I'm not stupid but... modem/router?

I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to the
spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
doesn't have the luxury of internet.
If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does it have
to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's job
properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone & power
socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason, natch)?
Sorry if it's a stupid question...
Thanks, John.

The wireless modem/router should take care of everything. It will not
matter if you other laptop is plugged in. If you did not have a router and
you were trying to use internet connection sharing provided with Windows XP,
that would be a different story.

Do you really need an ADSL modem? Did not your phone company already
provide one? If so, all you need is a wireless router or a router and a
wireless access point. There are sometimes advantages to keeping the access
point separated from the router. For instance, you could mount the access
point on the ceiling just in case that would give you better coverage. It
just depends upon the needs. What amazes me is that a wireless router
generally costs less than a wireless access point.

Jeff


"John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4158012c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to the
>spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
>doesn't have the luxury of internet.
> If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does it
> have to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's
> job properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone &
> power socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
> delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason,
> natch)?
> Sorry if it's a stupid question...
> Thanks, John.
>

I would think that would be ok. The reason for a land ethernet is to
configure the router. I would have a ethernet cable to configure your router
because my Lynksys at least has a web browser interface, but I've done it
wirelessly. But sometimes the ip adresses change and you would want to still
be able to get in there to reset them. So if you have a ethernet socket in
one of your machines it should have a different mac address (land) so that
ip address should stay the same to still get in there.
"John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4158012c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to the
>spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
>doesn't have the luxury of internet.
> If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does it
> have to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's
> job properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone &
> power socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
> delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason,
> natch)?
> Sorry if it's a stupid question...
> Thanks, John.
>

"Jeff Durham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:0DT5d.121564$(E-Mail Removed):

> Did not your phone company already provide one?

ADSL modems provided by ISPs typically only have a USB downstream
connection ... and routers don't typically have networkable USB.

Is that possibly a U.K. configuration or a typical U.S.? I don't have ADSL,
but rather cable. I thought though that at least here in my area in the
U.S., the modem had ethernet rather than USB. Interesting point though.
That's a bummer if it does not provide ethernet.

Jeff


"Frank le Spikkin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns95718E21B3316FlSxxx@130.133.1.4...
> "Jeff Durham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:0DT5d.121564$(E-Mail Removed):
>
>> Did not your phone company already provide one?
>
> ADSL modems provided by ISPs typically only have a USB downstream
> connection ... and routers don't typically have networkable USB.

Jeff,

Yes, should be qualified as typical of the UK - per the OP. YMMV in
other regions.

"Jeff Durham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:GJY5d.3843$(E-Mail Removed):

> Is that possibly a U.K. configuration or a typical U.S.? I
> don't have ADSL, but rather cable. I thought though that at
> least here in my area in the U.S., the modem had ethernet rather
> than USB. Interesting point though. That's a bummer if it does
> not provide ethernet.
>
> Jeff
>
>
> "Frank le Spikkin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Xns95718E21B3316FlSxxx@130.133.1.4...
>> "Jeff Durham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>> news:0DT5d.121564$(E-Mail Removed):
>>
>>> Did not your phone company already provide one?
>>
>> ADSL modems provided by ISPs typically only have a USB
>> downstream connection ... and routers don't typically have
>> networkable USB.
>
>

"John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4158012c$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to
the
> spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
> doesn't have the luxury of internet.
> If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does
it have
> to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's job
> properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone &
power
> socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
> delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason,
natch)?
> Sorry if it's a stupid question...
> Thanks, John.

others might have already answered your questions...
also noticed you are in the UK -
and things may be different than the USA...probably not.
How is your DSL physically connected to the single laptop now ?
Is there a DSL modem and then a Ethernet connection to your laptop,
or is there a USB connection from the modem ?

If Ethernet, then a wireless access point merely changes the "transport"
from wired Ethernet to "wireless" Ethernet.. but you still have a
problem with TCP/IP.
You will need a 2nd IP address for the 2nd laptop - this is usually
resolved
with a router that "hides" your local network from the real outside
network.
The "router" creates a virtual network with many IP addresses (you just
need 2).
So - you need a wireless access point to roam, and a router to get more
than
a single IP address for your local network of 2 laptops -
You can do this all in a single unit - a wireless router,
which usually also has a few Ethernet wired ports -

On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 18:11:50 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless , "Jeff Durham"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Is that possibly a U.K. configuration or a typical U.S.? I don't have ADSL,
>but rather cable. I thought though that at least here in my area in the
>U.S., the modem had ethernet rather than USB. Interesting point though.
>That's a bummer if it does not provide ethernet.

UK cable providers typically have modems with both USB and ethernet.
UK ADSL providers typically have USB-only modems.

--
Mark McIntyre
CLC FAQ <http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/C-faq/top.html>
CLC readme: <http://www.ungerhu.com/jxh/clc.welcome.txt>


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On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 13:01:01 +0100, "John"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to the
>spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
>doesn't have the luxury of internet.
>If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does it have
>to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's job
>properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone & power
>socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
>delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason, natch)?
>Sorry if it's a stupid question...
>Thanks, John.

Nope, not a stupid question. This was key to my needs as well when I
as at the same stage as you.

Yes, a wireless ADSL modem / router will happily sit there and
broadcast your network so that both of your laptops can roam happily
with no need for either to be anchored to your spare bedroom desk.

In fact, FYI, I went one step further. I reclaimed my spare bedroom
completely by boarding over the loft and installing a server at one
end. The only bit of IT equipment in the spare room now is the router
in the corner. I generally work on my lap in front of the TV or if I
have more serious work to do set the laptop down on the dining room
table, plug in a USB keyboard and USB mouse and work from there. All
files are stored on the server which provides soooo many advantages
over the laptop in terms of storage capacity and changeable
components. The loft is a fully functional office should I need it,
which I do for running backups and various other functions, but
primarily I need not venture up there. So great functions, and no
wires.

The only note of caution I would suggest is that making configuration
changes to the router and performing firmware updates over the
wireless is not advisable. A piece of cat5 was supplied with the
router and my laptop (as with most) has an on board LAN connection.
To do any of the above I simply plug this into the router and sprawl
out on the spare bed - the rest of the time there is no cable
connection.

Hope this re-assures you :-)

Many thanks to everyone who took the time.
My modem is ISP provided, usb only. So it looks like I need the full
wireless router/modem package and I will be able to escape the spare
bedroom.
I love these groups, you ask a (stupid) question and the whole world offers
it's help.
Good karma to you all.
John.

"Simon Pleasants" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 13:01:01 +0100, "John"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I have ADSL and 2 laptops, currently one (Windows XP) is anchored to the
>>spare bedroom desk by it's internet connection. The other (Windows Me)
>>doesn't have the luxury of internet.
>>If I buy a wireless modem/router (and a couple of PCMCIA cards) does it
>>have
>>to be connected (wired) to the main laptop at all times to do it's job
>>properly? Or can it just sit there lonesome, plugged into the phone &
>>power
>>socket in the back bedroom happily sending the internet and all it's
>>delights to my two wandering pc's wherever they roam (within reason,
>>natch)?
>>Sorry if it's a stupid question...
>>Thanks, John.
>
> Nope, not a stupid question. This was key to my needs as well when I
> as at the same stage as you.
>
> Yes, a wireless ADSL modem / router will happily sit there and
> broadcast your network so that both of your laptops can roam happily
> with no need for either to be anchored to your spare bedroom desk.
>
> In fact, FYI, I went one step further. I reclaimed my spare bedroom
> completely by boarding over the loft and installing a server at one
> end. The only bit of IT equipment in the spare room now is the router
> in the corner. I generally work on my lap in front of the TV or if I
> have more serious work to do set the laptop down on the dining room
> table, plug in a USB keyboard and USB mouse and work from there. All
> files are stored on the server which provides soooo many advantages
> over the laptop in terms of storage capacity and changeable
> components. The loft is a fully functional office should I need it,
> which I do for running backups and various other functions, but
> primarily I need not venture up there. So great functions, and no
> wires.
>
> The only note of caution I would suggest is that making configuration
> changes to the router and performing firmware updates over the
> wireless is not advisable. A piece of cat5 was supplied with the
> router and my laptop (as with most) has an on board LAN connection.
> To do any of the above I simply plug this into the router and sprawl
> out on the spare bed - the rest of the time there is no cable
> connection.
>
> Hope this re-assures you :-)