Do I need a wireless access point, or can multiple wireless nics see each other?

[bigshooter]

Title says it all. Would I need a wireless access point for anything other than longer range? What else does it do? I don't need a bridge, which i thought was the only other function. I have my server, another workstation and a laptop, and possibly an ipaq pocketpc, and I just want to get rid of teh cables. Can I just use cards if its no more than 25 feet to where I want to take the laptop (all on same level, no floors or concrete to go through).

 

[xyyz]

you need a wireless access point.

it's kinda like trying to connect two computers using a standard 586b cable... it wont work, you need a crossover... unfortunately there really isn't a crossover here.

if your wireless cards are IEEE 802.11b compliant you dont need to shell alot of cash getting an expensive matching Access Point, you can pickup a cheaper one like Linksys's version for $250... i'm pretty sure that's 802.11b compliant.

 

[Eug]

<< you need a wireless access point.

it's kinda like trying to connect two computers using a standard 586b cable... it wont work, you need a crossover... unfortunately there really isn't a crossover here. >>


????? You sure? All the PC solution reviews I've seen use an Access Point, but for the Mac (which uses Lucent stuff) no Access Point is required at all. One G4 with a wireless card serves up to the other wireless computers. The Airport is optional.

 

[jaywallen]

Hi,

Actually you can set up a card-to-card network using wireless NICs.

An example of how to do it using the SMC PC Cards can be found at http://www.practicallynetworked.com/support/adhoc_setup.htm.

Regards,
Jim

 

[xyyz]

i stand corrected then... Cisco told me that I'd need an access point and that there is no way to do peer-to-peer without an access point... however, there is an Ad Hoc feature while configuring the NICs.

I guess this is the last time i talk to stupid-ass sales people who don't know anything... it could have saved my client $1500.

Thanks for correcting me...

 

[Castellan]

At least with Lucent, the demo mode works quite well. The only thing demo mode does is allow cards to communicate directly with each other.

 

[jaywallen]

xyyz,



<< I guess this is the last time i talk to stupid-ass sales people who don't know anything... >>



LOL! If you can find a way to avoid this pitfall, you are duty-bound to post it here!!! I promise you that you will be worshipped!

Regards,
Jim

 

[fargus]

Definitely don't need the AP, although you may get a bit better speed with it, and sometimes more features. I'm running a bunch of older Lucent WaveLAN Bronze cards in AdHoc mode at home, works just fine. Hope to upgrade to 11Mbps cards sometime soon, though. I've used the Breezecom wireless stuff too, although it's frequency hopping and not compatible with the Lucent, etc.

 

[Batti]

Can you run more than two in Ad-hoc mode?

 

[maesus]

<< Can you run more than two in Ad-hoc mode? >>



Yes for sure!

Virtually there is no limit of numbers of station to connect in a Basic Service Set (BSS), but for performance issues, IEEE 802.11 might limit the number of active connection per BSS. I'm not sure about the exact numbers but for Bluetooth, which is very similar to WLAN, has limited to 8 active connections including the Master.

 

[KrackerJack]

Shooter,

I don't know figure it out for your self, Loser.

St.Dogg