Help with wireless network equipment

albertross_2

in theory any should work, personally I would get a netgear, cos they are prettier!?

DonnyDave

mleonard79 wrote:

Donnydave, you're rigth my computer is right next to the phone line so the only computer that would need to be wireless would be my brother's...

From what you've described, I would say you're right.

mleonard79 wrote:

... I'm pretty sure neither computer has a network card - they're both over 2 years old. ...

Do you and you brother have Windows XP? Usually it shows an icon with two monitors and a red cross saying that the "Local Area Connection is Unplugged." This signifies that you have networking capabilities. However, the fact that isn't there doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have a network socket.

To check go to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections. You should find connections for broadband and any dial-up accounts you have installed. Look for Local Area Connection or LAN.

mleonard79 wrote:

... Therefore from what everyone's saying I assume I wouldn't need a network card for my computer, just my brothers plus I would only need the card or a usb adaptor but not both?? ...

If you don't have a network socket then you will need a wired network card. Your brother will need a wireless network card or USB wireless adaptor.

OTOH, if you don't have a network socket and your brother does, you could put the router next to his computer and used a wired connection between router and his PC. You say he connects via dial-up, so it must be within access of the telephone socket. You would then need a wireless adaptor for your PC and nothing for your brother's.

mleonard79 wrote:

.... So does the card or the adaptor work best? ...

Some routers come complete with a wireless networking card or USB dongle.

mleonard79

Do you and you brother have Windows XP? Usually it shows an icon with two monitors and a red cross saying that the "Local Area Connection is Unplugged." This signifies that you have networking capabilities. However, the fact that isn't there doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have a network socket.

To check go to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections. You should find connections for broadband and any dial-up accounts you have installed. Look for Local Area Connection or LAN.

Hi Donnydave,
Yeah we both have windows XP (I have media centre edition and he has home edition) and I've just checked both computers and we do have the LAN symbols on the desktop icons and when I checked in the control panel it was there under network connections as well as a network setup wizard and even a wireless setup wizard so I guess this means that both computers do have network capabilities. An added bonus! Thanks a lot for pointing that out. So I take it this means that I should only need the router for my comp plus a wireless card or usb adaptor for his comp? When you talk about network sockets do you mean a port on the computer to plub the network card into or by having the LAN on the computers will we automatically have network sockets? Think I'm finally getting a handle on this! Now just to decide on the brand!!

Michelle

DonnyDave

mleonard79 wrote:

... So I take it this means that I should only need the router for my comp plus a wireless card or usb adaptor for his comp? ...

Yes, that's correct.

mleonard79 wrote:

... When you talk about network sockets do you mean a port on the computer to plub the network card into or by having the LAN on the computers will we automatically have network sockets? ...

If you have a network socket on the back of your computer, you have all that you need to connect it to the router. I know my router has 4 network (Ethernet) sockets, as well as wireless. It came with a network cable as well. I assume other routers are similar.

Anyway, the socket on your computer is an RJ45. Google RJ45 and you will find loads of pictures. The symbol next to the socket on the back of your computer will be:

mleonard79 wrote:

Think I'm finally getting a handle on this! Now just to decide on the brand!!

There are various ones. I have this US Robotics one.

lwsjsph

Hi Can any one help?
I have a Linksys wag354g modem/router On AOl mine works fine but Bought one for a friend as this was so easy to setup & very reliable.But He is with Tesco .net & cannot get on net even with settings from tesco the wirless connection to laptop is fine but no internet connection no matter how mant times i reset with lynksys internet form.i have double cheqed setting they are Right but no luck. yes I have cheqed Modem on my connection & it is fine all working ok with AOL.
Ps do you think it it tesco isp

DonnyDave

lwsjsph wrote:

Hi Can any one help?
I have a Linksys wag354g modem/router On AOl mine works fine but Bought one for a friend as this was so easy to setup & very reliable.But He is with Tesco .net & cannot get on net even with settings from tesco ...

Perhaps you could take your router round to his and put his username and password in (I presume all other settings are the same). Or alternatively, bring his router to yours (along with his laptop), and see if you can get connected to AOL.

Another suggestion is to check obvious things like filters being plugged in correctly, and that there isn't a filter plugged into another filter.

Does your friend have a modem (which he presumably used to use before he got the router)? Can you try getting on with this?