Connect 2 pc's using 2 PCI network cards only?

RMFRMF
edited December 2008 in Science & Tech
Hii guys,

I'm building a small form factor pc for my kids room to hook up to their TV that I'm getting them for Christmas for media playback only. I want to be able to connect to it from this PC but I don't have a wireless router. I want to be able to control the other PC remotely from here aswell as transfer data to it. Is it possible to do this using only 2 PCI wireless cards? And if so, could I do it while still keeping the network secure?

Thank's in advance!

Comments

  • SonorousSonorous F@H Fanatic US Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    You can set up an AD-Hoc network with two wireless cards. This type of network is slow though, and as I recall works best in a 802.11 A environment and it can be secured. I would not want to transferring files larger than 100MB with it, or using it with a remote desktop client. It will work however. Do you already own the card you are going to use? If so you could always set it up and see if it is usable.
  • RMFRMF
    edited December 2008
    I haven't built the system yet so I can't test it. I really need it to be fast and stable so I guess that I'll need to buy a wireless router although I had wanted to keep the costs down. I also have a 60mbit fibre line so I don;t want this slowing my internet down either, but if it means that I won't have to watch Tinkerbell for the gazillionth time then I may have to just bite the bullet and do it.
  • SonorousSonorous F@H Fanatic US Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    Ad hoc is a poor choice for speed. It also has a terrible range. A wireless router would be an excellent solution, although somewhat costly. Check the deal depot or try to find a used one.
  • RMFRMF
    edited December 2008
    Sonorous wrote:
    You can set up an AD-Hoc network with two wireless cards. This type of network is slow though, and as I recall works best in a 802.11 A environment and it can be secured. I would not want to transferring files larger than 100MB with it, or using it with a remote desktop client. It will work however. Do you already own the card you are going to use? If so you could always set it up and see if it is usable.


    Hmm, I have an old worless adsl router that I thought I could piggyback on my cable modem and send out a wireless signal that way to other devices in the house but it doesn't even see it.

    My main issue here is that I have a 60mbit connection and I get the full speed. I don't want to compromise it by going woreless. Can the latest wireless routers handle that sort of throughput?
  • SonorousSonorous F@H Fanatic US Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    I have a D-Link DIR-655 Draft N wireless router, and as far as transferring large files it is pretty speedy. However when compared to transferring large files over my wired gigabit network, you can tell that there is a difference. I am not entirely sure how slow is to slow for you. Perhaps you can elaborate a bit as to what sorts of things your would be doing on the wireless (ie music, movies, gaming...ect)
  • RMFRMF
    edited December 2008
    Sonorous wrote:
    I have a D-Link DIR-655 Draft N wireless router, and as far as transferring large files it is pretty speedy. However when compared to transferring large files over my wired gigabit network, you can tell that there is a difference. I am not entirely sure how slow is to slow for you. Perhaps you can elaborate a bit as to what sorts of things your would be doing on the wireless (ie music, movies, gaming...ect)

    It's not a matter of it being slow when transferring files from this PC to the kids pc because that isn't really important as long as I can do it and that I can control it remotely from this PC. What worries me is that if I go wireless it will slow down my internet speed in general. So I'll need to try find a wireless router that can handle atleast the 60mbit that I have now as I was actually considering upgrading to a 128mbit connection.

    Thanks again for responding though :)
  • SonorousSonorous F@H Fanatic US Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    So if you hook it up like this:

    Cable Modem > Wireless Router > Hard wired to your PC (so no speed loss) and then run the kids off the wireless you should be good to go. I wouldn't even think you would have to upgrade your fiber to 128Mbit. 60 is pretty crazy as is for a home.
  • RMFRMF
    edited December 2008
    Ok, I picked up a wireless router today. I just got the wireless version of what I already had. I had bought the previous router just under a month ago so they let me exchange it and pay the the extra for the upgrade which was only 12 euro's. Now all I'm waiting for is the PC parts and it should be a Tinkerbell free Christmas for me :)

    Thanks for all your help.
  • SonorousSonorous F@H Fanatic US Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    Anytime. Happy Building
  • RMFRMF
    edited December 2008
    Ok, I've got the little HTPC built and up and running. What's the best remote desktop software to usein order to control it from this machine here? Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated.
  • RMFRMF
    edited December 2008
    RMF wrote:
    Ok, I've got the little HTPC built and up and running. What's the best remote desktop software to usein order to control it from this machine here? Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated.

    NM, I found a great solution in Real VNC. Problem solved. I'm now 100% up and running.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    RMF, I have several computers in the house spanning three floors. Ethernet cable is not feasible for networking all the machines. Additionally, not all of the computers have keyboards, mice, and monitors.

    I Ultra VNC for remote monitoring and control of a couple the computers. The networked are connected via both wireless and Ethernet, depending the the computers' location. By the way, almost all 'wireless' routers have four or more Ethernet ports as well.

    If you will be transferring media files over a home network, it should be Ethernet. Wireless is painfully slow. If I need to move large files around from the control computer to the remote wireless computers, I use a USB flash drive or external hard drive. But for simply controlling the remote computers, wireless is fast enough.

    Wireless modems aren't very expensive if you look around. Local stores? Yeah, they'll probably be pricey. Check online stores and don't be afraid to buy used. Every day I see good quality wireless-Ethernet routers on Craigslist for quite cheap, $30 and less. Of course, also look in our own Deal Depot & Trading Post.
  • RMFRMF
    edited December 2008
    Thanks for the reply mate, but everything is working perfectly now. I'm using VNC aswell which is a fantastic piece of software as there's no keyboard and mouse on the other PC. Last night I transfered over 40 gigs over the wireless network which obviously took hours but it was all of my kids films and stuff and I could be bothered doing it in stages by transfering the data with my ipod as an external storage device. Now that the bulk of it is over I will transfer files that way. I only really wanted to be able to control the other htpc remotly from this system and that's all working perfectly. I'm happy, my daughters happy and I think I've built the kids something that they will be able to use for years.

    I have to be honest, I've been left feeling a little let down by the processor I put in the machine. I was trying to do it on a budget so I got a Core 2 Duo E2220D which is rated stock at 2.4GHZ. And for those in the know decoding of HD media files is almost handled soley by the CPU. A 1080p bluray rip of The Dark Knight takes my AMD 5400+ up to about 45% load when watching on this machine out though my TV. The intel hits around about 80 to 90 with the same file but still plays it smoothly. Anyway, it's irrelevent as the kids TV is 720p only and those files don't push it past 30% load.

    + point is that the machine is practically silent.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    Good work! I started using VNC (Ultra VNC) a couple years ago. It's really a kick in the pants to monitor and control other computers remotely.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    RMF, you could seriously unload some of the processor burden off of that E2200 by giving it a video card with dedicated MPEG4 decoding. ATi's 3000 or 4000 series cards are exceptional at that.
  • RMFRMF
    edited December 2008
    Thrax wrote:
    RMF, you could seriously unload some of the processor burden off of that E2200 by giving it a video card with dedicated MPEG4 decoding. ATi's 3000 or 4000 series cards are exceptional at that.

    Yeah I know, but as I said it's not important. It's for the kids. They have the katest 26" Bravia in their room so 720p at that size is just as good as 1080p at the size of my main TV, and like I said I was trying to build it all on a budget for them. We're not rich folks, so the TV and PC alone as it stands was expensive enough as is. It's not only that either. It's a slimline case. PCI cards won't fit. You need special small sized PCI cards to fit which I do not think I've ever heard of in a video card.

    I'm happy with it the way it is, and I thank everyone who assisted me along the way including yourself.

    Thanks guys.
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