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How do I make my laptop "wireless"?

Right, this is a stupid question, I know that I should know the answer and feel like I am embarrassing myself by asking but how do I do the above?

I have a 5 year old Packard Bell EasyNote laptop. I sit near the plug socket and the phone line/modem socket. I would like to sit somewhere else, but the leads won't reach. How do I make it go "wireless"-do I need to buy something (apart from a new laptop)?

Thankyou
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Comments

  • GunJack
    GunJack Posts: 11,864 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    a 5-y-o laptop will more than likely have a wifi card in it - make & model?. You need a wifi-capable router to plug into the phone line instead of your (sounds like) USB modem :)
    ......Gettin' There, Wherever There is......

    I have a dodgy "i" key, so ignore spelling errors due to "i" issues, ...I blame Apple :D
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If it doesn't (unlikely), then you just need a USB wireless adapter to connect to your new wireless router.
    Try blagging a free router from your ISP if you are out of contract.
    The type of router you need will depend on whether you are using ADSL or cable broadband-cable broadband requires a cable router.
    USB modems are flakey and obsolete-time to move to a router whether you use wireless or not.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • TakeThis
    TakeThis Posts: 2,909 Forumite
    Full model number of laptop and full model number of Router/Modem if you please? ;)
  • TakeThis wrote: »
    Full model number of laptop and full model number of Router/Modem if you please? ;)

    Sorry-again.

    On the base of the laptop it says:
    Model-MIT-RHEA-C
    MS MODEL-RHCOO IN008
    EASYNOTE RI935
  • TakeThis
    TakeThis Posts: 2,909 Forumite
    It has a built in WiFi capability.

    and the modem?
  • Emuchops
    Emuchops Posts: 799 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Sorry for the delay in responding.

    The Modem is Sagem and on the back has the following:

    SAGEM F@ST 800 E3

    2806073EP713741

    251411098
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    That's an ancient USB modem (probably from Talktalk IIRC). Well overdue for retirement.
    Get a decent ADSL modem-router, which can be used via ethernet or wirelessly. This should either be free from your ISP, or from about a tenner on eBay.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • TakeThis
    TakeThis Posts: 2,909 Forumite
    Which Internet Service Provider do you utilise...and how much do you pay?
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I'm guessing TT, with that modem.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Emuchops
    Emuchops Posts: 799 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 13 November 2011 at 3:48PM
    Well done-you all obviously know your onions- it is indeed Tiscali/TT-so how do I get the bits that I need out of them?-Is it just a matter of asking?
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