Help with wifi........

Am new to routers.. Anyway, the wife has got a laptop with wifi
connectivity and from what I gather we need a wireless router to split
our internet connection? But there are so many and because this is a
Christmas present I DONT want to get the wrong one.

Our PC is an Athlon XP 1800 running Windows 2000. We connect to the
internet using a motorola surfboard SB4100 connected via an ethernet
cable to our PC. We are on Virgin Media, formerly a Telewest Blueyonder
customer.

The wifes laptop is a HiGrade laptop running windows vista. It's all
ready for wifi so shouldn't be any problems there.

She will probably only use the laptop for surfing the net so doesn't
need a very fast connection (I don't really want to lose too much speed
off the PC either as I download quite a bit)

Don't know if the speed thing is possible, just want to give her some
sort of connectivity on her laptop. Willing to pay up to £50. Any
suggestions as to what I need. As stated, it's a Christmas present so
must work with our current configuration. TIA


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TheGMan wrote:
> Am new to routers.. Anyway, the wife has got a laptop with wifi
> connectivity and from what I gather we need a wireless router to split
> our internet connection? But there are so many and because this is a
> Christmas present I DONT want to get the wrong one.
>
> Our PC is an Athlon XP 1800 running Windows 2000. We connect to the
> internet using a motorola surfboard SB4100 connected via an ethernet
> cable to our PC. We are on Virgin Media, formerly a Telewest Blueyonder
> customer.
>
> The wifes laptop is a HiGrade laptop running windows vista. It's all
> ready for wifi so shouldn't be any problems there.
>
> She will probably only use the laptop for surfing the net so doesn't
> need a very fast connection (I don't really want to lose too much speed
> off the PC either as I download quite a bit)
>
> Don't know if the speed thing is possible, just want to give her some
> sort of connectivity on her laptop. Willing to pay up to £50. Any
> suggestions as to what I need. As stated, it's a Christmas present so
> must work with our current configuration. TIA
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> View this thread: http://www.wirelessforums.org/showthread.php?t=31202
> http://www.wirelessforums.org
>

There are several SOHO routers on the market, and (almost?) all will do what
you want (unless you buy a used antique from ebay or the like).

Routers are not exactly plug-and-play, so plan on a few hours to install and
set it up. My SOHO router, like most, has dozens of parameters that need to
be thought about to run a wired-plus-wireless LAN. For starters, many routers
ship with wireless disabled, so you'll need to connect to the router (from
your wired PC) to enable wireless; next, set up encryption (WPA-Personal TKIP
is suggested for home use) with a non-obvious passphrase. Note that the
vendor's default settings for most params are OK, but read the ISP's website
for requirements and suggestions.
--
Cheers, Bob

This is easy.

Turn the PC off (if only to be 'safe'). Unplug the ethernet cable from the
PC and plug it into the WAN port of the router. Plug the PC into one of the
LAN ports (usually there are four) on the router. Boot the PC. Use the CD
that comes with the router on the PC, or follow it's instruction sheet.
This should take care of getting the router setup for wired and internet
access.

With luck you won't need to do much. Worst case you'll have to configure
things like PPPoE or static addresses. Unlikely, but possible and certainly
not uncommon. You may want to have the instructions handy that your
internet provider used for setting up your initial connection. It may have
details you'll need for this.

Then follow the instructions for the router to set up it's wireless network.
You'll want to use WPA security. Otherwise anyone else can use your
wireless connection to the internet. That and they can sniff your other
wireless traffic. Like online ordering from websites, bank info, e-mail
passwords, etc.

Then use the backup option on the router to save the configuration to your
PC. Put it on a diskette and keep it in the box with the router's
instructions. You'll probably never need it again but it can't hurt to keep
it handy.

Not much to it at all.

-Bill Kearney

If I was starting over with laptop WIFI using VISTA
and desktop using WinXP I would MAKE sure that WiFi will work with Laptop.

Still trying to get mine to work.

Same thing with printer conections. VISTA is not easily compatable.


Just a warning.
Anne


" TheGMan wrote:
>> Am new to routers.. Anyway, the wife has got a laptop with wifi
>> connectivity and from what I gather we need a wireless router to split
>> our internet connection?