First PC internet access

baron777red

I’m am setting up my parents with their first computer sothey can access the internet, so what iwas going to do was buy a cheap used desktop PC off ebay, and instead of paying for BT or SKY to come outand connect up a router for the broadband, could i put a USB dongle in andconnect them to the internet this way?

Forgive my ignorance, but if i did use a Dongle, is thiswifi? Could other devices (like a mobile) connect to it aswell?

They have SKY tv but don’t have a home phone number, justuse mobiles for calls.

thanks

Cycrow

What kind of dongle are you actually talking about ?

simply adding wifi to a pc will not connect it to the internet, as the wifi will have to connect to something that has access to the internet.

if you mean a mobile broadband dongle, then this will give you internet access, but these are uusually less reliable and more expensive than having a proper broadband connection.

to connect multiple devices, you would need some kind of network and router. MiFi devices can do this for mobile broadband

thomcooper

No, its not WIFI. Its just a 3G (or 4G) dongle. WIFI is the technology that does the wireless bit between your computer (assuming it has wireless capabilities) & the router (the little box that plugs into the phone line & connects you to the rest of the world - internet).

A dongle should do the job (as long as the computer is not too old). Don't buy anything that doesn't have Windows 7 on it. Windows Vista is hopeless & Windows XP support finishes in April, meaning that newer programmes & modern web browsers aren't going to work properly going forward.

If you buy a dongle, it is basically a mobile phone with a USB connection rather than a microphone, speaker & screen. It establishes an internet connection between the dongle & the GSM telephone network, instead of a copper BT cable on the wall.

As it doesn't have any means of projecting a WIFI signal, only the computer that has the dongle plugged in (& dongle drivers installed onto) will work.

Lots of providers now do units that provide a WIFI signal in leui of a USB connection, but this will also require that the computer that you buy has a WIFI transmitter which some towers don't - most laptops under 5 years old do.

One critical thing to check before buying though is that you have a good 3G signal at your parents home. Go into the shops & ask them. They have online maps showing you what the service level will be like. Check several providers to find the best one.

Also, 3G providers don't provide as big a download allowance as wired connections. This won't be a problem if they're browsing Amazon, watching the occasional Youtube video & responding to email. But if they're planning on streaming Netflix or Sky online constantly, they'll quickly use up their data & be back down the shop for a top up.

Hope this helps

StuC75

If the pc that you buy has a wifi card in it then you could use Internet Connection sharing to allow the 3g connection from the dongle to be shared to other devices over wifi as that pc would become the hub as such - meaning that it would need to be turned on to allow the connection to be shared..

This is basically how 'Man in the Middle' wifi snooping is done...

Alternatively there is the Mifi option or using an unlocked 3g phone on a tariff that allows tethering (eg 3's one plan)..

Do test what reception is like in the area - although some plans may not have that great a data allowance!..

cookie365

Getting a 3G dongle will mean signing up to a data plan that'll cost significantly more, and be significantly slower, and be significantly less stable, with significantly tighter download limits, and significantly trickier to resolve any problems, than having a broadband connection over the landline.

baron777red

thanks for the replies, I have opted for broadband through a router with BT, and have bought a dell dimension 3100, (I know its old...) running XP, just need to get me a wireless adapter now so I can set up the WIFI,
is there any specific adapter I should be looking at, or will any work?
thanks

Inner_Zone

You do realise XP support stops in a few months?

Also why Wi-Fi as it s a desktop or tower why not just use an Ethernet cable between router and PC?

Sinhanada

I agree with Inner Zone. The BT Router will come with a network cable which should plug into the back of the PC. If the PC does not have an Ethernet port (looks like a slightly larger telephone connection port) then yes get a WiFi dongle. PC World can help you there.

As for XP, I would seriously consider buying a copy of Windows 7 Home and loading this for them. XP is outdated and you will soon pick up a load more troubles and more susceptibility to virus and malware

penrhyn

Its highly unlikely that an XP PC will have enough ooomph to run Windows 7.
Get a better PC, and an ethernet cable for the router.

baron777red

I did realise that Microsoft were not supporting XP from April, but isn't that just updates, I mean it will still work, and with a good antivirus it should work fine, shouldn't it,

I cant imagine that every single XP user (personal and business ) will be changing to Windows 7, it would cost too much

if I were to buy windows 7 how much are they

thanks

adouglasmhor

You will have to max the memory to 2gb on a Dimension 3100 to run W7 properly and makes sure you get a 32-bit version.