setting up new wireless network

[sedgey]

Our area becomes activated in a couple of days, and I want to be able to buy the best broadband equipment that I can afford. If you could advise based on the setup below, before i spend my money it would be much appreciated. I have looked into this for a long time, and read a lot of the posts on here, so have decided on what i might like to do, is the set up that i plan feasible ? It is all for personal/home/domestic/residentail use or whatever it is referred to as.


I have 3 desk top PC's, 1 running Win 98 the other 2 running Win XP pro.
1 of the winxp pro's and the win 98 are networked together via a 16 port 10/100 hub and 10/100 PCI network cards. The other win xp is stand alone at present.
I also want to purchase a laptop.

So, I am thinking about purchasing the Netgear DG824M 11mbps wireless ADSL modem, router, wireles access point and firewall in one. Also, a wireless adapter for the stand alone PC (advice required on the best to go for appreciated), and hopefully the laptop will have a wireless adapter included or i will get one of these at a later date.

If I plug the netgear box into the adsl connection, and use the 'currently' stand alone win xp pro PC as the main connection to broadband (with the new wireless adapter) will i need to purchase any additional equipment/cables etc. for the 2 currently analogue 'networked' PC's. i.e. can I just plug the same 10/100 ethernet cables into the broadband netgear box ?

The stand alone PC is in a different room to the other 2 pcs.

Also, I am thinking of going with Plus Net home user at £21.99 p.month. I have read a few reviews and they always seem to come out on top. I am currently with Fserve analogue and really don't want to go along with their broadband service. I don't mind about new email addy's etc..

does this all sound feasible or is there better equipment that I could use ???

BTW, I currently use ICS, will this be needed for my broadband set up to allow the 3 desktop and laptop to access broadband, or does the new equipment allow for this or something similar ? Is it easy to set up ?

thanks in advance

[Greenstead]

Some comments/suggestions:

I would look for wireless solutions using 802.11g to get the better throput. So don't choose a laptop because it has in-built wireless - they are all 11b.

Fixed PCs (like desktops) are better wired if feasible.

If you buy an ADSL modem/router you will not nead ICS anymore.

I would look for an ADSL modem/router/switch and wire the desktops to it. Then later, when you go for a laptop, choose an 11g Access Point and 11g PC card for the laptop.

[sedgey]

thanks for your help, that has been really useful. :)

Could you possibly recommend a good ADSL modem/router/switch to go for ? (you could email/PM me if you prefer)

Will the desktop PC's network cards and cables that I already have be compatible / fast enough for broadband or will i need to buy new ? (i just have 10/100 PCI ethernet cards and standard 15 metre cables (45 CAT ? or something like that). And if I need new, what might you recommend ?

Do you rate Plus Net ?

regards

[Greenstead]

I don't use ADSL so can't recommend from experience.

Try here for ADSL hardware reviews.
http://www.adslguide.org.uk/

Your existing equipment will be fine.

I never heard of Rate Plus.

[sedgey]

thanks for the link i will check it out.

when i said 'do you rate Plus Net?', i meant do you have a view of 'PlusNet' :o as an ISP for Broadband. It seems to be getting top ratings to all the other ISP's on some reviews, I was just wondering what people on this forum thought ??