Going wireless (networking question)

[Skier]

Ok, I need to go wireless with my LAN. I have my main ueber gaming rig here with a PCI 10/100 NIC hooked up to a 5 port 10 MBPS hub. I have a laptop about 25 feet away from me (but that's a straight line through like 3 walls) that needs to be able to print when I'm using this computer.

So, either I go wireless (easiest) or I could try one of those networking things that go through the wall outlets.

I'm looking to spend less than $200 and speed is not important (if it can handle a game of 1 on 1 Q3 or UT it's fine).

So, what should I buy? Any horror stories or raves/rants about products?

 

[Pavv]

Um, under $200? Not this year.
Cheapest right now is <shudder> Apple's Airport. Farallon makes PC card that works with it and is Windows-compatible. The base station is ~300 bux and the card is probably $100-150. Way over $200.
Elsa has some cool-looking stuff on their UK web page, but it doesn't seem to be available in the US.
If you can't wire cat5, you could try phone-line networking. Diamond, Intel, Farallon, and others make adapters for them. Farallon (and other that I may not know of) makes an Ethernet-to-phoneline converter too, so you could wire the laptop into your existing hub. This would probably run about $200 total. But not wireless. Sorry.

 

[Skier]

What about that wall outlet thing? I read in a PC Gamer (I think) that it works well and it was not too expensive...

BTW, have you seen Diamond Multi Media's offerings? www.s3.com . They have some "combo packs" for wireless and such but nothing on their website that tells you what is in that pack. At least not what I could find with my slow 56k, they need to relize not everyone has broadband.

 

[LV426]

Try Apple for the wireless hub and information on wireless networks ,

Farallon for wireless network cards and Elsa for the LANCOM boxes and cards...
I doubt you will get this for under $200 though....