Need to get my Laptop and 2nd PC wired to the net - help needed please!

Clutterfree

Hi All,

I really have no idea when it comes to technology so any help would be appreciated (in plain English if poss!) please.

Our main PC is Windows XP and we have broadband access via a ZyXEL external modem.

My son has this Vista PC:
http://www.pcnextday.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?ProductCode=3362-3423

And I have just won this Vista laptop (yay!):
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-1624.aspx

My son's PC and my lappy do not have internet access so please could someone tell me what I need to buy to get them to use my main broadband connection please?

I have noticed that the USB & DSL lights only come on on my modem when the main PC is on. Does this mean that my main pc needs to be on if the other PC and laptop want internet access?

Thank you for ANY help as I have no idea where to start.

Oh, it also has to be secure as I do online banking.

Many thanks.
CF x

Red_Rose_Exile

There are two ways you can do this. The cheapest, but in my opinion the least efficient, way would be to create an ad hoc network using a creossover cable, but as yoiu rightly pointed out, it would mean the pc would have to be on at the same time.

The best way would be to buy a wireless router, such as the Netgear DG834G, connect the PC by wire, and use the wireless capability of your Acer

Nice win btw!

espresso

The best solution would be to replace your ZyXEL external modem with a wireless router. Here is a suitable ZyXEL one but any of these would also be suitable. You main PC would connect to the router using an Ethernet cable and the other PC's could connect either using cable or wireless, which when encrypted using WPA-PSK is perfectly safe. Your son's PC would need to use a wireless adaptor (supplied with the ZyXEL above) if not connected to the router using a cable but your new laptop has WiFi built-in.

Clutterfree

Thanks guys.
My son's PC is in a different room to the main PC so would need to be wireless also.
I'm not bothered on make tbh, just stated the make of modem in case it was significant.

So in summary all I need is;
a wireless router for main PC (get rid of modem)
a wireless adaptor for my son's PC (is this the USB adaptor that comes with some of those in Espresso's link?)
nothing extra needed for my laptop?

Does the Ethernet cable come with the router or do I need to buy that as well?

If all 3 are used at once will it slow down broadband speed considerably?

Do I need to load drivers, etc on 2 PCs and lappy?

Sorry for all the questions but I am really thick with stuff like this.

Thanks again.

espresso

Clutterfree wrote: »

Thanks guys.
My son's PC is in a different room to the main PC so would need to be wireless also.
I'm not bothered on make tbh, just stated the make of modem in case it was significant.

So in summary all I need is;
a wireless router for main PC (get rid of modem)
a wireless adaptor for my son's PC (is this the USB adaptor that comes with some of those in Espresso's link?)
nothing extra needed for my laptop?

Correct.

Does the Ethernet cable come with the router or do I need to buy that as well?

Usually a short cable supplied.

If all 3 are used at once will it slow down broadband speed considerably?

Not unless one PC is constantly downloading.

Do I need to load drivers, etc on 2 PCs and lappy?

No drivers required on the main PC or your new laptop which has WiFi ready to connect.

Sorry for all the questions but I am really thick with stuff like this.

Thanks again.

No probs, come back if you need any help setting it up.

Clutterfree

espresso wrote: »

No probs, come back if you need any help setting it up.

You may just regret that! lol

Thanks for all your help.

I see the prices of routers vary considerably - is it a case of you get what you pay for?
Are there any brands that are known to be better or any to avoid please?
Thanks.

Red_Rose_Exile

Answers in order

So in summary all I need is;
a wireless router for main PC (get rid of modem)
a wireless adaptor for my son's PC (is this the USB adaptor that comes with some of those in Espresso's link?)
nothing extra needed for my laptop?

Espresso links are good for what you need
yes, your lappie has built in wireless network

Does the Ethernet cable come with the router or do I need to buy that as well?

It should do, but a straight through cable can be got from poundland if it doesn't, more than adequate for your needs

If all 3 are used at once will it slow down broadband speed considerably?

only if you are doing considerable downloading, though sometimes heavy gaming can slow it. General surfing makes virtually no odds

Do I need to load drivers, etc on 2 PCs and lappy?

Your lappie will already have the drivers installed for the wireless networking card
The USB wireless networking cards may need drivers but will come with the device
The wireless router will require nothing other than the ethernet cable, all setting up is done through your internet browser

espresso beat me to it, (note to self, type faster)

espresso

Clutterfree wrote: »

You may just regret that! lol

Thanks for all your help.

I see the prices of routers vary considerably - is it a case of you get what you pay for?
Are there any brands that are known to be better or any to avoid please?
Thanks.

They have become much more popular recently, so I don't think that it is necessarily a case of you get what you pay for. Different users will recommend different makes i.e. Netgear, D-Link etc. but they are all very similar and the wireless part conforms to the same 802.11b/g specification so mixing makes is not a problem. Belkin have a lifetime warranty but some users have reported that they need one because they fail every so often and need to be replaced. Most of the common manufacturers websites have the user manuals to download, which you could read before choosing.

Clutterfree

Last thing (sorry!) - do they all come with the encryption thingy now please?
I don't want my awful neighbour piggybacking my connection or accessing my details.
Thanks.

espresso

Clutterfree wrote: »

Last thing (sorry!) - do they all come with the encryption thingy now please?
I don't want my awful neighbour piggybacking my connection or accessing my details.
Thanks.

Just look for WPA or WPA2 in the spec. WEP is the older encryption which is much less secure.

devizes18193

The only thing I would add keep the modem in storage some place should the router fail down the line you will still be able to acces the net . these things happen at the worse times