Can i do this?

I am about to buy a new laptop, and i want to know if i need a desktop
computer to configure a wireless connection so i can use the built in
wireless thingy in the laptop to connect to the internet using only a router
and modem.

Liquid Twinkie wrote:

> I am about to buy a new laptop, and i want to know if i need a desktop
> computer to configure a wireless connection so i can use the built in
> wireless thingy in the laptop to connect to the internet using only a router
> and modem.

No.

But (a) make sure that your new laptop has a network thingy (most do, these
days) so that you can configure the router over a wired connection, and (b) if
you really intend to use a modem -- as in a dial-up connection -- you may have
difficulty finding a wireless router that will work with it. See
http://www.ezlan.net/DialUp.html Option 2.

On Thu, 6 Apr 2006 14:39:02 -0700, Liquid Twinkie <Liquid
(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I am about to buy a new laptop, and i want to know if i need a desktop
>computer to configure a wireless connection so i can use the built in
>wireless thingy in the laptop to connect to the internet using only a router
>and modem.

I don't think there are any WiFi routers that plug directly into a
dialup modem. Some broadband plans are pretty cheap these days. Some
cheap dialup plans will not work when dialed by a router.

Think more about getting an old router that can dial an external
modem. Then add those to a WiFi AP. You need your ISP to allow a
connection from you even if you are not using their proprietary
software for this to work

I'd recommend not only making sure your laptop has a WiFi card but
also a wired Ethernet connection. You will find you need the wired
Ethernet to reach & configure the WiFi AP & router from time to time.

It's a bit easier if you have a desktop for the dialup and perhaps
even also the routing & firewall. If that's the case, though, that
you have or are wiling to buy a spare desktop just for Internet
connectivity I'd reexamine the economics of keeping dialup (IMHO). In
fairness, though, it doesn't sound like that's what you mean.

=?Utf-8?B?TGlxdWlkIFR3aW5raWU=?= <Liquid
(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:B5189EF2-E90B-4971-B963-(E-Mail Removed):

> I am about to buy a new laptop, and i want to know if i need a desktop
> computer to configure a wireless connection so i can use the built in
> wireless thingy in the laptop to connect to the internet using only a
> router and modem.

When you say a router and modem do you mean you have a DSL or cable modem
and a router that acts as a wireless access point?

If that is the case, then no you do not need a desktop computer. Just set
up the DSL or cable modem and then connect it to the public interface of
the router.

Next. configure either WPA or WEP on the router by plugging the computer
into the router with an Ethernet cable.(Most residential-market routers
these days are wired AND wireless, hopefully yours is.) Use the router's
web-based interface to configure it.

Next configure the wireless network on the laptop. You will need to enter
the same preshared key on the laptop that you entered in the router's WPA
or WEP properties.

At that point you should be able to connect with no problems. The wireless
router will act as a DHCP server to assign an IP address to your laptop,
unless you decide you want a static IP address. If that is the case,
disable DHCP on the router OR set up your laptop IP as a reservation, or
exclude some IP addresses, including the one you want to use for your
laptop, from the IP address pool in DHCP.

For more info see "Step-by-Step Guide for Secure Wireless Deployment for
Small Office/Home Office or Small Organization Networks" at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...269902e8-fc41-
4eb1-9374-44612e64f0fb&displaylang=en

--
James McIllece, Microsoft

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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.