Have I messed up & do I need a WLAN dongle??

Mum_of_3_3

Hi I bought a new computer the other day (it's a Packard Bell iXtreme 9610). I thought it had WLAN, but after trying to connect to the (NetGear DG834N) wireless router/modem I've just bought I think it's only got LAN
Does this mean I've now got ot go out & buy a N1 wireless dongle :eek:

Thanks

A very worried M_o_3

PS Have got our Wii working perfectly with the router/modem so I know that's not faulty.

espresso

Why don't you connect the PC using an Ethernet cable? It's a good idea to have at least one device connected via cable.

aliEnRIK

It doesnt have wireless im afraid

You need a dongle or fit an internal wireless device

Mum_of_3_3

Thanks Espresso & alienrik for your help.

espresso wrote: »

Why don't you connect the PC using an Ethernet cable? It's a good idea to have at least one device connected via cable.

I wish I could, but the computer is to go in the conservatory (north facing & never, ever gets hot) and the phone socket is about 6 metres away in the living room & I don't really want a cable trailing everywhere.

Are the dongles all the same or do they differ? I got a N router because of the Wii, but as I don't play any online games could I get a g dongle?

Thanks again for your quick answers.

M_o_3

espresso

Mum_of_3 wrote: »

Are the dongles all the same or do they differ? I got a N router because of the Wii, but as I don't play any online games could I get a g dongle?

I think that you have wasted your money buy an n type router, as I believe that the Wii only supports 802.11b&g and the now superseded WEP encryption. I guess that any wireless dongle would do.

gjchester

espresso wrote: »

I think that you have wasted your money buy an n type router, as I believe that the Wii only supports 802.11b&g and the now superseded WEP encryption. I guess that any wireless dongle would do.

Your right speed wise but the Wii can do WPA, The DS is the one that cna only do WEP.

Little_John

If you only have b and g devices then there is no need to buy an N USB wireless network adaptor as there is no benefit of haveing the bandwidth available on the N protocol whn your not able to transfer data to anything else at those speeds.

Just a quick question, how come USB wireless network adaptors are now called dongles?
A dongle is a hardware key used to copy protect software always has been and always will.

Mum_of_3_3

Thanks for all your replies.

The Wii's working perfectly on the rouher so that's fine. I don't really like my kids ot go online without me being in the vicinity so the fact their DSs won't work with the router suits me fine.

I bought the N router as it wasn't that much more expensive than a g http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NGR-DG834N so thought that the N would be more future proof

As for calling it a dongle & not adaptor I guess I was getting confused with the technical terms, sorry.

So are all adaptors the same? Are some more reliable than others do I have to shell out another £50 or will a £15 one from Argos do??

Thanks again

M_o_3

PS My broadband normally runs at about 7000(or is it written as 7.0???) kbps

Mum_of_3_3

Ok just had a look on the pcworld website

Am i better off getting this belkin one http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1478717347.1235076296@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhadegidfdeijcflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=924225&category_oid=

or do I really need to pay out another £50 on the Netgear one?? http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1478717347.1235076296@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhadegidfdeijcflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=573067&category_oid=

EDIT: I've got this printer http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1478717347.1235076296@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhadegidfdeijcflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=258243&category_oid=-24820 so I guess that will work without an adaptor?? (please say yes ;-) )

Oh how I wish I'd put a phone extension into the conservatory when we built it :rolleyes:

Thanks

A totally tech-confused M_o_3

GunJack

you can get wireless usb adaptors from around £10-ish....certainly no need to pay £50 :eek: for one

gjchester

Mum_of_3 wrote: »

So are all adaptors the same? Are some more reliable than others do I have to shell out another £50 or will a £15 one from Argos do??

No all adapters are not the same.

To get the full N Speed you need a N adapter, and as N is not an fully approved standard yet (or at least as I write this it's still a draft specification) it's best to get the same maker/ brand to get the best speed out of the setup. If your streaming or copying big files between different machines on your network then it will be better to get N speed adapters.

However as you don't need that speed for internet use, and the "slow" point will be the broadband modem a el cheapo argos one will do fine for what you want.