wireless broadband

hellofreebies

please help as i havent got the slightest idea..just recently purchased my first laptop from dell..will soon be on broadband by early may as waiting for my dial up account to run out first...i would like to set my my broadband down stairs on my desk top and wondered what i would need to enable a wireless connection upstairs on my laptop....lan cards..network cards...asdl...routeers.. its all so confusing please some one give me some suggestions what i need to do? the possibility to use it wirelessly when out and about also appeals to me...by the way i have a dell 1150 pentium with10/100 ethernet and integrated wireless true mobile 1350, 802.11 b/g...what ever that means!!!

paulherts

If you buy a wireless router or combined wireless router modem then you will not have to have the PC on when using the laptop wirelessly.

If your PC is not wireless enabled then you will need a card/adaptor for it. It appears that the laptop is wireless enabled.

I have a BT 2000 voyager modem/router which works fine with two PCs, three laptops and a PDA. I have also used Belkin routers in the past.

802.11b is the old standard and 802.11g is the newer standard. g is obviously the one to go for but b works fine.

I know it all sound like Japanese but it is fairly easy to set up once you have the hardware and the bundled software.

Cheers Paul

Relic_2

hey,

well you'll want a wireless router, linksys router are well recommended, but up to you and im sure other ppl will recommend others.

So the PC will plug into the router via RJ45 (cat5) cable, this is through ur network (ethernet) card. Then just wirelessly connect to the router from your laptop and you shoudl be connected.

the different in the b and g standards is the speed. g is 54mbps and b is 10mbps but for general use it wont matter much, just price difference.

Its a bit brief but trying to keep it simple.

DVB_3

In order to set-up wireless internet you need the following:

1) Wireless-capable router. It serves a number of functions: firewall - protects your broadband connection from attacks and intrusions; wireless access point - allows for the wireless-capable computers to connect to broadband; finally, the router itself - allows for the broadband connection to be shared, so that multiple computers can access the broadband simultaneously.

2) Every computer that has to access wireless network will need some sort of a wireless adapter.

Not sure how many computers you have, as in your post you only mentioned your laptop, and according to your post it's already wireless-capable. As such, you would only need a wireless router at this stage. Your post is worded in such a way that allows for an assumption of another computer (desktop) being present. Would you need it wireless, or you'd be happy with a wired connection?

So, your first choice is router. In order to choose one you need choose the type of connection first - cable or DSL. Please post what type of connection you had in mind, so that a better piece of advice can be given.

DVB_3

@paulherts & @Relic - apologies, massive crosspost :silenced:

Will need to learn to type faster :beer:

bridiej

You dont necessarily need a router, I networked my PC (vis USB plug-in network device) to laptop (via plug in netword card) so could use laptop downstairs for surfing BUT it is a pain having to have the PC switched on and logged in at the same time....

I've just ordered a new Dell PC and ordered a router with it, just hoping it's simple to set up.

hellofreebies

thanks guys for your rapid response...so from what i understand i need a modem/router...i do like the idea that i do not need to turn my downstairs desk top pc to activate my broadband.....my broadband connection is aol so guess thats dsl? as i will get a free modem from aol could i just not just get the router to work with it? ie. not have to turn on my desk top pc? another question is what are lan cards or hi wi? how do i get an internet connection say if im at a friends or in a hotel room? the spec on my laptop says 802.11 b/g so have i got a b or a g?? i feel really thick?

DVB_3

If it's AOL - it's definitely ADSL. I never used AOL myself, so I can only generalise. As far as I know, to get the officially supported home network on AOL broadband, you have to subscribe to either Gold or Platinum Package (Silver is no good). AOL uses proprietory protocols, so you will need an AOL-compatible router. There have been a number of discussions about the subject oh this board, so just search for recommendations. Free modem is OK as a backup, but you would really need a router in order to create a fully independent network.

Wi-Fi - b is an older flavour of g, and you have both supported anyway. You can access the Internet whenever you're in range of a b/g network (and most, if not all of them, are), provided, of course, that you have a permission to do so. If your friend(s) have wireless - there shouldn't be any problems in getting you connected. Hotels would have to be wireless-enabled, and if they are - just ask at the reception. Another possibility is to subscribe to the service, which allows you to access a network of public access points (hotspots), but it's not cheap and would only be suitable for someone who travels a lot and needs a fast connection all the time. BT Openzone is an example of such service.