I have a question on APs and Router

Hi, i am new to the wireless scene and just upgraded my connection to a
wireless one. The whole contract comes with a wireless modem by 2WIRE
and i thought by just connecting the modem to my cpu and a telephone
line, im on my way to wireless connection but no. I figured out that i
need a couple more things like a router?

My question is what exactly is a router in layman terms? (I tired wiki
and googling but the terms were confusing) and what does it do?

Another question is what are all these 'psp wireless, Accessories,
Networking items on eBay.com' (http://tinyurl.com/3dglae) ? Does it mean
that i just need one of these and plug it in my cpu USB slot and i can
go wireless with my psp and itouch *without the need of a router?*

Sorry for the ignorance. Please enlighten me.


Thanks


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extricate wrote:
> Hi, i am new to the wireless scene and just upgraded my connection to a
> wireless one. The whole contract comes with a wireless modem by 2WIRE
> and i thought by just connecting the modem to my cpu and a telephone
> line, im on my way to wireless connection but no. I figured out that i
> need a couple more things like a router?
>
> My question is what exactly is a router in layman terms? (I tired wiki
> and googling but the terms were confusing) and what does it do?
>
> Another question is what are all these 'psp wireless, Accessories,
> Networking items on eBay.com' (http://tinyurl.com/3dglae) ? Does it mean
> that i just need one of these and plug it in my cpu USB slot and i can
> go wireless with my psp and itouch *without the need of a router?*

Yes and no (typical engineer's answer).

Assuming your 2WIRE DSL modem has only one ethernet port...

Phone connects to your DSL modem (ahead of the DSL filter of course),
DSL modem's ethernet port delivers one IP address. That's fine if you
only have one computer on the network. A router generates additional new
IP addys for additional computers.

The *easiest* way to go about for *you* would be get a Linksys WRT54G
wireless router from Walmart for $59. Connect the DSL modem to the WAN
(or internet port) of the Linksys and your computer to one of the four
LAN ports on the Linksys.

On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 02:49:02 -0600, DTC wrote:

> extricate wrote:
>> Hi, i am new to the wireless scene and just upgraded my connection to a
>> wireless one. The whole contract comes with a wireless modem by 2WIRE
>> and i thought by just connecting the modem to my cpu and a telephone
>> line, im on my way to wireless connection but no. I figured out that i
>> need a couple more things like a router?
>>
>> My question is what exactly is a router in layman terms? (I tired wiki
>> and googling but the terms were confusing) and what does it do?
>>
>> Another question is what are all these 'psp wireless, Accessories,
>> Networking items on eBay.com' (http://tinyurl.com/3dglae) ? Does it mean
>> that i just need one of these and plug it in my cpu USB slot and i can
>> go wireless with my psp and itouch *without the need of a router?*
>
> Yes and no (typical engineer's answer).
>
> Assuming your 2WIRE DSL modem has only one ethernet port...

But he said it's a wireless modem.

Assuming his computer has a wireless card, then you should be OK.

Did it come with instructions?

-sw

On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 03:07:06 -0500, extricate
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi, i am new to the wireless scene and just upgraded my connection to a
>wireless one. The whole contract comes with a wireless modem by 2WIRE
>and i thought by just connecting the modem to my cpu and a telephone
>line, im on my way to wireless connection but no. I figured out that i
>need a couple more things like a router?

What is the model number of the 2Wire? It may have router capabilities
built-in.
John Jones, Detroit

Sqwertz wrote:
> But he said it's a wireless modem.

Opps...I know it is, but for some reason that's where my thinking
stopped pursuing it after seeing that.

extricate <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Hi, i am new to the wireless scene

Welcome. In the future, you might find you get better answers to your
questions if you supply:
1. What problem are yout trying to solve?
2. What hardware and software do you have to work with?

>and just upgraded my connection to a
>wireless one. The whole contract comes with a wireless modem by 2WIRE

OK, that might be AT&T DSL. It might also be AT&T uVerse. Any
particular model 2wire router?
<http://www.2wire.com/index.php?p=106>

>and i thought by just connecting the modem to my cpu and a telephone
>line, im on my way to wireless connection but no. I figured out that i
>need a couple more things like a router?

You already have a router. 2wire does not make any DSL modems, only
routers, usually with either a DSL modem inside, or a cable modem
inside. Perhaps this would be a good time to supply exactly what you
have to work with?

>My question is what exactly is a router in layman terms? (I tired wiki
>and googling but the terms were confusing) and what does it do?

A router connects two different TCP/IP networks. One such network is
the greater internet (through your connection to your ISP). The other
is your home network. Need more detail?

>Another question is what are all these 'psp wireless, Accessories,
>Networking items on eBay.com' (http://tinyurl.com/3dglae) ?

PSP is a Sony Playstation Portable.

>Does it mean
>that i just need one of these and plug it in my cpu USB slot and i can
>go wireless with my psp and itouch *without the need of a router?*

I have no idea how a PSP works.

>Sorry for the ignorance. Please enlighten me.

It is written that one must suffer before enlightenment.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558