ComputingStuff

Hey I have a small problem.

Right, my house next year has a wireless router down stairs and I am in the top most room. I want to connect all my stuff to the internet, my desktop, my laptop (hopefully a macbook) and my xbox 360.

My laptop will not be a problem as it already has a wireless card on it. I have a desktop wireless lying around SOMEWHERE here. It is the xbox 360 that is the problem. I could get a wireless card for it

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/99421

but it is £60. It seems like a bit of a waste.

I have two ideas

1. I have a wired switch lying around. I was thinking about getting this

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/61885

which is a wireless bridge. I could connect this to my wired switch and connect to wireless router like that.

The problem is the means two devices are always on..

2. I could also put a wireless card in the desktop and share internet on it. Then connect devices to the on board wired network port. Again, this means to do anything I have to have my computer on and sharing the internet.

I guess, I just thought there might be a better way..

I'd go with the wireless bridge. Apart from anything else, the connection on my wirelesss bridge is more reliable than any PCI/USB/built in adapter I've seen (I've also been able to connect to networks that laptops couldn't even see with it). It also works perfectly at the opposite end of the apartment from the router when laptops drop the connection every half hour or so...

This is what I have : http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/52459

Does anyone know if a wireless router/access point can be used as a repeater?

I don't think they can - I think you have to have 2 seperate chips - that's why you need two wireless cards to use a computer as a repeater. A repeater also halves the speed, IIRC.

So if you wanted to wireless rounter to interact, you have to physically connect them.

Not sure about the router, but remembered what a piece of shite that Belkin bridge is - had one a couple of years back and returned it the same day.