wireless interest advice please

munro_wilson

Im a beginner when it comes to these matters, but would value your advice.

I have a desktop pc with a modem wired into a broadband line (virgin media), however I want to move my pc into a different room.

While it would be possible to do this through a series of cables, it would be cumbersome.

What is the best way to achieve this in a wireless way?

thanks

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Buy a wireless router and then a card/dongle for your pc if it doesnt have one built in

jamespir

munro_wilson wrote: »

Im a beginner when it comes to these matters, but would value your advice.

I have a desktop pc with a modem wired into a broadband line (virgin media), however I want to move my pc into a different room.

While it would be possible to do this through a series of cables, it would be cumbersome.

What is the best way to achieve this in a wireless way?

thanks

get a wirless pci card like this

then turn on wifi on your modem (if it accepts it ) then connect to your modem name and voila

Scho

jamespir wrote: »

then turn on wifi on your modem (if it accepts it ) then connect to your modem name and voila

Correct - but it depends on the router supplied by Virgin. Ours is the older non-wireless version.

OP - Check your cable modem that Virgin gave you. If this is wireless then a wifi dongle or wifi card for the desktop would be the best bet. If you're not sure, look for a make and model number (e.g. Netgear AB1234) and post it back here so someone can advise.

If it's not wireles, you'll want a wireless router that works with a 'WAN' network connection (Wide Area Network) - NOT an ADSL modem/router.

It would be a lot cheaper to buy a cable though, and probabaly for less than fiver. Worth weighing up!

leebtyler

just be aware when buying routers if you need to that some older houses struggle with signals through walls, my mums house has blind spots and weak areas, this doesnt seem to be a problem with newer build houses ive noticed.

get a STRONG dongle and a good Network card, dont pay less, because you may regret it. ive always used the Netgear WG111T dongles and they get good signals everywhere in my house, and certain dongles are better for gaming and some just only capable of browsing, choose the right one for your needs, if your just web browsing you can spend a little less.

sonstream

leebtyler wrote: »

just be aware when buying routers if you need to that some older houses struggle with signals through walls, my mums house has blind spots and weak areas, this doesnt seem to be a problem with newer build houses ive noticed.

They make new build houses out of paper now wireless signals have no probs getting through.

"don't build them like they used to!" :rotfl:

Gratis

If, as you imply, all you wish to do is move a single desktop computer to a room other than that in which your Virgin cable modem is sited, you don’t need a wi-fi network at all and would be much better off without one.

To achieve your objective without interconnecting wires your preferable option would be to purchase a pair of powerline adaptors. These use the mains electricity wiring in your premises to carry the signal between your modem and your computer.

Each powerline adaptor plugs into a 13 amp electricity socket. In your case, one would be near to your Virgin modem and the other would be near to where you wish to site your desktop computer.

Each adaptor also has an Ethernet socket. You plug a Cat5e Ethernet lead (usually supplied free with the adaptor) into each one. The other ends of these two cables you plug, respectively, one into your modem and the other into your computer. Then, just switch them on; they will find each other via your electricity wiring and create an Ethernet bridge for you. It’s a simple as that.

The effect of it is the same as running a long Ethernet cable between the two rooms; it just uses your mains wiring, instead of a cable, to connect the two devices to each other.

The whole process takes less than a minute to set up and there’s no fiddling about with wireless protocol settings nor worries about your neighbours covertly gaining access to your wireless network from next door or across the street. It is intrinsically more secure.

It also works more effectively than passing wireless signals through substantial walls or (especially) between different floors of a multi-storey premises. Those tend to weaken and degrade a wireless signal.

A pair of powerline adaptors need not be expensive; you can find them on eBay quite cheaply. The “200”mbps ones are usefully better than the “85”mbps ones if you have a (relatively, by British standards) high speed Internet connection through cable from Virgin.

Some powerline adaptors also incorporate a mains electricity pass-through, so you can plug the adaptor into the wall and then insert the power plug of your computer (or a 4-gang extension) into the 13 amp socket on the adaptor itself. This is useful.

If, moreover, your rooms have twin socket fittings for electricity, make sure you buy powerline adaptors that are slim enough to enable the adjacent wall socket to be used as well: some are so wide that they cover the whole double socket. :mad:

Good brands include Solwise and Devolo, if you’re searching for them online.

There are also “500”mbps and even “Gigabit” powerline adaptors, now, but these cost more and can get nearby ham radio enthusiasts upset. They have advantages if you want to build a multi-computer network but for your described needs, the “200”mbps ones should be quite sufficient and they use proven technology.

The fastest, cheapest and most reliable connection, nevertheless, will always be achieved by running a Cat5e (or greater) cable directly between the two devices. But doing that isn’t always possible or practical and you have asked for an alternative that avoids this.

Powerline adaptors do involve some modest expense but they’ll do the job for you fine, provided that the electrical wiring in your premises is up to scratch. (And, if it isn’t, you have a lot more to be worried about than your Internet connection. :eek: )