wireless/bluetooth ?

Steven Welborn · Post by **Steven Welborn** » 19 Apr 2006 8:19 am

I need to get rid of clutter and go as wireless as possible for desktopPC. Whats the dif < reg wireless vs bluetooth? Iv'e got a pci communication slot for WLAN or bluetooth card.
More knuckledragger questions:
1. Can I set up to be wireless from PC to printer...with USB/printer server...and ?
2. My video/monitor card has VGA/DVI/S-video connections. Does that mean I can use two monitors or do I need a special dual monitor capability? Thanks .

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 19 Apr 2006 8:30 am

Steven asked: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
1. Can I set up to be wireless from PC to printer...with USB/printer server...and ?
2. My video/monitor card has VGA/DVI/S-video connections. Does that mean I can use two monitors or do I need a special dual monitor capability?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Answer to Q1:
Yes, if you purchase a wireless print server that is compatible with the printer's communications port system and configure it in Printers and Faxes using the ID assigned to it by the wireless configuration utility you are using. This gets tricky, and must be compatible with your wireless access point/router system. Wireless Print Servers are available from D-Link and other popular brands and cost around $100.

Answer to Q2:
Unless you video card is specifically dual monitor capable this output configuration will not operate two monitors. It is like the dual audio outputs found on CD and DVD players in computers. They have one analog output and one SPDIF digital output. You can use the output from one or the other while playing back, but not both.

Somebody else will have to answer the bluetooth question.

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[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 19 April 2006 at 09:31 AM.]

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 20 Apr 2006 3:51 am

Whats the dif < reg wireless vs bluetooth? Iv'e got a pci communication slot for WLAN or bluetooth card.

I did a quick "Google" and found this page, which summarizes a lot of info on the differences between "wireless" and Bluetooth. You can study the data and make your own decisions on which way you want to try. I would just say that "wireless" at this point is the more robust of the two, and the one with the most interoperability options, given current technology, and also, that one needs to give due consideration to frequency band selection in any case-if you have any other devices nearby that occupy the same frequency band as your wireless LAN; if you don't, interference can result. As an example, I was forced to move to 1.2Ghz for the transmit frequency of my outdoor driveway TV monitor to keep it out of my 2.4Ghz cordless phones and my 5.8Ghz LAN in the house. And I bought a dual-band router (D-Link DI-784) for my LAN so, when I want to, I can fire up 2.4Ghz on it and communicate with my wireless webcam with its built-in wireless 2.4Ghz server. Things can get dicey.

Can I set up to be wireless from PC to printer

My recommendation would be to get a wireless router as opposed to a wireless PCI card. In doing so, you'll be able to set up a LAN. I think the more common procedure is to hardwire the PC to the router, since the router is normally co-located with the PC, although if there were compelling enough reason, you could put a wireless card into the PC and make it wireless as well. If your PC doesn't already have a built-in ethernet connection, ethernet cards are dirt-cheap.

I recommend going the LAN route vs a simple wireless card due to the added flexibility and capabilities, and also because of the built-in hardware firewall features of NAT routers.

Your internet connection normally plugs into the router, and that means you'll have wireless internet accessibility with laptops, and other wireless devices anywhere in the house. I personally like this flexibility when I have recorded some multi-track music in my music room using my laptop, and, leaving the laptop there, then go into the den to access the shared file with my PC, and do the mixing, editing, effects, etc. in a more relaxed environment - just an example.

It matters if your internet connection is cable or DSL in terms of which router you buy.

After you've done that, add a wireless print server, plug your printer into it, and the printer will then become a LAN resource.

My video/monitor card has VGA/DVI/S-video connections. Does that mean I can use two monitors or do I need a special dual monitor capability?

Mostly answered already. You can tell if you have dual-monitor capability by opening your video setup applet and on one of the first few screens, you'll see two monitor graphics depicted if you do. But, the main thing about the connectors is, if your monitor is digital, use the DVI connector and plug into that. If your monitor is analog (CRT), use the analog connector and the other cord. You can see the connectors are not the same kind.[This message was edited by Dave Potter on 20 April 2006 at 06:57 AM.]

Steven Welborn · Post by **Steven Welborn** » 20 Apr 2006 8:06 am

Thanks for elaborating. That clears up a lot. There remains just one thing I need clarified:
I notice when searching dual monitor capability, it's all about using two or nore monitors to function as one big image, or seperate and different images. My intention is simply to duplicate the same image so that I may operate in one corner of my room or another. Still need dual capacity? or--can I use two of the outs of my card,e.i. VGA + DVI, OR-- a splitter(with perhaps a signal booster) using one output? [This message was edited by Steven Welborn on 20 April 2006 at 09:08 AM.]

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 20 Apr 2006 8:45 am

I haven't ever actually tried it, although my Nvidia 6800 Ultra video card is certainly capable. Only time I tried was a little experiment with MS Flight Simulator - I was going to put the instrument panel window on one monitor, and the outside view on the other. It got to be a goat-rope, so I abandoned it.

I guess I'd have to Google it and do the research to see how to best do that. What do you know about that S-video connector on your video card - is it input, output, or both? If it's output, it may be possible to take video from that and play it on a TV monitor. Of course, there wouldn't be any audio. That's about all I know about that.

Steven Welborn · Post by **Steven Welborn** » 20 Apr 2006 9:03 am

I would assume the s-video is an out.
In any case, I have an LCD monitor w/ VGA/DVI/USB on order so I'll find out if I can do this with my CRT.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 23 Apr 2006 8:47 pm

I need to get rid of clutter and go as wireless as possible for desktopPC. Whats the dif < reg wireless vs bluetooth? Iv'e got a pci communication slot for WLAN or bluetooth card.

Older forms of wireless interconnection to computer peripherals may be on their way out. Wireless USB looks like it might become the next standard. Read about it here:
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/apr06/3245

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | MSA U12 | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?
[This message was edited by Bill Llewellyn on 23 April 2006 at 09:49 PM.]

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 26 Apr 2006 1:15 pm

My understanding is that Bluetooth is intended for short distances (0-10 feet??). Bluetooth is what's used for a wireless mouse or a wireless headset for a cell phone. (I have both)

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 26 Apr 2006 4:10 pm

Bluetooth is intended for short distances (0-10 feet??)

That would be, 30+ feet...

Bluetooth is what's used for a wireless mouse or a wireless headset for a cell phone. (I have both)

Actually, no. Wireless PC input devices operate in the 27Mhz band. Bluetooth is in the 2.4Ghz band.

This link explains.[This message was edited by Dave Potter on 26 April 2006 at 05:17 PM.]