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tonylucille · Mar 21, 2008, 11:03 PM

I have two older computers running Windows 98 and they are networked together through dual Coax and Ethernet Network cards using the Coax option. I also have a new laptop running Windows Vista Business Edition this is linked to broadband via a Linksys WRT 300N Wireless Broadband Router. Can the three computers be networked together using the WRT 300N? If so do I have to dispense with the Coax and feed each Computer from it's own port on the WRT 300N? Or can one of the Windows 98 computers take a feed from the WRT 300N and retain their Coax link?

jstrike · Mar 24, 2008, 07:54 AM

I've used older cards like that and as long as you're not trying to use the coax at the same time as the RJ45 you shouldn't have a problem. If you have PCI slots in the motherboard on those computers it might be easier to get new NIC's assuming that the new cards support 98. ISA cards with drivers might be harder to find although eBay may yield some results.

ScottGem · Mar 24, 2008, 07:58 AM

Well, as I recall the specs on my WRT 300N, it doesn't support Win 98, but check the box to make sure. If it doesn't, then you may need to connect the laptop to the 300N wirelessly and use the wired jack to connect to the others via a hub or switch.

jstrike · Mar 24, 2008, 08:30 AM

How is the OS relavant in what the router will support?
Correct me if I'm wrong but 802.3 is 802.3 no matter what OS it's running on. As long as the router has RJ45 ports available it shouldn't matter what you hook up to it.

ScottGem · Mar 24, 2008, 08:52 AM

Frankly I don't know why some routers only work with some OSes. But that they do. Check the spec sheet for the 300N:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...=6055261542B05

It lists Minimum Requirements of Win 200 or Win XP. Which says to me it works only with the NT based versions of Windows and not the Win 9X versions.

jstrike · Mar 24, 2008, 10:06 AM

I saw that before I replied to the message earlier. I took that as what is required for managing the router, not for hooking a computer up to it. 802.3 is listed in the standards that it supports so the OS shouldn't matter. The router documentation for my BEFSR41 makes no reference to Vista or the XBox 360... both of which run just fine on my network.

ScottGem · Mar 24, 2008, 12:03 PM

Yes, but the BEFSR41 was out long before Vista or the XBox. So I can understand the ommission. You do make a good point, however, that those requirements could be only for configuration purposes. Since the OP already has the 300N, I would give it a try by just connecting the via Ethernet to the NICs. But use the Vista machine for configuration.