Networking!

Today marked "abortive attempt to set up a home network part 1"! Well, it wasn't entirely a failure, I did manage to setup a LAN, the only problem being I had no Internet connection. I was working mainly on the basis that, if you plug everything in, the rest will be easy. It was only when my computer started waffling on about IP addresses that I realised I was out of my depth. Not that I don't know plenty about both networks and IP's, just that I've no idea what the computer wants from me because it won't say what the problem actually is.

It's all a moot point now anyway, because I was going to change ISP, but when I phoned to cancel, my present ISP had to go and better the deal I was after, so I've a new router on the way now, with instructions this time, and I'll get more bandwidth for less, with free phone calls as well. Sounds good, provided I can get it all working, and that's not a certainty by a long chalk.

Bizarre coincidence yesterday. I was on the train coming home, and a guy that's in my class at Uni was sitting a few seats back. He never ever gets this train as he lives in the islands and stays in Aberdeen during term, but he was off to a party in the Highlands. Anyway, I could hear him talking all of the journey, and assumed it was with someone he knew from Aberdeen who was also going to the party. It turned out be someone else I knew from College several years ago. So, we all knew each other, but never knew that we knew each other, if that makes sense?

Look Ma, No Wires!

In the very near future I'm going to take a step into the unknown and set-up a wireless home network, and probably change ISP after 4 years as well. There are a few very good reasons for doing so; firstly the kids are screaming out for the Internet all the time, and my pc is the only one in the house with Internet access, secondly they both want laptops for Christmas, and thirdly, so my son and I can play games against each other on a WLAN.

I can't really afford to buy them laptops, but an opportunity has presented itself, allowing me the possibility of purchasing them without VAT, which knocks off £100 for starters. Besides which, I recently acquired a wireless eTEC Modem/Router for nothing, so I have that ready to set-up, and also, I'm presently paying £25 a month for 4Mbps DSL, and I saw an ISP advertising 8Mbps in my area, for £20, with free local and international calls. A much better offer, I thnk you'll agree, which also means that I won't detect too much slowing down of my Internet speeds, should the kids be using it too.

Well, the fact is, that I have no idea how to set-up a wireless network and it may well require some other bits and pieces to do so, but in terms of Internt use, if as I supect, the kids have to go through my computer to access the Internet, then Netlimiter will allow me some means by which to ensure that they don't slow me down noticeably. Don't tell them though, they don't need to know do they? And if I'm on a priority download, I'm sure they'll quite readily accept that there are quite often problems associated with being on a wirelss network.