Please help with step by step wireless advice!!!

soon2bjobless

I am completely stuck - been reading the sticky about wireless and the last post but really am a complete beginner.....the story so far......

Have my main computer - broadband - connected to Wandoo by a wee box (told you I wasnt technical!!)- not wireless enabled.

I have a lovely new wireless enabled laptop (which when I turn it on says the wireless isnt connected - dont know how to do this)

And a nice new shiny Netgear wireless ADSL Firewall router DG834G.

And I really dont know where to start...what I want to do is be able to use my laptop to connect to broadband wirelessley (!!!!!! - cant even spell now!!!)

I am looking at this diagram - it says plug the box that says "Line/DSL/Phone" into phone socket -plug the phone in one hole and the a lead to the router and then a lead out to the computer - does that mean I am doing away with my broadband modem I got from Wanadoo altogether?

I'm a bit worried about losing my internet connection (cos I need it to ask folk for help!!)

Can anyone help me with a really really basic explanation of how to do this?

Thanks.

tomstickland

Combined ADSL modem wireless router is indeed two things in one box.
An ADSL modem + wireless router

So you do away with old modem. Plug telephone cable into new one, plus USB or ethernet cable from new unit to main computer. Get main computer working first, then sort the wireless bit.

If it doesn't work then plug the old modem back in to get help on the web.

Chippy_Minton

soon2bjobless wrote:

does that mean I am doing away with my broadband modem I got from Wanadoo altogether?

Yes, the new Netgear DG834G is a wireless modem router and replaces your old broadband modem. Make sure you know your Wanadoo username and password before disconnecting the old modem as you'll need these details when setting up the new device.

The ADSL port of the DG834G connects by phone line to the microfilter, and one of its 4 Ethernet LAN ports connects by the blue Ethernet cable to the Ethernet Network port on your main computer. The two connections are:

Network socket on main computer <---(Blue Ethernet cable)---> DG834G LAN port

DG834G ADSL port <---(Phone cable)---> Microfilter

Does your main computer have a network card in it? If not you'll have to buy one.

Concentrate on replacing the old modem first and getting the Internet working with the wired connection before tackling the wireless bit.

PS - beat me to it Tom!

soon2bjobless

Thank you both - thats a great explanation- next question - why does my old computer need a network card, what is it and how do i find out if I have one?

( I also got with my router a Netgear Wireless USB adaptor - can I use this instead of a network card?)

tomstickland

I've just installed a similar router/modem to what tyou have and I used the USB port to connect to it and that works fine. I think the Ethernet connection is another option, but my ethernet cable didn't work when I tried it.

Chippy_Minton

If your computer has a network card inside it (or a network chip on the motherboard), it will have an Ethernet socket which looks exactly like one of the Ethernet LAN ports on your modem router. Here's a photo: http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://ncsudesign.org/content/images/it/walljack/plug2.gif&imgrefurl=http://ncsudesign.org/content/index.cfm/mode/1/fuseaction/page/filename/walljack.html&h=240&w=295&sz=35&tbnid=n2PqsqeeJ7UJ:&tbnh=90&tbnw=111&hl=en&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dethernet%2Bport%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG - a bit like a bigger version of a phone socket.

No, you don't need to use a Network card and Ethernet cable between your computer and router. The USB Wireless adapter can be used instead, however it's far easier and recommended to set up the router using a wired connection.

Gambler

i have the netgear set up with my laptop but can somebody point me in the right direction for securing my wireless network please.

albertross_2

Gambler,

read this thread, and checkout the wireless sticky thread..

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=118002&highlight=wireless