To tell the truth, I've never really understood Access Points. I've read a whole lot of Buyer's Guides and FAQs, but not owning an Access Point, I still don't get it.

Could someone help me out using patented DumbSpeak? ^_^

Right now I'm connecting 2 PC's to an ADSL Router. The phone line is plugged in 1 hole, and my 2 PC's are plugged in the other holes. Hence, my 2 PC's share an internet connection. If I decide to go wireless, I imagine I'd need to buy a wireless ADSL Router, and 2 wireless NIC's.

So... where would an Access Point come into it? Even if I don't need it, what exactly would it do? Remember: Dumbspeak. I've read numerous Beginner's Guides, and am still quite oblivious.

Also, say I want to network just two PC's. In the old days, I'd just throw a NIC in both, then connect using a Crossover cable. For wireless, is it as simple as throwing in 2 wireless NIC's instead, then doing the usual business of assigning IP addresses, etc?

Kisses XXOOXX
Jen

P.S. If anyone knows any good Beginner's Guides to Wireless Networking, let me know, huh? I've gone through many, but... well, it's me, right? ^_^

In reverse;

Yea, its you, and a wide assortment of other people.

I think you just found one, just keep reading back through these posts and links.

Keep those XXOOXX's to yourself. (I don't speak for some of the lurkers here.)

To do wireless NIC to NIC requires setting up the ad-hock configuration also.

An Access Point is the device with little antenna on it (kinda looks like a big bug) that picks up the wi-fi radio waves from any Client wi-fi NIC's, manages which ones are allowed access (security, SSID, WAP, etc.) and connects them to a local Network through an Ethernet switch type of interface. As it is a switch for wi-fi clients and has to have a switch built in, an Access Point normally also has several switched ports for Cat5 cable connection also. So it is just a switch that handles multiple wi-fi "links". {Because a router also contains a switch to provide multiple connections, many of the newer routers also come with a built-in wi-fi Access Point. ie. an all in one. Think of an access point as a wi-fi router and switch, without the router function.}

So you can replace existing router with a wi-fi router (with access point built-in). Or you could buy just an access point and connect it to the existing router. {But that is kind of ignorant, as an access point happens to cost more now days (and do less) than a router with wi-fi, and a router can usually be dumbed down to being just a switch and wi-fi access point.}

Access Points got that name, because they were network switches that you could add to a spread-out local network, in different parts of a large office building, that provide "points of access" for short range wi-fi devices. Usually two or three pre floor. For SHSO (Small Home and Small Office) having a separate modem, router, switches, and access points was too expensive and not needed, so they combined the Router, Switch and Access Point into one box (wi-fi Router). Now they are staring to come out with boxes that combine the modem, router, wi-fi access point, and a few switched plugs.

Not owning a router with wi-fi Access Point should be corrected soon.

Buyers Guides and FAQs are for marketing types and they never tell all of the truth.