need info on wireless connections and getting laptop online

VixxAnn

HI

after some advice on another thread I have now chosen and ordered my laptop which I should receive in a few days. I am now trying to see what I will need to get connected to the internet.

The Toshiba I have ordered is wireless enabled and I will need to connect in several ways / places...

1) At home, where I already have a desktop and broadband connection. Do I plug it into the desktop PC or do I have to buy some kind of broadband transmitter that fits in either the PC or the phone socket?

2) At hubbies business, where we are getting BT Broadband Share 2000 - which apparently enables up to 4 devices to connect with either cables or wireless

and 3) when out and about eg. holidays, travelling, anywhere basically. My mobile phone contract with Vodafone is up for renewal in October so I can get a new phone on upgrade - am I looking for Bluetooth, Blackberry or 3G (its all double dutch to me!)

I am COMPLETELY useless with anything with a plug so really need help with this

amandathepanda

I am in the same position as you, and went on a site that makes wireless routers. They are Belkin.co.uk. It asks you questions about your requirements and advises you at the end what you need to buy.

dalepearson

Few options available to you:

Item 1 - Connect laptop to your PC via a crossover cable, or install a wireless card in your Desktop and set the Desktop and laptop to AdHoc wireless mode. In either case you need to enable Internet Connection Sharing. If you have some spare cash from your spending, you would be better off buying a Wireless ADSL router (I recomend Netgear or Linksys) and wireless card for desktop PC. This way Internet is always on, and can be connected to from either PC where ever they are. If you go this route remember to secure the wireless network,

Item 2 - Sounds like a Wireless Router / Switch is being installed, so you can either connect the Laptop via Ethernet Cable, or via wireless. Again remember wireless security again.

Item 3 - If you want to use your laptop out and about with a mobile, first you need to identify if your new laptop has built in wireless or bluetooth, if not you can buy these at extra cost. Blackberry is not what you want, its mainly aimed at corporate business, 3G is ok depends on your location and where you travel, do a postcode check on there website. I would personally stay with Vodafone and get your FREE upgrade to phone that has Infra Red and Bluetooth, then pay the extra for GPRS (higher bandwidth). This will enable you to surf the internet at almost the speed of a dial up modem, but be warned, using a mobile device and laptop to surf the net is slow and expensive. Personally I wouldnt bother, be cheaper to visit and Internet Cafe on your hols.

Hope this helped some. Feel free to contact me if you need more help.

VixxAnn

thanks very much - can I ask you ...

concerning the first option only at the moment (connecting to PC at home) which is the easiest method? I don't want to have to open up PC to put in any cards as knowing me I couldn't get it back together again! I just want to plug something in and be able to connect laptop to internet. Will Laptop and PC be able to be connected to internet at same time? I do currently have a broadband ADSL Modem but it has no spare connections, just my phone line in and a USB out.

The laptop I am buying is definately wireless enabled, will I still need to buy a card for it?

Sorry to be so ignorant on these matters!

dalepearson

Ok
You wont be able to use the wireless on your laptop unless you either have wireless on your desktop or a wireless ADSL router. But if you have a network port on your laptop and your desktop, you can then enable Internet sharing on your desktop, and connect the 2 using a cross over cable. With this both machines could use the internet at the same time. The absolute easiest option is to plug the ADSL modem into the laptop when you want to use it, and back into the desktop when you want to use that, but this sadly doesnt allow for both machines to be on the internet at the same time.

Another option if you dont want to open anything, would be to buy a wireless USB dongle for your desktop, this way making it wirelessly enabled, and then set this up using the adhoc option on both the laptop and desktop and turning on internet connection sharing. Its important to note though, that if you want to then use your laptop at the office wirelessly you will need to change it from Adhoc mode each time.

Hope this has helped a little, its confusing I know, for what seems to be something so simple.

Feel free to ask any more questions, and I will do my best to answer, ASAP.

VixxAnn

so...
would it work if I swopped my current ADSL modem for one of these... and would I need to buy anthing else for PC or laptop? and would that enable both to be online at same time?

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=3801&productId=159971&clickfrom=name

Cannot find anything like a dongle!!!

dalepearson

If you bought something like that it would be the answer to all your dreams

I wouldnt use Belkin myself, I can recomend one of these though, installed many for people :
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1384360367.1127816595@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccchaddfkkkeffjcflgceggdhhmdfho.0&page=Product&sku=904351&category_oid=-24986&fm=undefined&sm=undefined&tm=undefined

Give me 10 mins and I will do a quick diagram of the install.

dalepearson

Only thing you may need, but I doubt it is a network card for the desktop pc, but I imagine it would have one built in. So all your do is plug in the router, follow the wizard, make sure you setup security (make a note of the WEP key). Laptop will detect wireless network, all you need to do is provide the wep key. Plug network cable from router to Desktop PC and your laughing.

VixxAnn

thank you soooooooooo much for all the trouble you've gone to :j

It does all seem much clearer now (honestly!) so the only problem would be if my PC doesn't already hve a network card???? I have no idea. Its a nearly two year old Packard Bell - is there anyway I can check?

I think I will order one of those routers from PC world now as its cheaper online and theres free delivery.

dalepearson

I am sure it will have. Heres what it looks like though. Dont mistake it for the smaller size modem port though.



Let me know how you get on. Just look forward to surfing the web in the garden on your wireless laptop

VixxAnn

yep - I got one of those I thought it would be a card inside the PC!

ordered the router from PC World- and my laptop is arriving early next week so will hopefully be able to get sorted! (after a few stressful hours I'm sure)

thanks for everything