I need advice - is this any good? Another Wireless question I'm afraid

Merlot

Sorry to be asking possibly the most asked question on this board, but I have phoned my ISP (pipex) this morning, and they were as much use as a chocolate teapot.

I am looking to buy a wireless modem/router to connect one PC which runs on XP and a Laptop which runs on Vista, pipex this morning mentioned Netgear, I have had a look on E-Bay this morning, is this one suitable? //http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-Modem-Router-Netgear-WG111-USB-Adapter_W0QQitemZ110190070190QQihZ001QQcategoryZ44997QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I need one that is PPPoA, and what other bits do I need to set it up? I have purchased a Laptop for my Daughter for xmas and I would like to be able to set up the wireless connection before christmas morning.

Any help most appreciated.

Merlot

BillScarab

Well I've never heard of that brand of router so would be wary, if you have problems you may struggle to get answers. Also do you need the wireless adapter? Most modern laptops have wireless built in and you would be better off connecting your Desktop by an ethernet cable.

Personally I would get one of these netgear routers. I know it's more expensive but they have a good reputation and lots of people use them so it's easy to sort problems out.

Merlot

BillScarab wrote: »

Well I've never heard of that brand of router so would be wary, if you have problems you may struggle to get answers. Also do you need the wireless adapter? Most modern laptops have wireless built in and you would be better off connecting your Desktop by an ethernet cable.

Personally I would get one of these netgear routers. I know it's more expensive but they have a good reputation and lots of people use them so it's easy to sort problems out.

Many many thanks for your reply, so can I just clarify that I do not need to purchase anything else but the netgear router mentioned in the link?

How easy are they to set up, is it a matter of insert a disk and plug and go, or do I need a case of red and a weekend to set the thing up?

I have just re-read the link, no mention that it is compatible with Vista? This is the bit I am getting really confused with, can you link 2 computers to a wireless router/modem if you are operating two different versions of windows. i.e.XP and Vista?

Merlot

nickcardwell

i have seen/used 2wire routers (BT give them free to business broadband users) , they are not bad. However if you have been with pipex for more than a year, threaten to leave unless you get a free wireless router.

Merlot

nickcardwell wrote: »

i have seen/used 2wire routers (BT give them free to business broadband users) , they are not bad. However if you have been with pipex for more than a year, threaten to leave unless you get a free wireless router.

I did threaten to leave them 3 months ago, and asked for my MAC code, they reduced my monthly fee from £17.99 to £9.99 per month, so I'm staying with them, they are not great on the technical side but their general customer service is outstanding and based in UK, so they have more plus points than negative.

bigdic

I second the Netgear, as Bill said loads of people use them and they are very reliable. They are quite straight forward to set up and shouldn't cause you too many problems.

You're daughters laptop should have wi-fi onboard so all you'd need is a wireless dongle (USB adaptor shown on Bills' link) for your PC. Unless your router will be close to your main PC then, like Bill said, just plug it straight into the router using the cable that will come with it.

The router will work fine with Vista and XP (routers don't care what software you run).

BillScarab

Router's are not dependent on the OS, they don't need any drivers so you can connect anything to a router XP, Vista Mac, Xbox etc.

The things you need to check are, does your laptop have wireless built in?

Are you going to connect your desktop by ethernet or wireless? If so does it have a network card for ethernet or a wireless card?

There is a wireless sticky in this forum that gives advice on how to setup a router. You will need your connection details to enter into the router as it replaces your current modem.

This article also gives instructions specific to the netgear DG834g.

BTW although I linked to ebuyer they may not be the cheapest place. So shop around before you buy anything.

Merlot

bigdic wrote: »

I second the Netgear, as Bill said loads of people use them and they are very reliable. They are quite straight forward to set up and shouldn't cause you too many problems.

You're daughters laptop should have wi-fi onboard so all you'd need is a wireless dongle (USB adaptor shown on Bills' link) for your PC. Unless your router will be close to your main PC then, like Bill said, just plug it straight into the router using the cable that will come with it.

The router will work fine with Vista and XP (routers don't care what software you run).

Have just looked at the Laptop, it states that it has a Dell™1390 Wireless
Mini-Card, does this mean it has wi-fi on board?

Again, many many thanks, my 10 year old daughter is going to delighted by her surprise laptop and she even maybe wireless as well on xmas morning, thanks to you lot.

Merlot

Mrs_pbradley936

The simplest way to set it up is to use the PC and connect it to the router with the Ethernet cable. Follow all the instructions, I set one up for someone last week and they now have the wireless and encryption as one exercise (it used to be separate). The first thing you have to do is set up the wired network and then after that has been set up, it will ask you if you want to set up a wireless network. You click the appropriate icon and again follow the instructions. You will need a name so you can identify your network and a password for the encryption. The default is set to AES but only very new equipment works with that so be prepared to change it if necessary. Additional laptops and printers only have to be told the name of the network and the password. An x box 360 or slingbox will need a port opened but cross that bridge if you come to it.

albertross_2

Yes, it has wireless, so if your PC has an ethernet network card, all you need is a wireless adsl router, eg

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/52244

amcluesent

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/122212/usrobotics-wireless-ndx-adsl2-gateway.html
Verdict: With an ADSL2+ modem plus a great array of features, the USRobotics is superb value.