Help with wireless router please.

paullwill8

Hi.

After having loads of trouble with bt broadband basic (caused by upgrade from 512 to 1mb ) I was advised by a BT engineer to purchase a router as the problem was caused by my inferior cable from my phone line to pc.
I couldn't just replace the cable because I fitted it underneath my wooden flooring.
I then bought a BT Voyager 2100 Router. When I tried to install it I wasn't given this option? After checking my system I dont appear to have any drivers for my Ethernet controller installed. Could this be the problem?
I am not very good with computers so I am not sure wether or not it could be this.
Also I didnt by a wireless adapter as I thought you got the lot along with the router. Could anyone reccomend which is the better option?
My pc is:
Advent 3117
P4 2.8 Hyper threading.
Windows xp home.

Thanks.

Tharweb

paullwill8 wrote:

When I tried to install it I wasn't given this option? After checking my system I dont appear to have any drivers for my Ethernet controller installed. Could this be the problem?

Also I didnt by a wireless adapter as I thought you got the lot along with the router. Could anyone reccomend which is the better option?

Don't understand the first part of this paul, what option are you referring to? If there are no drivers installed for your ethernet controller, you will not be able to connect to the router. Do you have the drivers on disc anywhere? If not, what make/model is the ethernet card?

Do you have another PC or laptop that you want to network with or are you intending to connect wirelessly with your PC when you set the router up?

paullwill8

Sorry I see what you mean. I wasn't given the "install" option that I should have been, perhaps it is because my ethernet does not work. I have been into device manager and my system does not recognise the make of my ethernet, just says device unknown and I dont have the drivers on disc so I guess I have shot it.

Yes I was intending to connect wirelessly to my pc, to solve the problem regarding my cable.

gemma1585

I am totally clueless when it comes to routers. I have just bought 2 dell notebooks with 801.11b/g wireless cards (whatever that means) and the sales agent said I should buy a router thats compatable from a local hardware store instead of purchasing theirs. What should I be looking for and have I been totally ripped off when buying my the wireless cards?
I will be using them at home and my university has a wireless network and will be wanting to connect to that.

-TangleFoot-

This might help you with that problematic ethernet controller (an Intel 82562EZ apparently); it's got some support information about the Advent 3117 in it:

Reinstalling applications

From version 2.x of the recovery system onwards you can install applications from the c:\applications folder. Drivers can be installed from the c:\applications\drivers folder and utilities from the c:\applications\tools folder. You will still need to install Microsoft Works from the supplied CD.

So, you may be able to find the correct drivers for the adaptor in the aforementioned directory on your own PC. Or just follow the instructions for "non-destructive recovery".

Note, however, that when you plug something into an ethernet port, you will not be asked to 'install' anything; it's a dedicated communications interface, and as such a PC using it does not require special drivers for talking to other connected devices. It only needs the drivers for the port's controller.

Windows XP does somewhat automate the process of network set-up though, so providing that the ethernet controller works you should have no trouble getting your new router configured. If it doesn't work, you'll probably have to use a USB-Ethernet adaptor or somesuch instead.


As for what wireless adaptor to get to go with your Voyager 2100, it's usually best to buy equipment from the same family. For the desktop PC, it's a simple choice between the 1040 PCI card, or 1050 USB adaptor. But really, any wireless adaptor should work; just be sure it supports either the 801.11b or 801.11g standards.

---

<other ADSL hardware>

paullwill8

Thats great, thanks to both of you for your help, I am going to get a card this weekend so i will let you know how it went.

Thanks again

Paul

Tharweb

gemma1585 wrote:

I am totally clueless when it comes to routers. I have just bought 2 dell notebooks with 801.11b/g wireless cards (whatever that means) and the sales agent said I should buy a router thats compatable from a local hardware store instead of purchasing theirs. What should I be looking for and have I been totally ripped off when buying my the wireless cards?
I will be using them at home and my university has a wireless network and will be wanting to connect to that.

Gemma

No, you haven't been ripped off. Dell have probably done you a favour advising you to look elsewhere for a router as it gives you more freedom. The b/g of the wireless cards just means that they are backwards compatible and therefore they can connect to the faster 54Mbps or 11Mbps wireless standards. You could go for the BT wireless modem/router that the OP has bought or I have a Netgear DG834G which is popular and easy to set up. I got mine from Amazon for £69.99 inc free delivery.

If you want to know anything else you might be better doing a new post as it might get lost otherwise

gemma1585

Thank you very much for your post.

Would it be beneficial for me to upgrade to a a/b/g card for around £30 more or will the b/g be enough. I will be using it all around my home and at university.

Thank you very much for your advice.

ManAtHome

This is another VHS (b/g) v Betamax (a) one I'm afraid. Worth checking what the Uni uses - 801.11a works on a high frequency than b/g and generally gives wider coverage at high speeds. Most 'home use' kit is b/g - b is enough for surfing, g is worthwhile for file and printer sharing.

Toxteth_OGrady

gemma1585 wrote:

Would it be beneficial for me to upgrade to a a/b/g card for around £30 more or will the b/g be enough.

Unless you have any 802.11a devices you would be just wasting your money.

See here.

:cool:

TOG

onzey

Hi TOG

I followed your link and noticed the article was quite old (Jan 2002) and checked around for more recent news of 802.11a and found this

http://www.techworld.com/mobility/features/index.cfm?FeatureID=764

Still agree with you that if there are no 802.11a devices then obviously an a/b/g card's overkill but may come in handy one day perhaps.