installing wireless router

Does at least one PC have to be wired to a wireless router?
My daughter gave me a wireless router she no longer needs, with no
instructions. I went on line and downloaded the installation files, manual,
specs and quick start sheet.
They say to load the installation disk first, then connect the PC to the
router with a USB cable. Is that necessary for set up only?
I'll be using the router at another home that already has a cable modem. My
plan is to connect the router to the modem so I can use my laptop with the
router wirelessly. I will only have the laptop at that home.
I'm using WinXP and it's a LinkSys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Broadband Router

William Andersen wrote:
> Does at least one PC have to be wired to a wireless router?

No but...
> My daughter gave me a wireless router she no longer needs, with no
> instructions. I went on line and downloaded the installation files, manual,
> specs and quick start sheet.

.... its a good idea to CONFIGURE the router using a wired connection, so
that you can make changes to the wireless security etc without losing
connection.

> They say to load the installation disk first, then connect the PC to the
> router with a USB cable. Is that necessary for set up only?

I think you have the wrong instruction manual - the BEFW11S4 doesn't
have a USB port.
If its a real router, you don't need USB and you don't need any drivers.
Just plug the ethernet port of your PC into an ethernet port on the
router.

> I'll be using the router at another home that already has a cable modem. My
> plan is to connect the router to the modem so I can use my laptop with the
> router wirelessly. I will only have the laptop at that home.
> I'm using WinXP and it's a LinkSys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Broadband Router

Should all work fine.

Note however that this is a very old router, 11Mbps only (so expect at
best 4-5.5Mbps throughput), and poor security (WEP only). If you live in
a metropolitan area, there's a fair chance you will get hacked.

Correction: it's a RJ45 port, not USB
I'll be in a suburban, almost rural location with few computer literate
neighbors, so I'm not paranoid about security.
I only plan on email and web surfing - no on-line gaming - so I don't think
speed is a requirment.
Thanks for the prompt post.

"Mark McIntyre" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:jwLEj.6336$(E-Mail Removed)...
> William Andersen wrote:
>> Does at least one PC have to be wired to a wireless router?
>
> No but...
>> My daughter gave me a wireless router she no longer needs, with no
>> instructions. I went on line and downloaded the installation files,
>> manual, specs and quick start sheet.
>
> ... its a good idea to CONFIGURE the router using a wired connection, so
> that you can make changes to the wireless security etc without losing
> connection.
>
>> They say to load the installation disk first, then connect the PC to the
>> router with a USB cable. Is that necessary for set up only?
>
> I think you have the wrong instruction manual - the BEFW11S4 doesn't have
> a USB port.
> If its a real router, you don't need USB and you don't need any drivers.
> Just plug the ethernet port of your PC into an ethernet port on the
> router.
>
>> I'll be using the router at another home that already has a cable modem.
>> My plan is to connect the router to the modem so I can use my laptop with
>> the router wirelessly. I will only have the laptop at that home.
>> I'm using WinXP and it's a LinkSys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Broadband Router
>
> Should all work fine.
>
> Note however that this is a very old router, 11Mbps only (so expect at
> best 4-5.5Mbps throughput), and poor security (WEP only). If you live in a
> metropolitan area, there's a fair chance you will get hacked.

"William Andersen" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:NbREj.7653$(E-Mail Removed)...

> Correction: it's a RJ45 port, not USB
> I'll be in a suburban, almost rural location with few computer literate
> neighbors, so I'm not paranoid about security.
> I only plan on email and web surfing - no on-line gaming - so I don't
> think speed is a requirment.
> Thanks for the prompt post.
>

If you lock your front door or lock your car door in the parking lot, you
live in a place where you need better than WEP security. And your neighboors
may not be as dumb as you think....

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:32:59 -0700, "William Andersen"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Does at least one PC have to be wired to a wireless router?

No. A wireless router will work with all wireless connections.
However, you may find it handy to use a wired connection for
configuration.

>My daughter gave me a wireless router she no longer needs,

Oh-oh. Beware of family bearing gifts, especially if the gifts are
old and used.

>They say to load the installation disk first, then connect the PC to the
>router with a USB cable. Is that necessary for set up only?

Disaster. You actually read the instructions. Nobody does that. If
the product were any good, it wouldn't need instructions. Also, you
may have the wrong instructions as the BEFW11s4 does not have a USB
port.

Punch the reset button on the back of the router to clear out your
daughters settings. Plug into one of the LAN ports, a WIRED ethernet
CAT5 cable to your PC. Point your web browser to:
http://192.168.1.1
and configure the beast. Use the cdrom as a coffee cup coaster and
burn the instructions.

>I'll be using the router at another home that already has a cable modem.

What speeds? The BEFW11S4 can't handle much over about 8mbits/sec (my
measurements).

>My
>plan is to connect the router to the modem so I can use my laptop with the
>router wirelessly. I will only have the laptop at that home.
>I'm using WinXP and it's a LinkSys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Broadband Router

Good plan that should work. However, the BEFW11S4 is not a very good
router. It only does 802.11b (slow), some models only do WEP
encryption (not very secure) and some hardware versions (v4) tend to
hang. Decent wireless routers sell new for $30 to $100 which methinks
would be a better idea.

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

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> Punch the reset button on the back of the router to clear out your
> daughters settings.

For at least 30 seconds.

I was planning to buy a router when this freebie showed up.
Now that I have it, I may as well take it there and see if it works. If it
does, I've saved $30; if it doesn't, well - it was free.

"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:32:59 -0700, "William Andersen"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Does at least one PC have to be wired to a wireless router?
>
> No. A wireless router will work with all wireless connections.
> However, you may find it handy to use a wired connection for
> configuration.
>
>>My daughter gave me a wireless router she no longer needs,
>
> Oh-oh. Beware of family bearing gifts, especially if the gifts are
> old and used.
>
>>They say to load the installation disk first, then connect the PC to the
>>router with a USB cable. Is that necessary for set up only?
>
> Disaster. You actually read the instructions. Nobody does that. If
> the product were any good, it wouldn't need instructions. Also, you
> may have the wrong instructions as the BEFW11s4 does not have a USB
> port.
>
> Punch the reset button on the back of the router to clear out your
> daughters settings. Plug into one of the LAN ports, a WIRED ethernet
> CAT5 cable to your PC. Point your web browser to:
> http://192.168.1.1
> and configure the beast. Use the cdrom as a coffee cup coaster and
> burn the instructions.
>
>>I'll be using the router at another home that already has a cable modem.
>
> What speeds? The BEFW11S4 can't handle much over about 8mbits/sec (my
> measurements).
>
>>My
>>plan is to connect the router to the modem so I can use my laptop with the
>>router wirelessly. I will only have the laptop at that home.
>>I'm using WinXP and it's a LinkSys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Broadband Router
>
> Good plan that should work. However, the BEFW11S4 is not a very good
> router. It only does 802.11b (slow), some models only do WEP
> encryption (not very secure) and some hardware versions (v4) tend to
> hang. Decent wireless routers sell new for $30 to $100 which methinks
> would be a better idea.
>
> --
> # Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
> # 831-336-2558 (E-Mail Removed)
> # http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
> # http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

William Andersen wrote:
> I was planning to buy a router when this freebie showed up.
> Now that I have it, I may as well take it there and see if it works.
> If it does, I've saved $30; if it doesn't, well - it was free.

So your time is wothless, and the time of those here that answered is
worthless also... I'll remember that you think people here are worthless,
next time you ask a q, and give you an answer fitting your estimate os our
value.....

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:30:08 -0700, "William Andersen"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I was planning to buy a router when this freebie showed up.
>Now that I have it, I may as well take it there and see if it works.

That's fine. However, I think you might find it interesting to search
alt.internet.wireless for any comments on the BEFW11S4:
<http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=BEFW11S4&num=50&as_ugroup=alt.internet .wireless>

>If it
>does, I've saved $30; if it doesn't, well - it was free.

I have 4 of them piled up on the shelf. Their main purpose is to keep
my mess of manuals from falling over.

--
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

Follow up:
The antique Linksys is set up and is adequate for internet access and email.
Thanks for the posts.

"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:30:08 -0700, "William Andersen"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I was planning to buy a router when this freebie showed up.
>>Now that I have it, I may as well take it there and see if it works.
>
> That's fine. However, I think you might find it interesting to search
> alt.internet.wireless for any comments on the BEFW11S4:
> <http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=BEFW11S4&num=50&as_ugroup=alt.internet .wireless>
>
>>If it
>>does, I've saved $30; if it doesn't, well - it was free.
>
> I have 4 of them piled up on the shelf. Their main purpose is to keep
> my mess of manuals from falling over.
>
> --
> 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