Combine Wired and Wireless Network
When you want to combine wired and wireless networking devices you will need to think in perspective because there are really no limits regarding the devices you can connect. The operating systems of all desktop computers connected can be a problem if the difficulties between Vista and XP are not overcame in the beginning.
When we are referring to a laptop computer that will connect through a wireless router to a certain network and then connect through this network to the wired printer, then we can call the respective router an access point that is providing both wired and wireless access. A combination between a wireless and wired network can be done using most routers, as the wireless routers usually do provide wired access through connection cables. And this is not only possible like in the example above, when the router was just a passing point for the data stream going to a peripheral component on another device. This can also be done with desktop or laptop computers, some can gain access to the network wirelessly, others though connection cables.
It’s not always easy to combine wired networking & wireless devices, but it’s doable. All you need to do is add a wireless device that can allow access to the network infrastructure to the wireless computers. If you don’t want to connect through an access point, then you can add a wireless card in your desktops system and the switch between the two network systems will be done automatically. This means that when a laptop connects to the internet will use the wireless card to access the internet Ethernet cable and if the desktop computer is the one communication with the internet then the connection will be direct. However, if you set your laptop to connect to the internet through another computer then it’s obvious that you will need to keep the access computer on, so that the wireless signal can connect to the specified ip and from there on continue the communication and assure a continuous connectivity.
There might occur a compatibility issue when the wired devices, aka the pcs are using windows XP and the wireless devices are using windows Vista. The point is the Vista requires a secure wireless network to connect to. Setting up internet connection security and allowing networking devices to work with both type of connection should be done first hand. A wired network can also be password protected, but if the laptop uses a different network by connecting though another computer to the initial Ethernet network then the password shall be set only for this connection. Whenever you turn on the laptop and try to connect to your access points you will be prompted for a password. If this has been set before, then the discussion about compatibility issues become pointless, because the connection can be done directly.
Got something to say? Click here to reply
