Want To Go Wireless. Need Help.

Mr_Yoda

Right, this might sound a bit thick but, How do I go from fixed cable broadband to wireless?

I'm currently with Virgin Media and the broadband is connected to my modem which is then connected to my Dell Dimension 8400 via an ethernet cable. I'm wanting to make a wireless network so that I can surf the net on my Nokia N900 and not risk any charges from Vodafone for going over my limit. I sort of know that i'll need a router but not sure which to go for and indeed if that is all I need.

Any help here would be brilliant.

iamcornholio

Yes get a router - any cheap g or preferably n class one.

Check out the Tenda N150 from ebuyer - £17.99 and very easy to set up and works really well

sickofusernames

Or just pop down to PCworld and buy a wireless router from there, if you aren't an online buyer, for £25.

esuhl

Routers (nearly always) come in two varieties: cable or ADSL. You'll need a cable router (obviously), which plugs into your cable modem.

As far as Wi-Fi goes, any modern wireless router will be either 802.11g (which is backward-compatible with 802.11b) or 802.11n (which is backwards compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b).

802.11n will be faster and cover a wider area than 802.11g, but even 802.11g can transfer a theoretical maximum of 54Mb/s (probably half that in practice), so unless you really need the extra speed or range, 802.11g should be sufficient.

I haven't kept my eye on router prices, though - if it's the same price for a 802.11g and 802.11n routers, get the latter!

closed

Ask Virgin for a free wireless router.

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/broadband/wireless.html

robt_2

As above, ask Virgin for one in return for another 12 month contract.

iamcornholio

esuhl wrote: »

Routers (nearly always) come in two varieties: cable or ADSL. You'll need a cable router (obviously), which plugs into your cable modem.

A router is a router, it just sits on the network between the computer and the modem (whatever type it is), and does not have to be specific cable or ADSL router.

closed

An adsl router wouldn't be any good for a virgin cable connection, assuming the op has cable, not Virgin National.

Mr_Yoda

closed wrote: »

Ask Virgin for a free wireless router.

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/broadband/wireless.html

robt wrote: »

As above, ask Virgin for one in return for another 12 month contract.

I contacted Virgin and they quoted me £40 for a model G router and £50 for a model N because i'm not upgrading the service just changing it.

closed wrote: »

An adsl router wouldn't be any good for a virgin cable connection, assuming the op has cable, not Virgin National.

And it is cable broadband not Virgin National. I've seen some router and adapter bundle type offers, so if I buy a router will I then need an adapter? I'm not specifically wanting to connect multiple computers, it will just be my desktop and two smartphones.

closed

Be persistent, "you're a loyal customer, and they and other isp's offer this to new customers, what can they do for you" etc.

If they still say no, ask for customer retentions, you might even get a cheaper deal out of it.

If your PC is near the router, you could use the ethernet connection, in which case you don't need the adapter.

If you do end up buying one, don't get an adsl router, it won't work.

Mr_Yoda

closed wrote: »

Be persistent, "you're a loyal customer, and they and other isp's offer this to new customers, what can they do for you" etc.

If they still say no, ask for customer retentions, you might even get a cheaper deal out of it.

If your PC is near the router, you could use the ethernet connection, in which case you don't need the adapter.

If you do end up buying one, don't get an adsl router, it won't work.

Thanks for the help. I was thinking about this one:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/191548

I've heard Linksys are quite a good make and it's also 'N' thngy as well (so sorry, I do sound really simple).