Wireless router/broadband? New laptop

michele16

Hope someone can help. I have a computer that is connected to modem/router. Supplied through Talk Talk. Have just bought daughter a laptop and we don't know how to go about setting her up on a wireless connection. Our broadband, although not great is free. Is it possible my daughter can have these same benefits on her laptop.

She has a telephone socket in her bedroom tried our modem on that connection but did'nt work. Thought of just phoning Talk Talk to ask advice but they are usually hopeless.

Any good advice out there. In basic terms please, all this technie stuff goes over my head now.

M4RKM

is the talktalk modem/router a wireless router?

if so, your daughters new laptop should be able to join the wireless network.

if not, the best thing is to get a wireless router, then the existing computer, can stay plugged in, (to the new router) and your daughters laptop can then use a wireless connection

PhilCo_2

If you're using a wired modem you'll probably need to install some software and add your talk talk username/password. You'll also need to put adsl filters on all your phone sockets or you'll get interference from the modem. Wireless routers are only about £30 now so probably best to get one of them.

Anthony2oo5

Not hard really but does help if you have a bit of background knowledge.

• First what make is the laptop and model?

• What make is the router?

• Yes even if the broadband is free, you can have wireless, but are you sure it's a warless router?

If it is then these steps should cover you for almost any wireless router. First make sure you laptop is connected to the router via a cable, so you have access to the internet.

• Click start the run, (if your using the new windows vista, click start then directly above it there is a little white search box. It says "Start Search". in this case you won't find run so do the next step in this white box.)

• type in CMD

• Little black window will appear. In it type ipconfig, and press enter on the keyboard.

• You will get quite a bit of information, the one you're looking for will look something like this.

IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

• Take the "Default Gateway" number in bold above.

• Close everything and now open internet explorer, (just as if you were going to go onto a website)

• In the address bar where you would normally type https://www.google.co.uk, type this : http:\\YOUR DEFAULT GATEWAY. So for example, in my situation it would be http:\\192.168.1.1, and click enter.

• You will get a login page. username is normally admin and password is normally password. If not look in the instruction manual for the defaults or search the web.

• Once logged in your looking for wireless settings. There will be settings like the following. so do them as I state.

SSID: the name of your warless. Name it anything this will appear when you search for networks later.
Region: Where you like, set this to UK
Channel: set to 7 or above
Mode: This depends on your laptop. Set it to 802.11B for now. If your warless works later on then higher it up to 802.11G.If it still works, then leave it as this, if not then lower it back to B.
Security Type, set it as WEP. Again depends on your laptop if it works with WEP then try highering it to WPA, then WPA2. If they work great, if not then go back to WEP.

The next box will require a password for the network, just make one up.

This is the best I can help with the details you gave me. I hope you get it working.

michele16

markymoo wrote: »

is the talktalk modem/router a wireless router?

if so, your daughters new laptop should be able to join the wireless network.

if not, the best thing is to get a wireless router, then the existing computer, can stay plugged in, (to the new router) and your daughters laptop can then use a wireless connection

The talktalk modem/router is not a wireless router. If I get a wireless router do I use that to replace my current modem? Where do I plug the wireless connection?

michele16

Anthony2oo5 wrote: »

Not hard really but does help if you have a bit of background knowledge.

• First what make is the laptop and model?

• What make is the router?

• Yes even if the broadband is free, you can have wireless, but are you sure it's a warless router?

If it is then these steps should cover you for almost any wireless router. First make sure you laptop is connected to the router via a cable, so you have access to the internet.

• Click start the run, (if your using the new windows vista, click start then directly above it there is a little white search box. It says "Start Search". in this case you won't find run so do the next step in this white box.)

• type in CMD

• Little black window will appear. In it type ipconfig, and press enter on the keyboard.

• You will get quite a bit of information, the one you're looking for will look something like this.

IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

• Take the "Default Gateway" number in bold above.

• Close everything and now open internet explorer, (just as if you were going to go onto a website)

• In the address bar where you would normally type www.google.co.uk, type this : http:\\YOUR DEFAULT GATEWAY. So for example, in my situation it would be http:\\192.168.1.1, and click enter.

• You will get a login page. username is normally admin and password is normally password. If not look in the instruction manual for the defaults or search the web.

• Once logged in your looking for wireless settings. There will be settings like the following. so do them as I state.

SSID: the name of your warless. Name it anything this will appear when you search for networks later.
Region: Where you like, set this to UK
Channel: set to 7 or above
Mode: This depends on your laptop. Set it to 802.11B for now. If your warless works later on then higher it up to 802.11G.If it still works, then leave it as this, if not then lower it back to B.
Security Type, set it as WEP. Again depends on your laptop if it works with WEP then try highering it to WPA, then WPA2. If they work great, if not then go back to WEP.

The next box will require a password for the network, just make one up.

This is the best I can help with the details you gave me. I hope you get it working.

The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 8600. The talktalk modem is a Smart AX MT882. If I get a wireless modem/router do I use that to replace my current one? This is connected to our main computer.

Edinburghlass_2

You can plug a wireless router into your pc using the ethernet cable that comes with it then your laptop will pick up the signal anywhere in the house without being "attached" to anything. I recently got a Buffalo one from my local Tesco for £40 which was very simple to set up.

edited to add I didn't buy a Buffalo from Tesco but a Zoom!

michele16

Edinburghlass wrote: »

You can plug a wireless router into your pc using the ethernet cable that comes with it then your laptop will pick up the signal anywhere in the house without being "attached" to anything. I recently got a Buffalo one from my local Tesco for £40 which was very simple to set up.

Thank you for your advice. Will give that a go.