A Wireless Router AND USB Modem, on the same line... madness?

John_M_Business

Hi there

Got a problem I hope someone can help with. I have 2MB broadband here at my FIL's house... however he has an OLD OLD OLD IBM Aptiva (with, yes, you wouldn't believe it, Smartsuite software) that he's holding onto for dear life.

The problem is this: we both need to use the line, but his computer doesn't have a network card, and therefore he HAS to use the USB modem to connect to the Internet.

I have acquired a very smart Linksys wireless box which I use to connect to the Internet from another Phone socket.

They both work... but not together. If I'm online and I switch his computer on... my connection ceases.

Is there any way in which I can get them both working 'in perfect harmony'?

I saw an Ethernet switch on ebuyer, but wasn't convinced that this was the right one. Has anyone got any good / better suggestions (apart from his computer having an 'accident'!!)

wonka

I assume you're referring to a wireless ADSL router?
And your FIL's modem is a PSTN Dial-up modem?

Are you using filters on ALL phone sockets?

John_M_Business

wonka wrote:

I assume you're referring to a wireless ADSL router?
And your FIL's modem is a PSTN Dial-up modem?

Are you using filters on ALL phone sockets?

No, both are ADSL modems. Yes, filters on all sockets.

espresso

John_M_Business wrote:

Hi there

Got a problem I hope someone can help with. I have 2MB broadband here at my FIL's house... however he has an OLD OLD OLD IBM Aptiva (with, yes, you wouldn't believe it, Smartsuite software) that he's holding onto for dear life.

The problem is this: we both need to use the line, but his computer doesn't have a network card, and therefore he HAS to use the USB modem to connect to the Internet.

I have acquired a very smart Linksys wireless box which I use to connect to the Internet from another Phone socket.

They both work... but not together. If I'm online and I switch his computer on... my connection ceases.

Is there any way in which I can get them both working 'in perfect harmony'?

I saw an Ethernet switch on ebuyer, but wasn't convinced that this was the right one. Has anyone got any good / better suggestions (apart from his computer having an 'accident'!!)

You can only connect one modem to the line at any one time.

As you have now got a wireless router, why don't you simply wifi enable the old computer with one of these and then you can connect it to your new Linksys box and share the connection.

:rolleyes:

John_M_Business

espresso wrote:

You can only connect one modem to the line at any one time.

As you have now got a wireless router, why don't you simply wifi enable the old computer with one of these and then you can connect it to your new Linksys box and share the connection.

:rolleyes:

That's a neat idea... do you think a 10 yr old computer would be able to cope with something as modern as this?

espresso

I don't see why not if it has USB connectivity. You can download the full technical info from that site but if it will work with a USB modem, it should work with a USB WiFi adaptor.

You don't need to worry about getting a Linksys adaptor as the all work to the 802.11b/g standard.

wonka

If it doesn't have a USB port, then an IBM Aptiva should at least have a PCI expansion port?? If so, you could install a PCI wireless card, probably costs about £20.

John_M_Business

Problems with all these pieces of advice... I know what a slow, complicated, close-to-death machine we're dealing with here.

The only time 'plug and play' seems to have worked with me is when it's with my Dell... because it's running all the expected softwares for this generation of computer.

Here's a quote from eBuyer regarding a USB slot... :
"I attempted to install this on our old Windows 98SE machine. Before restarting the PC and asking you to insert the USB Adapter it asked for the Windows 98 disk to be inserted. Guess what? I didn't have it in the house! So, I had to abort the installation. It still restarted the PC.

Once I got the Win98 CD I uninstalled the Belkin software and tried again. It never asked for the Windows disk! The adaptor or software was not working either. I uninstalled it and also cleared any Belkin entries in the registry. Still no joy.

Finally I reinstalled Windows over itself and tried again. This time it asked for the Windows disk and said it could not find a .sys file on its own CD! I browsed the disk for the file and then it loaded no problem! It found the connection immediately and is on full strength. Just remember to check Internet Properties so that it looks for your router and is set to "Never Dial a connection".

So the loading under anything less than Windows XP or 2000 may require the O/S disk or its a pain. It does work really well though. It is in an upstairs bedroom diagonally opposite from where my NETGEAR modem/router is on the PC downstairs."

This is the kind of thing I will have to expect to deal with... where are his CD-Roms? I don't know (and doubt he does). Install a new PCI card, we'll probably have the same problems. There were NO wireless PCI card in existence when this PC was built... these are the issues, his machine is barely Pentium-class.

Anyway, enough ranting, I'll leave it for now and hope that he comes round to the idea of replacing his PC on his return.

espresso

If this old relic will work with a modern USB modem which you must have installed the drivers for, I can't see the problem using a USB WiFi dongle!

hendersonb

espresso wrote:

If this old relic will work with a modern USB modem which you must have installed the drivers for, I can't see the problem using a USB WiFi dongle!

I would definately agree with this, the WiFi dongle shouldn't use anywhere near as much resources as a USB ADSL Modem

albertross_2

Just use a wired connection, if he doesn't have a network card, they are about £7 from ebuyer.