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Wireless Router Buying Advice

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smashed
smashed Posts: 1,043 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
Hi,

I have just received my Dell 3000 (finally), and this is going upstars, with a 2nd PC and Xbox going downstairs.
I wish to use all 3 online, and planned on buying a wireless router for downstairs. I was then going to use RJ45 cables to connect the Xbox and downstairs PC, and buy a card to install into the 3000 upstairs.
Can anyone tell me if this is the most effective set-up?
Could you also please advise on which router and card to purchase. I would like to not pay too much, but don’t want a duff router or card that will cause my parents grief.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

PS: Thought it was better posted here than in “I wanna”

Rob
Be nice

Comments

  • jma_4
    jma_4 Posts: 43 Forumite
    The most cost-effective would be a wired router and a bunch of network cables. Otherwise, you'll have to buy wireless cards for each PC, the router and a wireless access point for the Xbox. Expensive.

    Linksys do a good Wireless router. Here's a "gaming adaptor" so you can hook a wired device up to the wireless network. There are probably cheaper alternatives available.

    edit: On re-reading your post, I get the impression you're gonna hook the Xbox up to the PC and use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS); you can ignore the gaming adaptor then as you'll just need a second network interface card (NIC).
    Like video games? Import (Play Asia) them! (VG+)
    Questions on importing videogames? Just ask!
  • smashed
    smashed Posts: 1,043 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi JMA,

    Thanks for your reply

    I cant wire to the upstairs PC, it is too far away.
    After a bit of reading, I was under the impression that they have Ethernet ports, and that I can use the router to wire the downstairs PC and Xbox, but just use the wireless card upstairs.
    Did I misunderstand it? :(
    Be nice
  • jma_4
    jma_4 Posts: 43 Forumite
    Not at all, that should be fine :) You just need a wireless card (or adaptor) for the PC upstairs then. Sorted.

    I know you said it is too far away, but a 20-metre network cable will only set you back about a tenner (including the postage) off of eBay. This is how I have the kids PC wired upstairs :)
    Like video games? Import (Play Asia) them! (VG+)
    Questions on importing videogames? Just ask!
  • smashed
    smashed Posts: 1,043 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    I have a 20m cable, but the PC and XBox downstairs are for me, and the PC upstairs for parents. We would both use them, and my parents dont want wires through the house. Its also impractical to put them through walls, as its through an extension, and opposite corners of a house (as far away as you can get basically:( )
    £34 plus delivery for that router?? Thats cheap..
    Could you also please point me in the direction of a compatible card that isnt too expensive??
    Cheers again.. I really appreciate it.
    Be nice
  • jma_4
    jma_4 Posts: 43 Forumite
    You have two choices here. Firstly, if you have an NIC there already, then you just need a short wire that plugs into a wireless bridge (expensive, really) or the "gaming adaptor" I posted above. Better is this card, which goes inside the PC and will work with the router linked above.

    It is probably worth shopping around a bit, you might get them cheaper. Check the online discount board too! I recommend Linksys as it is what I use. There are cheaper products but I've found they don't provide the same feature set (e.g. like a De-Militarised Zone for my Xbox, probably the best way to play Live).


    edit: Just so you know they're compatible, they both function to IEEE 802.11b @ 2.4 GHz.
    Like video games? Import (Play Asia) them! (VG+)
    Questions on importing videogames? Just ask!
  • smashed
    smashed Posts: 1,043 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Cheers for your help. I have only just got home and set up the Dell 3000.
    Will let you know what route i choose, and how i get on.

    Rob
    Be nice
  • smashed
    smashed Posts: 1,043 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Arggghhh...

    I went with the exact setup that was suggested, and was happy to get a router that didnt have a built in modem, because I already have one.
    However theres a major problem. My Modem (Sagem 800) only has a USB port (to connect to the PC) and to get my router to work, the modem must connect to the router, but this needs ethernet connection.
    What can i do ?
    Do I have to buy a new modem? Anywhere that I can get one for a decent price? 2nd hand on ebay maybe?
    Or can i get a device that transfers USB to Ethernet??
    http://www.directusbstore.co.uk/cnb/shop/directusbstore?listPos=&op=catalogue-products-null&prodCategoryID=24

    I found something there.. halfway down the page.. but I dont know if it would work, and over £20 inc P&P for an adaptor is steep.

    Please help.. again.
    All this after uprooting compters, etc ... Had to plug 1 back in to try to find an answer.

    Any help would be excellent :)
    Be nice
  • ehosin
    ehosin Posts: 216 Forumite
    that USB>ethernet adapter won't work for you.. you will either need a modem (ETHERNET) to connect to the router you have, or return your router and get one with a built-in adsl modem.

    I have a similar setup to you and got the netgear DG834G last week - very good, £69.99 inc. postage from amazon...

    I connected my xbox and pc directly to the router via ethernet cables (you get a 1m one in the box), and I have 2 additional laptops connected via wireless cards (£10 off ebay...). - if you want to connect a PC wirelessly to the dell pc you'll want a PCI wireless/USB wireless device.

    If you arent able to connect your xbox directly to the wireless router, you'll want one of those ethernet bridge thingys mentioned above...

    Hope this helps.
    YO!
  • smashed
    smashed Posts: 1,043 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    damn.. i was worried that would be the answer.
    Cheers for the reply.
    Will try to find the cheapest route
    Be nice
  • bridiej
    bridiej Posts: 5,775 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If you want to buy wireless cards and router it's worth calling round a few local PC people.

    I made the mistake of going to PC world and spending over £100 on two network cards so I can use my laptop at the same time as PC for broadband (no router though) and later found out that I could have got them for half that price via a local "one man band" type computer guy.

    I just pop in now and then.... :)
    transcribing
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