lo people

masterman

Hey there everybody. I'm new. Don't flame me.



Okay...heres my issue





I have at home a gateway (SORRY! I know, its wasn't my choice tho...somebody else in my family wanted it.) We also have a belkin 802.11g router accessed by a HP laptop. THe issue is...



I want to get an ibook. Is there a way for the two laptops to share a router...being the belkin, or somehow adding the airportl, i dk.





Anyway, is this possible?

alcimedes

if you have an 802.11g router, an iBook will work with it w/o any hassle.



the wireless protocol is generic, and the same between Windows and Macs.

masterman

okay, very cool. So, if i do get the ibook, do I just buy a 802.11 b or g chip to put in it? will that stick out from the keyboard, or will it go inside? i know, kinda stupid, but just want to make sure i got it all strit. Thanks, MM

dmband0026

You'll need an AirPort Card.

Pop the keyboard off your iBook and look under, that's where it goes. Antenna are built into the sides of the display.



An AirPort card can be picked up at The Apple Store

k squared

Quote:

Originally posted by Masterman

okay, very cool. So, if i do get the ibook, do I just buy a 802.11 b or g chip to put in it? will that stick out from the keyboard, or will it go inside? i know, kinda stupid, but just want to make sure i got it all strit. Thanks, MM

This is easy: go to Apple.com. Look up the iBook page and click on 'wireless'.

ghost_user_name

Also of note is that if you are getting an iBook G4 (the new model) you don't want the AirPort "card" as pointed out above.



The new iBooks needs a mini-PCI AirPort Extreme... not the PCMCIA AirPort card.



Just select it as a option when you are ordering your iBook. It will be the only wireless (minus bluetooth) option when placing your order for the iBook.

masterman

so, the airport card will be compatible w/ my belkin router? No problems (interference w/ the other laptop?)







somethin else too, may be a rumor, i dk...but i want an apple, but I here that macs tend to freeze up a lot...is that true? Forgive me, I've never had a Mac before.





Thanks,

MM

dmband0026

No problems at all. I have a Netgear router here that is supplying a wired connection to two Macs, and wireless connections to a Sony VIAO desktop, a Fujitsu laptop, an iBook G3, and soon to be a PB 12".



Never a single problem with the router, works like a charm.



As far as those people who tell you that Macs crash more...HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH.



That is absolutely untrue. Mac OS X (the operating system that will come with your new iBook) is the best, most stable, easiest, and hands down best OS ever. It won't crash, it won't freeze, it won't mess up.

Macs have no viruses, no worms, nothing like that. So when all your friends are afraid of opening their e mail because of the newest virus scare, you can surf and e mail without a care, because you can't get the virus.

Whoever told you that Macs are inferior in any way is on crack, and they have no idea what they are talking about.

masterman

so, how does the airport card work with the belkin? Does it just work like a universal b or g chip?



-Masterman



btw, thanks evrybdy for yer help so far...great stuff.

dmband0026

It will work just the same as a regular B/G card.



The signal that your router sends out can be picked up by Mac or Windows, no problem at all.

masterman

awesome, so i get the ibook and then get the airport card, and I'm all set? (sry, i need repetition, kinda slow haha)

ghost_user_name

Yes get the iBook with AirPort Extreme. It will work fine.

masterman

great. Thanks guys.

masterman

wait...maybe u guys can help me w/ this...





In just about every room in my house, i can access the wireless signal from my belkin router. Unfortunately, I can't get it in, guess where? MY ROOM! I do pick up the signal but then loose it...never enuff time for me to even sign on tho. I think there is a linksys close by (a neigbor's house perhaps) which i do pick up in there as well.





When i do get the ibook, i'll have to set up the shared wireless system, but do u think that somehow the airport chip itself will be strong enuff to pick up the signal, when my b chip could not?





If not, is there a way for me to set up the airport extreme base station with my pc and then add an additional wireless base in my room...thats usin a tank when a truck can be used, but if thats what it takes....





What u think?



-MM

masterman

also, do u guys think an ibook fits me? I'll be usin in mainly for word processing, surfin the web, and the ilife programs.(vs a power book, i mean)





Any ideas on this wireless thing too?

dogcow

First, I'd suggest moving your router around some. Moving it a few feet can make a huge difference as far as interference goes. Try to put it in a more central location, or closer to your room. This is the easiest and cheapest solution. The airport card will probably not be much of an improvement over any wireless card you have in your pc notebook. If you want another base in your room you are going to have to get a wire in the room anyway to get the bridging to work. So, yea, move your current base station around and see how it works.



The iBook will be great for word processing, web, and ilife.

masterman

i dk how i'm gunna move it tho...its the only room in the house w/ the broadband cable...any other options?

dmband0026

Quote:

Originally posted by Masterman

i dk how i'm gunna move it tho...its the only room in the house w/ the broadband cable...any other options?

Get a longer cable to connect your modem to your router and move it somewhere. Either that, or just try a different spot in the room. You would be surprised how big a difference just moving it 5 feet can make.

masterman

i moved the router a little...a couple feet in the direction of my room...the funny thing is a room farther away than my room gets reception, but my room is stil only intermittantly pickin up the signal. It is gettin some interference from a lynksys from a neighbor i assume. Though i was able to sign on for a short time once the router was moved, it didn't last.





Should i move the router even farther across the study? what are my options here? is there anyway I can block the lynksys's signal completely?



-MM

ast3r3x

Things to try:



1)Think about router position...even a foot can make a difference because of angles you could be saving a couple less feet that a signal needs to travel through a wall



2)Change the channel to something else

masterman

i'll try movin it some more. But how do i change the channel?



-MM





btw...wantin to get this all set fer the ibook, that way i can get access in my room...just so u guys know.