condition is and what I am wanting out of this condition. Although, I am fairly certain that in order for it to be perfect, I will have to use DizzlyDood's advice and get my own high speed internet.

So just to recap: True, I am using the college's wireless network to access the internet. However, I do have my own linksys wireless router that I am using for my "print network." It, however, is not hooked up to a physical internet. So to print, I disconnect from the college's network and connect to mine. What I'd like, is some way to not have to disconnect/connect between the two. But, I also don't want to share my printer over the college's network (even if it were possible). Ideally (but probably impossible), I'd like to be able to use two networks simultaneously (sounds like a good senior project for a communications engineer ).

Thanks for all the advice. Eventually I'll get it through my thick skull that the only way it to purchase my own high speed internet. But until then, are there any more suggestions?

 

[massahwahl]

So just to recap: True, I am using the college's wireless network to access the internet. However, I do have my own linksys wireless router that I am using for my "print network." It, however, is not hooked up to a physical internet. So to print, I disconnect from the college's network and connect to mine. What I'd like, is some way to not have to disconnect/connect between the two. But, I also don't want to share my printer over the college's network (even if it were possible). Ideally (but probably impossible), I'd like to be able to use two networks simultaneously (sounds like a good senior project for a communications engineer ).

Thanks for all the advice. Eventually I'll get it through my thick skull that the only way it to purchase my own high speed internet. But until then, are there any more suggestions?

That you cannot do. Its not possible to connect to two different connections simultaneously.