«

Ok, this is a far-reaching question, so please be patient with my details.

We are upgrading our overall home network to take advantage of satellite
broadband. There are currently a total of 5 Windows-based PC's and 1 Apple
laptop in the house.

We also have a Microsoft MN-500 Base Station, a Belkin brand version of the
same, an Apple Airport Express, and an Apple Extreme Base Station.

The goals for all of this are the following:

1. Allow all the machines to see each other's shared drives or folders for
file transfers.
2. Share printers and take advantage of the Apple hardware's printer serving
capabilities
3. Take further advantage of the Airport Express' capability to stream music
to a stereo anywhere in the house.
4. Share access to the broadband connection across all stations.

Currently, only the Apple laptop has 802.11g capabilities and one of the
PC's has 802.11b. The rest are using wired connections.

My initial thoughts are to use the Belkin and Microsoft stations as
"bridges" to extend the range of the Apple Extreme. I am unfamiliar with how
that would actually work, however.


Can someone provide an efficient solution which achieves each of the stated
goals and maximizes the overall performance of the network?

Regards and thanks in advance!

I dont know how your internet will be connected, in regards to does it use
some sort of modem or does it have to connect directly to a HOST computer
for ditribution, but you will not be using more then one base station in
your network.

Are all your computers networked together now? or No? Do you want them all
wireless or no? what is the square feet coverage ara you need? Do you have
wireless client adapters already or no? Is you satelite connection already
connected or no? And how is it connected?

Robert.....

"Ragle" <> wrote in message
news:E5FE3A65-12F5-47C7-8F12-...
> Ok, this is a far-reaching question, so please be patient with my details.
>
> We are upgrading our overall home network to take advantage of satellite
> broadband. There are currently a total of 5 Windows-based PC's and 1
> Apple
> laptop in the house.
>
> We also have a Microsoft MN-500 Base Station, a Belkin brand version of
> the
> same, an Apple Airport Express, and an Apple Extreme Base Station.
>
> The goals for all of this are the following:
>
> 1. Allow all the machines to see each other's shared drives or folders for
> file transfers.
> 2. Share printers and take advantage of the Apple hardware's printer
> serving
> capabilities
> 3. Take further advantage of the Airport Express' capability to stream
> music
> to a stereo anywhere in the house.
> 4. Share access to the broadband connection across all stations.
>
> Currently, only the Apple laptop has 802.11g capabilities and one of the
> PC's has 802.11b. The rest are using wired connections.
>
> My initial thoughts are to use the Belkin and Microsoft stations as
> "bridges" to extend the range of the Apple Extreme. I am unfamiliar with
> how
> that would actually work, however.
>
>
> Can someone provide an efficient solution which achieves each of the
> stated
> goals and maximizes the overall performance of the network?
>
> Regards and thanks in advance!

The internet connection comes in through the satellite modem, which acts the
same as the cable and DSL modems I am sure you are familiar with. To allow
multiple computers to share the connection a router would be used for NAT.
All the base stations and the Airport Express are capable of this in various
ways.

The current network configuration was completed by someone else using just a
simple hub for basic file and printer sharing. No broadband was present and
each computer dialed out on its own. I had hoped to use the routers'
capabilities to more intelligently handle this type of thing.

Wireless access is only a real demand for the laptop, given its already
present portability. The square footage for wireless coverage would then be
roughly a two story, four bedroom house.

Access to additional equipment and CAT5 isn't an issue as we can get more
and the Windows computers are currently all in one of the large bedrooms, but
each is used by a different member of the family.

"Robert Jacobs" wrote:

> I dont know how your internet will be connected, in regards to does it use
> some sort of modem or does it have to connect directly to a HOST computer
> for ditribution, but you will not be using more then one base station in
> your network.
>
> Are all your computers networked together now? or No? Do you want them all
> wireless or no? what is the square feet coverage ara you need? Do you have
> wireless client adapters already or no? Is you satelite connection already
> connected or no? And how is it connected?
>
> Robert.....
>
> "Ragle" <> wrote in message
> news:E5FE3A65-12F5-47C7-8F12-...
> > Ok, this is a far-reaching question, so please be patient with my details.
> >
> > We are upgrading our overall home network to take advantage of satellite
> > broadband. There are currently a total of 5 Windows-based PC's and 1
> > Apple
> > laptop in the house.
> >
> > We also have a Microsoft MN-500 Base Station, a Belkin brand version of
> > the
> > same, an Apple Airport Express, and an Apple Extreme Base Station.
> >
> > The goals for all of this are the following:
> >
> > 1. Allow all the machines to see each other's shared drives or folders for
> > file transfers.
> > 2. Share printers and take advantage of the Apple hardware's printer
> > serving
> > capabilities
> > 3. Take further advantage of the Airport Express' capability to stream
> > music
> > to a stereo anywhere in the house.
> > 4. Share access to the broadband connection across all stations.
> >
> > Currently, only the Apple laptop has 802.11g capabilities and one of the
> > PC's has 802.11b. The rest are using wired connections.
> >
> > My initial thoughts are to use the Belkin and Microsoft stations as
> > "bridges" to extend the range of the Apple Extreme. I am unfamiliar with
> > how
> > that would actually work, however.
> >
> >
> > Can someone provide an efficient solution which achieves each of the
> > stated
> > goals and maximizes the overall performance of the network?
> >
> > Regards and thanks in advance!
>
>
>

OK, more clear. so basically you will have a broadband modem connected to a
router, I would use a wireless router like your Microsoft MN-500 Basestation
centraly located in the downstairs, but it is only 802.11b. Your Apple
Extreme Base Station is G compliant but only has 1 ethernet port and its
compatability with range extenders is not very good.

Now since the Microsoft MN-500 only has 4 ethernet ports you can connect a
hub to one of the ports for connecting PC number 4 and 5 and your Apple
Airport Express, for your media sharing. Then you need to purchase atleast
two 802.11b range extenders to place upstairs in each corner of the house
for easy access upstairs. You can use something like the D-Link DWL-800AP+
or the Linksys WAP11. And your laptop will need a 802.11b PCMCIA card.

If you wanted to go totally wireless and get rid of all the cat5 then just
buy 802.11g USB or PCI wireless adapters for all your computers and use the
apple extreme basestation.

Hope that answers dome of your questions.

Robert...


"Ragle" <> wrote in message
news:081DAF81-4DE3-453D-9E15-...
> The internet connection comes in through the satellite modem, which acts
> the
> same as the cable and DSL modems I am sure you are familiar with. To allow
> multiple computers to share the connection a router would be used for NAT.
> All the base stations and the Airport Express are capable of this in
> various
> ways.
>
> The current network configuration was completed by someone else using just
> a
> simple hub for basic file and printer sharing. No broadband was present
> and
> each computer dialed out on its own. I had hoped to use the routers'
> capabilities to more intelligently handle this type of thing.
>
> Wireless access is only a real demand for the laptop, given its already
> present portability. The square footage for wireless coverage would then
> be
> roughly a two story, four bedroom house.
>
> Access to additional equipment and CAT5 isn't an issue as we can get more
> and the Windows computers are currently all in one of the large bedrooms,
> but
> each is used by a different member of the family.
>
> "Robert Jacobs" wrote:
>
>> I dont know how your internet will be connected, in regards to does it
>> use
>> some sort of modem or does it have to connect directly to a HOST computer
>> for ditribution, but you will not be using more then one base station in
>> your network.
>>
>> Are all your computers networked together now? or No? Do you want them
>> all
>> wireless or no? what is the square feet coverage ara you need? Do you
>> have
>> wireless client adapters already or no? Is you satelite connection
>> already
>> connected or no? And how is it connected?
>>
>> Robert.....
>>
>> "Ragle" <> wrote in message
>> news:E5FE3A65-12F5-47C7-8F12-...
>> > Ok, this is a far-reaching question, so please be patient with my
>> > details.
>> >
>> > We are upgrading our overall home network to take advantage of
>> > satellite
>> > broadband. There are currently a total of 5 Windows-based PC's and 1
>> > Apple
>> > laptop in the house.
>> >
>> > We also have a Microsoft MN-500 Base Station, a Belkin brand version of
>> > the
>> > same, an Apple Airport Express, and an Apple Extreme Base Station.
>> >
>> > The goals for all of this are the following:
>> >
>> > 1. Allow all the machines to see each other's shared drives or folders
>> > for
>> > file transfers.
>> > 2. Share printers and take advantage of the Apple hardware's printer
>> > serving
>> > capabilities
>> > 3. Take further advantage of the Airport Express' capability to stream
>> > music
>> > to a stereo anywhere in the house.
>> > 4. Share access to the broadband connection across all stations.
>> >
>> > Currently, only the Apple laptop has 802.11g capabilities and one of
>> > the
>> > PC's has 802.11b. The rest are using wired connections.
>> >
>> > My initial thoughts are to use the Belkin and Microsoft stations as
>> > "bridges" to extend the range of the Apple Extreme. I am unfamiliar
>> > with
>> > how
>> > that would actually work, however.
>> >
>> >
>> > Can someone provide an efficient solution which achieves each of the
>> > stated
>> > goals and maximizes the overall performance of the network?
>> >
>> > Regards and thanks in advance!
>>
>>
>>

Excellent so far and many thanks for your answers.

Could I use the Apple Extreme Base Station connected directly to the
broadband modem, the MN-500 connected to the PC network, and somehow set up
the MN-500 to bridge from the Extreme network? They would be in the same room.

This would then allow me to use the printer sharing capabilities of the
Extreme and the music streaming capabilities of the Express from all
machines. The laptop could then connect to either the Extreme or the Express.

Would this work?

"Robert Jacobs" wrote:

> OK, more clear. so basically you will have a broadband modem connected to a
> router, I would use a wireless router like your Microsoft MN-500 Basestation
> centraly located in the downstairs, but it is only 802.11b. Your Apple
> Extreme Base Station is G compliant but only has 1 ethernet port and its
> compatability with range extenders is not very good.
>
> Now since the Microsoft MN-500 only has 4 ethernet ports you can connect a
> hub to one of the ports for connecting PC number 4 and 5 and your Apple
> Airport Express, for your media sharing. Then you need to purchase atleast
> two 802.11b range extenders to place upstairs in each corner of the house
> for easy access upstairs. You can use something like the D-Link DWL-800AP+
> or the Linksys WAP11. And your laptop will need a 802.11b PCMCIA card.
>
> If you wanted to go totally wireless and get rid of all the cat5 then just
> buy 802.11g USB or PCI wireless adapters for all your computers and use the
> apple extreme basestation.
>
> Hope that answers dome of your questions.
>
> Robert...
>
>
> "Ragle" <> wrote in message
> news:081DAF81-4DE3-453D-9E15-...
> > The internet connection comes in through the satellite modem, which acts
> > the
> > same as the cable and DSL modems I am sure you are familiar with. To allow
> > multiple computers to share the connection a router would be used for NAT.
> > All the base stations and the Airport Express are capable of this in
> > various
> > ways.
> >
> > The current network configuration was completed by someone else using just
> > a
> > simple hub for basic file and printer sharing. No broadband was present
> > and
> > each computer dialed out on its own. I had hoped to use the routers'
> > capabilities to more intelligently handle this type of thing.
> >
> > Wireless access is only a real demand for the laptop, given its already
> > present portability. The square footage for wireless coverage would then
> > be
> > roughly a two story, four bedroom house.
> >
> > Access to additional equipment and CAT5 isn't an issue as we can get more
> > and the Windows computers are currently all in one of the large bedrooms,
> > but
> > each is used by a different member of the family.
> >
> > "Robert Jacobs" wrote:
> >
> >> I dont know how your internet will be connected, in regards to does it
> >> use
> >> some sort of modem or does it have to connect directly to a HOST computer
> >> for ditribution, but you will not be using more then one base station in
> >> your network.
> >>
> >> Are all your computers networked together now? or No? Do you want them
> >> all
> >> wireless or no? what is the square feet coverage ara you need? Do you
> >> have
> >> wireless client adapters already or no? Is you satelite connection
> >> already
> >> connected or no? And how is it connected?
> >>
> >> Robert.....
> >>
> >> "Ragle" <> wrote in message
> >> news:E5FE3A65-12F5-47C7-8F12-...
> >> > Ok, this is a far-reaching question, so please be patient with my
> >> > details.
> >> >
> >> > We are upgrading our overall home network to take advantage of
> >> > satellite
> >> > broadband. There are currently a total of 5 Windows-based PC's and 1
> >> > Apple
> >> > laptop in the house.
> >> >
> >> > We also have a Microsoft MN-500 Base Station, a Belkin brand version of
> >> > the
> >> > same, an Apple Airport Express, and an Apple Extreme Base Station.
> >> >
> >> > The goals for all of this are the following:
> >> >
> >> > 1. Allow all the machines to see each other's shared drives or folders
> >> > for
> >> > file transfers.
> >> > 2. Share printers and take advantage of the Apple hardware's printer
> >> > serving
> >> > capabilities
> >> > 3. Take further advantage of the Airport Express' capability to stream
> >> > music
> >> > to a stereo anywhere in the house.
> >> > 4. Share access to the broadband connection across all stations.
> >> >
> >> > Currently, only the Apple laptop has 802.11g capabilities and one of
> >> > the
> >> > PC's has 802.11b. The rest are using wired connections.
> >> >
> >> > My initial thoughts are to use the Belkin and Microsoft stations as
> >> > "bridges" to extend the range of the Apple Extreme. I am unfamiliar
> >> > with
> >> > how
> >> > that would actually work, however.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Can someone provide an efficient solution which achieves each of the
> >> > stated
> >> > goals and maximizes the overall performance of the network?
> >> >
> >> > Regards and thanks in advance!
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Sorry no, they are strickly basestations, not clients or APs and will not
work that way.
"Ragle" <> wrote in message
news:4256DE3E-35B4-4BD5-A6DA-...
> Excellent so far and many thanks for your answers.
>
> Could I use the Apple Extreme Base Station connected directly to the
> broadband modem, the MN-500 connected to the PC network, and somehow set
> up
> the MN-500 to bridge from the Extreme network? They would be in the same
> room.
>
> This would then allow me to use the printer sharing capabilities of the
> Extreme and the music streaming capabilities of the Express from all
> machines. The laptop could then connect to either the Extreme or the
> Express.
>
> Would this work?
>
> "Robert Jacobs" wrote:
>
>> OK, more clear. so basically you will have a broadband modem connected to
>> a
>> router, I would use a wireless router like your Microsoft MN-500
>> Basestation
>> centraly located in the downstairs, but it is only 802.11b. Your Apple
>> Extreme Base Station is G compliant but only has 1 ethernet port and its
>> compatability with range extenders is not very good.
>>
>> Now since the Microsoft MN-500 only has 4 ethernet ports you can connect
>> a
>> hub to one of the ports for connecting PC number 4 and 5 and your Apple
>> Airport Express, for your media sharing. Then you need to purchase
>> atleast
>> two 802.11b range extenders to place upstairs in each corner of the house
>> for easy access upstairs. You can use something like the D-Link
>> DWL-800AP+
>> or the Linksys WAP11. And your laptop will need a 802.11b PCMCIA card.
>>
>> If you wanted to go totally wireless and get rid of all the cat5 then
>> just
>> buy 802.11g USB or PCI wireless adapters for all your computers and use
>> the
>> apple extreme basestation.
>>
>> Hope that answers dome of your questions.
>>
>> Robert...
>>
>>
>> "Ragle" <> wrote in message
>> news:081DAF81-4DE3-453D-9E15-...
>> > The internet connection comes in through the satellite modem, which
>> > acts
>> > the
>> > same as the cable and DSL modems I am sure you are familiar with. To
>> > allow
>> > multiple computers to share the connection a router would be used for
>> > NAT.
>> > All the base stations and the Airport Express are capable of this in
>> > various
>> > ways.
>> >
>> > The current network configuration was completed by someone else using
>> > just
>> > a
>> > simple hub for basic file and printer sharing. No broadband was present
>> > and
>> > each computer dialed out on its own. I had hoped to use the routers'
>> > capabilities to more intelligently handle this type of thing.
>> >
>> > Wireless access is only a real demand for the laptop, given its already
>> > present portability. The square footage for wireless coverage would
>> > then
>> > be
>> > roughly a two story, four bedroom house.
>> >
>> > Access to additional equipment and CAT5 isn't an issue as we can get
>> > more
>> > and the Windows computers are currently all in one of the large
>> > bedrooms,
>> > but
>> > each is used by a different member of the family.
>> >
>> > "Robert Jacobs" wrote:
>> >
>> >> I dont know how your internet will be connected, in regards to does it
>> >> use
>> >> some sort of modem or does it have to connect directly to a HOST
>> >> computer
>> >> for ditribution, but you will not be using more then one base station
>> >> in
>> >> your network.
>> >>
>> >> Are all your computers networked together now? or No? Do you want them
>> >> all
>> >> wireless or no? what is the square feet coverage ara you need? Do you
>> >> have
>> >> wireless client adapters already or no? Is you satelite connection
>> >> already
>> >> connected or no? And how is it connected?
>> >>
>> >> Robert.....
>> >>
>> >> "Ragle" <> wrote in message
>> >> news:E5FE3A65-12F5-47C7-8F12-...
>> >> > Ok, this is a far-reaching question, so please be patient with my
>> >> > details.
>> >> >
>> >> > We are upgrading our overall home network to take advantage of
>> >> > satellite
>> >> > broadband. There are currently a total of 5 Windows-based PC's and
>> >> > 1
>> >> > Apple
>> >> > laptop in the house.
>> >> >
>> >> > We also have a Microsoft MN-500 Base Station, a Belkin brand version
>> >> > of
>> >> > the
>> >> > same, an Apple Airport Express, and an Apple Extreme Base Station.
>> >> >
>> >> > The goals for all of this are the following:
>> >> >
>> >> > 1. Allow all the machines to see each other's shared drives or
>> >> > folders
>> >> > for
>> >> > file transfers.
>> >> > 2. Share printers and take advantage of the Apple hardware's printer
>> >> > serving
>> >> > capabilities
>> >> > 3. Take further advantage of the Airport Express' capability to
>> >> > stream
>> >> > music
>> >> > to a stereo anywhere in the house.
>> >> > 4. Share access to the broadband connection across all stations.
>> >> >
>> >> > Currently, only the Apple laptop has 802.11g capabilities and one of
>> >> > the
>> >> > PC's has 802.11b. The rest are using wired connections.
>> >> >
>> >> > My initial thoughts are to use the Belkin and Microsoft stations as
>> >> > "bridges" to extend the range of the Apple Extreme. I am unfamiliar
>> >> > with
>> >> > how
>> >> > that would actually work, however.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Can someone provide an efficient solution which achieves each of the
>> >> > stated
>> >> > goals and maximizes the overall performance of the network?
>> >> >
>> >> > Regards and thanks in advance!
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

You may still find that no matter how, what, when, why you do things; that
the MAC and PCs will not be able to share files.

If you find an answer to this I'd be delighted to hear from you.
"Robert Jacobs" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Sorry no, they are strickly basestations, not clients or APs and will not
> work that way.
> "Ragle" <> wrote in message
> news:4256DE3E-35B4-4BD5-A6DA-...
>> Excellent so far and many thanks for your answers.
>>
>> Could I use the Apple Extreme Base Station connected directly to the
>> broadband modem, the MN-500 connected to the PC network, and somehow set
>> up
>> the MN-500 to bridge from the Extreme network? They would be in the same
>> room.
>>
>> This would then allow me to use the printer sharing capabilities of the
>> Extreme and the music streaming capabilities of the Express from all
>> machines. The laptop could then connect to either the Extreme or the
>> Express.
>>
>> Would this work?
>>
>> "Robert Jacobs" wrote:
>>
>>> OK, more clear. so basically you will have a broadband modem connected
>>> to a
>>> router, I would use a wireless router like your Microsoft MN-500
>>> Basestation
>>> centraly located in the downstairs, but it is only 802.11b. Your Apple
>>> Extreme Base Station is G compliant but only has 1 ethernet port and its
>>> compatability with range extenders is not very good.
>>>
>>> Now since the Microsoft MN-500 only has 4 ethernet ports you can connect
>>> a
>>> hub to one of the ports for connecting PC number 4 and 5 and your Apple
>>> Airport Express, for your media sharing. Then you need to purchase
>>> atleast
>>> two 802.11b range extenders to place upstairs in each corner of the
>>> house
>>> for easy access upstairs. You can use something like the D-Link
>>> DWL-800AP+
>>> or the Linksys WAP11. And your laptop will need a 802.11b PCMCIA card.
>>>
>>> If you wanted to go totally wireless and get rid of all the cat5 then
>>> just
>>> buy 802.11g USB or PCI wireless adapters for all your computers and use
>>> the
>>> apple extreme basestation.
>>>
>>> Hope that answers dome of your questions.
>>>
>>> Robert...
>>>
>>>
>>> "Ragle" <> wrote in message
>>> news:081DAF81-4DE3-453D-9E15-...
>>> > The internet connection comes in through the satellite modem, which
>>> > acts
>>> > the
>>> > same as the cable and DSL modems I am sure you are familiar with. To
>>> > allow
>>> > multiple computers to share the connection a router would be used for
>>> > NAT.
>>> > All the base stations and the Airport Express are capable of this in
>>> > various
>>> > ways.
>>> >
>>> > The current network configuration was completed by someone else using
>>> > just
>>> > a
>>> > simple hub for basic file and printer sharing. No broadband was
>>> > present
>>> > and
>>> > each computer dialed out on its own. I had hoped to use the routers'
>>> > capabilities to more intelligently handle this type of thing.
>>> >
>>> > Wireless access is only a real demand for the laptop, given its
>>> > already
>>> > present portability. The square footage for wireless coverage would
>>> > then
>>> > be
>>> > roughly a two story, four bedroom house.
>>> >
>>> > Access to additional equipment and CAT5 isn't an issue as we can get
>>> > more
>>> > and the Windows computers are currently all in one of the large
>>> > bedrooms,
>>> > but
>>> > each is used by a different member of the family.
>>> >
>>> > "Robert Jacobs" wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> I dont know how your internet will be connected, in regards to does
>>> >> it
>>> >> use
>>> >> some sort of modem or does it have to connect directly to a HOST
>>> >> computer
>>> >> for ditribution, but you will not be using more then one base station
>>> >> in
>>> >> your network.
>>> >>
>>> >> Are all your computers networked together now? or No? Do you want
>>> >> them
>>> >> all
>>> >> wireless or no? what is the square feet coverage ara you need? Do you
>>> >> have
>>> >> wireless client adapters already or no? Is you satelite connection
>>> >> already
>>> >> connected or no? And how is it connected?
>>> >>
>>> >> Robert.....
>>> >>
>>> >> "Ragle" <> wrote in message
>>> >> news:E5FE3A65-12F5-47C7-8F12-...
>>> >> > Ok, this is a far-reaching question, so please be patient with my
>>> >> > details.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > We are upgrading our overall home network to take advantage of
>>> >> > satellite
>>> >> > broadband. There are currently a total of 5 Windows-based PC's and
>>> >> > 1
>>> >> > Apple
>>> >> > laptop in the house.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > We also have a Microsoft MN-500 Base Station, a Belkin brand
>>> >> > version of
>>> >> > the
>>> >> > same, an Apple Airport Express, and an Apple Extreme Base Station.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > The goals for all of this are the following:
>>> >> >
>>> >> > 1. Allow all the machines to see each other's shared drives or
>>> >> > folders
>>> >> > for
>>> >> > file transfers.
>>> >> > 2. Share printers and take advantage of the Apple hardware's
>>> >> > printer
>>> >> > serving
>>> >> > capabilities
>>> >> > 3. Take further advantage of the Airport Express' capability to
>>> >> > stream
>>> >> > music
>>> >> > to a stereo anywhere in the house.
>>> >> > 4. Share access to the broadband connection across all stations.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Currently, only the Apple laptop has 802.11g capabilities and one
>>> >> > of
>>> >> > the
>>> >> > PC's has 802.11b. The rest are using wired connections.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > My initial thoughts are to use the Belkin and Microsoft stations as
>>> >> > "bridges" to extend the range of the Apple Extreme. I am unfamiliar
>>> >> > with
>>> >> > how
>>> >> > that would actually work, however.
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Can someone provide an efficient solution which achieves each of
>>> >> > the
>>> >> > stated
>>> >> > goals and maximizes the overall performance of the network?
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Regards and thanks in advance!
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>