Just bought Dad a laptop - what sort of router do I need?

sherbie28

Hello,

I am on Virgin Media broadband L package. I've just bought my Dad a laptop and so he'll need to use my internet connection. A friend said I should get a Belkin G wireless router but I've been reading bad reviews. I rang the computer shop and they started going on about 54mps or 125 and I am totally stumped now. Can anyone help, thanks

slydrap

Yuor dads new laptop should already have a built in wireless router mine does so all u will need is a ssid and network code.

Alias_Omega

54Mbps is fast enough for Virgin L Broadband.

the '54' is the speed the laptop can connect to the router, the bottleneck in the internet system is the broadband speed. Unless you get 55Mbps or more broadband, then you will have problems.

Check out eBay for repaired Netgear wireless routers. Be about £30 for one that is warrantied for 12 months, and simply plug and play. Plug into the modem and away you go, bar a few small security settings & changing passwords.

Alias_Omega

slydrap wrote: »

Yuor dads new laptop should already have a built in wireless router mine does so all u will need is a ssid and network code.

Surely a wireless card.?

slydrap

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Surely a wireless card.?

Yes but im drugged up on medication so not thinking straight.

Alias_Omega

Im not very fond of putting links up, but if you follow this link..

http://www.virginmedia.com/customers/wireless/

Then click on the 'virgin media wireless kit' link, put in your postal code, skip through the pages by filling in what you have etc, then click the keep what you have.

You shall reach a page where it says that if you upgrade to L or XL BB you get a wireless router free.

I would spend 15mins ringing them up asking about this, tell them you struggle to use the internet as you have to plug the modem into the laptop, and its causing all sorts of problems and can they sort you out.

Might be worth a try, as people have received new wireless modems when theres have been broken / intermittent faulty.

Though, the router they offer is £40 on the site, and maybe reduced if you barter, threaten to cancel, even free. But if will be warranted for the life of the virgin contract.