Toshiba Satellite M30X

lizastar

My new laptop has a LAN wireless connection.......PC World didnt explain, but is this an alternative way to access my Broadband connection & what do I need to make it work?? Browsing through the booklet it mentions 'Toshiba strongly recommends that you enable the WEP encryption function otherwise your computer may be unprotected from the illegal access by an outside party through the wireless network link' How do I do this?? or am I on totally the wrong wavelength?? Thanks for any help,all you experts out there!Liz

Toxteth_OGrady

Base on your question I'm assuming that at the mo you have an ADSL modem that connects via a USB lead to your laptop.

If that's the case you need to replace it with one of these. You don't need one of the bundled products as it sounds as if your laptop already has a wireless card.

hth - but feel free to ask more. You're definitely on the right wavelength. The change to WiFi will allow you to wander round your house with the laptop and be connected to the internet pretty well wherever you are.

:cool:

TOG

Tharweb

Basically you have laptop that is capable of accessing a wireless network, whether it be your own or a public wifi hotspot.

How do you currently access your broadband connection? USB modem or other? Are you on ADSL or cable?
If you want to take advantage of the wireless properties, you would ideally need to invest in a wireless broadband router. If you connect by USB modem currently I would keep that modem as a spare and get a combined wireless modem/router.

lizastar

Wanadoo Broadband modem with USB cable....its such a faff having to plug the extension wire into the Telephone socket which is not in the same room, that the wireless connection sounds ideal!

Tharweb

You need to decide on which of the kit suggested by Toxteth_OGrady is for you and away you go! Don't get too tied up in which is the best, I did some research and decided on the Netgear DG834G mainly as my ISP recommended it. Just make sure you buy a combined modem/router and not just a router.

It will just be a case of setting the router up in the room with the telephone point, by wire (ethernet network cable provided in most cases), get your connection set up and then set up the wireless part.

Once you have the wireless connection up and running don't forget to secure it so that your neighbours get free broadband!

Surfing in the garden is pretty cool!