HELP needed re wireless connection PLEASE

ksh123

My daughter has been lucky enough to be given a laptop which is wireless enabled. We are with Virgin Media so I phoned and asked about a router and they charge £40 which wasa shock. I just don't have the money.
If I was lucky enough to get a router from Freecycle would it be simple to install given that I currently get BB via cable and that, when it comes to wiring or anything external to the computer I am totally phobic?
Thanks in advance.

Strider590

Well... I suppose the major question would be, is it a Cable or ADSL router? ADSL routers have a socket for a phone line, Cable routers do not.

Then...... if it's the correct router (Virgin Media is Cable), you need to find the user manual. If you don't have the manual then you'll have to find the manufacturers website and download one.

diable

If you have broadband via cable and not via a phone line then you will need a cable router something like a Netgear WGR614UK Wireless Cable Router. The GF had Virgin broad band installed over the weekend and I set up the networking and wireless side of it and I believe this is the router they supplied for free.

You could always call Virgin up and say that you are thing of leaving as another ISP has quoted you a free wireless router and a better price to see if they will offer you one free of charge to stay with them.

ksh123

Gosh that was quick. Thanks for your replies. I'm already feeling befuddled by the ADSL/Cable question
But as it has its own little box on the wall separate from the phone line then I assume its cable :rolleyes:
I can't believe they charge £40 and you have to install it yourself!! What a nerve :mad:
Its a good idea re threatening them with leaving tho. I'll give it a go later. So excuse my ignorance but is it a wiring job or just a case of installing a programme on the computer? (I can just about manage that, lol)

diable

If you have a box on the outside wall and a cable that comes in to the house that goes in to a small black box with flashing lights on it then it is cable. You then have one cable that goes from that box to you PC that allows you to use the internet. That cable would need to go to a specific port on your wireless router, you may need to run a disk to set it up or via IE and accessing the interface on the router. It is simple but to be totally sure double check with Virgin.

ksh123

diable wrote: »

If you have a box on the outside wall and a cable that comes in to the house that goes in to a small black box with flashing lights on it then it is cable. You then have one cable that goes from that box to you PC that allows you to use the internet. That cable would need to go to a specific port on your wireless router, you may need to run a disk to set it up or via IE and accessing the interface on the router. It is simple but to be totally sure double check with Virgin.

Does that mean that my pc would need to be wireless enabled then? It isn't - which is why I am saying arrgh!

AceRider

dependant on which router you get they are mostly "plug and play".
Plug your modem into the first port with an ethernet cable (cat5 Ethernet)
Then plug your router into your PC via ethernet (cat5 again)
Then the laptop can connect via wireless.

The only real setting up you will need to do is chosing passwords and security info which should be in the user guide for the router or easily found online

FireFox

ksh123 wrote: »

Does that mean that my pc would need to be wireless enabled then?

No - you can also connect with an ethernet/lan cable to a wireless router.

See here for some info.
... or here for wireless set up.

ksh123

Oh that's a relief. Thanks so much all of you. I'll try putting some pressure on Virgin now. But I usually fail because I already have a discount on.
Thanks again for all your help.

FireFox

Some examples of popular Cable Wireless Routers to have a look at -

Netgear WGR614 54Mbps Cable Wireless Router

Linksys WRT54G2UK 54G Wireless Router

Belkin 54G Wireless Cable Router (F5D7234uk4)

Remember - for Virgin Cable Broadband you specifically need a Cable/DSL wireless router not an ADSL router. Always look for the brand and model name and look it up on the net before you commit to buy or Freecycle.

diable

FireFox wrote: »

Some examples of popular Cable Wireless Routers to have a look at -

Netgear WGR614 54Mbps Cable Wireless Router

Linksys WRT54G2UK 54G Wireless Router

Belkin 54G Wireless Cable Router (F5D7234uk4)

Remember - for Virgin Cable Broadband you specifically need a Cable/DSL wireless router not an ADSL router. Always look for the brand and model name and look it up on the net before you commit to buy or Freecycle.

The Netgear one is the same as the one Virgin supplied to my GF.