How to connect a wireless laptop?

Hi everyone,

I have a slight problem at home - I have a home network existing of five
computers, some laptops and some external drives, all hooked up to a US
Robotics router and another US Robotics switch.

Now I would like to connect another laptop, but this one needs to be
connected wireless.

I already figured out that I'll need some kind of wireless PCMCIA card for
the laptop, but what do I need on the other end? I could always go for a
broadband wireless router (with 4 ports for the others and the switch),
which would mean that I need to replace my existing router.

However, I would like to keep my existing router, since I have no intention
whatsoever to connect the other machines in a wireless fashion.

Is there a device available which I can plug into the switch, so it becomes
an access point to the new laptop? If so, could you please direct me to a
manufacturer website or something similar?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Ikke

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:26:32 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless , Ikke
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Now I would like to connect another laptop, but this one needs to be
>connected wireless.
>
>I already figured out that I'll need some kind of wireless PCMCIA card for
>the laptop, but what do I need on the other end?

A wireless access point, plugged into the router.

>I could always go for a
>broadband wireless router (with 4 ports for the others and the switch),
>which would mean that I need to replace my existing router.

Not necessarily - you can connect the two routers together with via
their LAN ports, turn off DHCP in the new one, and you have
effectively added a 4-port switch and wireless access point.

Cost-wise the two options are much of a such.

Mark McIntyre
--

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"Ikke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns976FD0CB7516Fikkehierbe@195.130.132.70...
> Hi everyone,
>
> I have a slight problem at home - I have a home network existing of five
> computers, some laptops and some external drives, all hooked up to a US
> Robotics router and another US Robotics switch.
>
> Now I would like to connect another laptop, but this one needs to be
> connected wireless.
>
> I already figured out that I'll need some kind of wireless PCMCIA card for
> the laptop, but what do I need on the other end? I could always go for a
> broadband wireless router (with 4 ports for the others and the switch),
> which would mean that I need to replace my existing router.
>
> However, I would like to keep my existing router, since I have no
> intention
> whatsoever to connect the other machines in a wireless fashion.
>
> Is there a device available which I can plug into the switch, so it
> becomes
> an access point to the new laptop? If so, could you please direct me to a
> manufacturer website or something similar?
>
> Any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Ikke

You need a wireless router. Unplug one computer from your existing router
and connect it to the wireless router on a LAN socket, then connect the
wireless router to the wired router via LAN to LAN socket.
You may have a built in wireless in the laptop( Check your manual). If not,
then you will need a wireless connection for the laptop ( PCMCIA card or USB
device ).

Mark McIntyre <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:26:32 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless , Ikke
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
<snip>
>
> Not necessarily - you can connect the two routers together with via
> their LAN ports, turn off DHCP in the new one, and you have
> effectively added a 4-port switch and wireless access point.
>
> Cost-wise the two options are much of a such.
>
> Mark McIntyre

Thanks for your reply - I have had a look around on the internet and I have
now found what I need, thanks to your indications.

By the way, I'm not a native English speaker - what does "much of a such"
mean? Does it mean that both options cost the same?

Thanks again,

Ikke

"Teddybare" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):
>
> "Ikke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Xns976FD0CB7516Fikkehierbe@195.130.132.70...
>> Hi everyone,
>>
<snip>
>>
>> Any other suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Ikke
>
> You need a wireless router. Unplug one computer from your existing
> router and connect it to the wireless router on a LAN socket, then
> connect the wireless router to the wired router via LAN to LAN socket.
> You may have a built in wireless in the laptop( Check your manual). If
> not, then you will need a wireless connection for the laptop ( PCMCIA
> card or USB device ).

I already found what I was looking for after I've read Mark's answer, but
thanks anyway for your reply.

The laptop is a bit old, a P3-500 to be precise, so it does not have
wireless built in. But it suits its purpose well, so I'll keep it. Most
machines nowadays are way overpowerd IMHO.

Ikke

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:34:45 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless , Ikke
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>By the way, I'm not a native English speaker - what does "much of a such"
>mean? Does it mean that both options cost the same?

Yes, it means that there is little difference between the two choices.
Its not restricted to cost.
Mark McIntyre
--

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