Creating a wired network inside of a wireless network: hubs?

[Yamiyanazz]

MY friend has a network setup that I kind of don't understand, but from what I gathered, he has three comptuers in his bedroom that all run off of a USB wireless adapter. They all have access to the internet, but the transfer between the computers in his bedroom is slow. To speed up this process, he plugged in a cat5 crossover cable between two of them and decided he loved having the extra speed when transferring big files.

Keep the crossover would be one choice, but he has three computers, so this would be a real pain. I was thinking if he just connected the computers together with regular cat5 cables and a hub, would that work or would that just ruin his connection more? Here is a diagram of what I'm trying to say.



Anyone?

[Yamiyanazz]

Oh, and by hub, I could use a switch as well, correct? I think they are basically the same thing, if I'm not mistaken.

[coin]

a switch would be marginally faster and for only three pcs it would be nice but not essential

[Pinky]

Most logical thing to do is to get a router. Is there a reason he needs 3 separate internet connections versus one internet connection (through the router)?

[coin]

the issue is not the internet connection but file transfer between the three pcs

[Yamiyanazz]

Yeah, they already have internet somehow through wireless. Just for filetransfer between the three computers, he wants the extra speed. Okay, a switch is great. I found one for $17 and then three cat5 cables for 80¢ each. Sounds like a plan, thanks guys!

[Kendan]

Looks good.

If I was starting from scratch with this setup I woud use a wireless bridge and then connect all the computers to use the bridge. Which would most likely be a WRT54gx as the wireless router and another setup as the wireless bridge using 3rd party firmware on both. The advantages are only one network is needed, you don't need the three wireless adapters in the three computers, you get the fast transfer between the three computers, and the third party firmware is fun to play with:D

[Pinky]

Yeah, they already have internet somehow through wireless.

Somehow I missed that, whoops! :p

[Yamiyanazz]

Alright, I purchased a 5-port d-likk switch and three cat5 cables for him for like $20. Sounds like a deal. Thank you all for the help.

[sup3rcarrx8]

What kind of store is this? Do you mind sharing? I'm about to set up a little network in my house as well. Thanks! :)

[Yamiyanazz]

It's a local store/warehouse that is a few miles from my house. I've gone there a few times to pick up things. Their networking stuff is really cheap. (It's also where I purchased my really cheap case/PSU [PSU died on me])

http://www.NWCA.com if anyone is interested. It's called North West Computer Accessories. Great place, nice people, it looks like a really awesome place to work.