Ranger Archive
Thread: Any High Tech Rangers out there?
Issue 1: Are USB wireless cards useful? I mean, will I be happier with a PCI card, on my desktop, or will a USB card work well? On a related note, will I be unhappy if I don't have a computer hardwired to my router/modem? Is there any reason to keep it hardwired?
Issue 2: I want to run my laptop through my Plasma TV. What kinds of things do I need to know? I found out a DVI cable is probably the best method (what kind should I look for?). I was able to get my desktop onto the PD using a standard monitor cable, but I couldn't get SWG to run (I made the PD my 'primary' monitor..ie. nothing was rendering on the laptop screen). What am I doing wrong
?
1) For data that is going outside of your LAN you will be limited by your DSL/Cable modem which is almost certainly to be well under a 10baseT speed. For this even an old 802b wireless card will provide sufficient speed.
2) Is your router a 10, 100, or 1000 mbit? Do you have anything else on your LAN to need to transfer large amounts of data to?
If it is a 10 then wired or wireless will match or exceed this limit. A wireless 802g will go at 54 mbit (or faster if it has bursting) so that speed won't be much of an issue. If you have a gig network and want to make use of it, you will need to be hardwired.
3) I don't know much about USB cards, but if your machine or the card are not both USB2, then you will likely be unhappy with the speed.
4) You may never notice an issue with wireless, however you are more susceptable to interference if you end up with a crummy card.
As for the Plasma TV I cannot give you too much help as I have not worked with one. Is your laptop capable of running SWG though? Has it in the past? The graphics card may not be able to handle it.
Oreet wrote:
if at all possible, i'd have any computers hardwired into the Router as possible, since Wired is faster than Wireless.
if a desktop does need to be wireless, i'd suggest an internal PCI card if you've got a free PCI slot. most the external USB ones i've seen look really poorly made, and just feel really cheap, and so i think that the quality would also be the same on the inside as the outside. also, i think there would be a slight dataspeed lowering if the wireless signal has to travel through the USB cable before reaching the motherboard, as opposed to going straight from the PCI card to the MoBo.
also, be sure to make your wireless network secure, so that your neighbor can't hijack the network, and get free internet access, and free access to any shared resources on your network.
can't help with issue 2, never tried hooking any computer up to a TV of any sort.
/agree
If you need extra usb ports, a usb hub may be the answer. I have one, very inexpensive, and it works great.
Tonja
Calculus_Entropy wrote:
I need some advice...
Issue 1: Are USB wireless cards useful? I mean, will I be happier with a PCI card, on my desktop, or will a USB card work well? On a related note, will I be unhappy if I don't have a computer hardwired to my router/modem? Is there any reason to keep it hardwired?
Issue 2: I want to run my laptop through my Plasma TV. What kinds of things do I need to know? I found out a DVI cable is probably the best method (what kind should I look for?). I was able to get my desktop onto the PD using a standard monitor cable, but I couldn't get SWG to run (I made the PD my 'primary' monitor..ie. nothing was rendering on the laptop screen). What am I doing wrong
Seiryuu wrote:
The best card will depend upon your needs.
1) For data that is going outside of your LAN you will be limited by your DSL/Cable modem which is almost certainly to be well under a 10baseT speed. For this even an old 802b wireless card will provide sufficient speed.
2) Is your router a 10, 100, or 1000 mbit? Do you have anything else on your LAN to need to transfer large amounts of data to? My goal is to run SWG on my laptop and my desktop again, but sinceI moved, the (hardwired) desktop is inconveniently located. SinceI am limited where I can put the modem, I figured sticking a wireless card in the desktop would be the way to go.
If it is a 10 then wired or wireless will match or exceed this limit. A wireless 802g will go at 54 mbit (or faster if it has bursting) so that speed won't be much of an issue. If you have a gig network and want to make use of it, you will need to be hardwired.I recall something about 54g on the box...that mean anything to you guys? /scratch head
3) I don't know much about USB cards, but if your machine or the card are not both USB2, then you will likely be unhappy with the speed. I don't think my desktop has USB2, so that's out.
4) You may never notice an issue with wireless, however you are more susceptable to interference if you end up with a crummy card.
As for the Plasma TV I cannot give you too much help as I have not worked with one. Is your laptop capable of running SWG though? Has it in the past? The graphics card may not be able to handle it. The graphics card can handle it
Thanks for the brainstorming, guys...hopefully it will get me to give you all the info you would need, to help me
.
BioEngine wrote:
Response 1: USB ports are slow. They are primarily used for data transfer, and a few deviced such as mice and keyboards. Gotcha.
Response 2: I believe there is a certain feature of your video card that you will need to download and / or purchase in order to use a television as your monitor. I also believe that a certain "box" is used, although I am not sure if it is necessary, in order to process the transfer of data from your computer to a television. Hmm...I dunno about that. The TV manual gives directions on how to attach a computer, but doesn't mention an extra box/converter. Also, sinceI got the desktop of the laptop (lol)to display, I am not sure why I would need a software upgrade to make it work...I will check with Dell/ATI to see if they have some troubleshooting tips and/or updated drivers. I have played the game on a regular monitor before, with no trouble, so I am scratching my head (The PD is considered a monitor, as far as I can tell).
However, I have not used any such devices, I have only seen them used in schools.
Calculus_Entropy wrote:
BioEngine wrote:
Response 1: USB ports are slow. They are primarily used for data transfer, and a few deviced such as mice and keyboards. Gotcha.
Response 2: I believe there is a certain feature of your video card that you will need to download and / or purchase in order to use a television as your monitor. I also believe that a certain "box" is used, although I am not sure if it is necessary, in order to process the transfer of data from your computer to a television. Hmm...I dunno about that. The TV manual gives directions on how to attach a computer, but doesn't mention an extra box/converter. Also, sinceI got the desktop of the laptop (lol)to display, I am not sure why I would need a software upgrade to make it work...I will check with Dell/ATI to see if they have some troubleshooting tips and/or updated drivers. I have played the game on a regular monitor before, with no trouble, so I am scratching my head (The PD is considered a monitor, as far as I can tell).
However, I have not used any such devices, I have only seen them used in schools.
I saw the "box" used with a non-plasma tv, you rich show-off 
.
That's probably why.
Hey there Calc. On the wireless, as others have mentioned it really matters on your needs. I'm a pro-hard wire person and have my computers inhouse hard-wired.
On the plasma TV I know that any video card with a DVI slot can be connected to a TV with DVI capability. Just make sure your TV is set so it uses Progressive Scan for that kind of connection. I am sure your plasma has that capability and may auto-detect that.
BioEngine wrote:
Calculus_Entropy wrote:
BioEngine wrote:
Response 1: USB ports are slow. They are primarily used for data transfer, and a few deviced such as mice and keyboards. Gotcha.Response 2: I believe there is a certain feature of your video card that you will need to download and / or purchase in order to use a television as your monitor. I also believe that a certain "box" is used, although I am not sure if it is necessary, in order to process the transfer of data from your computer to a television. Hmm...I dunno about that. The TV manual gives directions on how to attach a computer, but doesn't mention an extra box/converter. Also, sinceI got the desktop of the laptop (lol)to display, I am not sure why I would need a software upgrade to make it work...I will check with Dell/ATI to see if they have some troubleshooting tips and/or updated drivers. I have played the game on a regular monitor before, with no trouble, so I am scratching my head (The PD is considered a monitor, as far as I can tell).However, I have not used any such devices, I have only seen them used in schools.
I saw the "box" used with a non-plasma tv, you rich show-off
That's probably why.
. I thought that might have been the case. It was our house warming present to ourselves! Even the wife wanted it .
Amsaran wrote:
Hey there Calc. On the wireless, as others have mentioned it really matters on your needs. I'm a pro-hard wire person and have my computers inhouse hard-wired.
On the plasma TV I know that any video card with a DVI slot can be connected to a TV with DVI capability. Just make sure your TV is set so it uses Progressive Scan for that kind of connection. I am sure your plasma has that capability and may auto-detect that.
That progressive scan thing sounds vaguely familiar. I will recheck the manual.
If the desktop is in an inconvenient location then an internal wireless card will probably be good enough. Make sure to secure your router so others aren't leeching off your bandwidth.
(Personally, I opted to make my own cable and run it along the molding and over doorways for a wired connection. But I'm geeky and reasonably hidden cables don't bother me.)