Making laptop wireless through ethernet port

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My pcmcia port doesn't work anymore in my laptop and I need the wireless
connection at my home network and in hotels when I travel.
The laptop does not have USB2, so the USB adaptors will be too slow.

I have heard that it's possible to set up with a wireless switch connected
to the laptop's ethernet port, and that will probably be fine as long as I
have the computer at home, but what when I am out and need the wireless
connection on a hotel? Will it be difficult to set up and will it even be
possible without having any kind of access to the router?

I know the best thing to do is buying a new laptop, but I'm trying to save
some serious $$$.

Regards
Mike

Mike Mike wrote :
> My pcmcia port doesn't work anymore in my laptop and I need the wireless
> connection at my home network and in hotels when I travel.
> The laptop does not have USB2, so the USB adaptors will be too slow.
>
> I have heard that it's possible to set up with a wireless switch connected
> to the laptop's ethernet port, and that will probably be fine as long as I
> have the computer at home, but what when I am out and need the wireless
> connection on a hotel? Will it be difficult to set up and will it even be
> possible without having any kind of access to the router?
>
> I know the best thing to do is buying a new laptop, but I'm trying to save
> some serious $$$.
>
> Regards
> Mike

Err... Instead of complicating things, why not get yourself an USB
wireless adapter ?

Aphrael...
--
"La demande mondiale d'ordinateurs n'excédera pas cinq machines."
(Thomas Watson, Fondateur d'IBM, 1945)

As I mentioned, my laptop does not have USB2 and I've been told USB1 will be
too slow.

Regards
Mike



"Aphrael" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:449fd18b$(E-Mail Removed)...
Mike Mike wrote :
> My pcmcia port doesn't work anymore in my laptop and I need the wireless
> connection at my home network and in hotels when I travel.
> The laptop does not have USB2, so the USB adaptors will be too slow.
>
> I have heard that it's possible to set up with a wireless switch connected
> to the laptop's ethernet port, and that will probably be fine as long as I
> have the computer at home, but what when I am out and need the wireless
> connection on a hotel? Will it be difficult to set up and will it even be
> possible without having any kind of access to the router?
>
> I know the best thing to do is buying a new laptop, but I'm trying to save
> some serious $$$.
>
> Regards
> Mike

Err... Instead of complicating things, why not get yourself an USB
wireless adapter ?

Aphrael...
--
"La demande mondiale d'ordinateurs n'excédera pas cinq machines."
(Thomas Watson, Fondateur d'IBM, 1945)

Mike Mike wrote :
> As I mentioned, my laptop does not have USB2 and I've been told USB1 will be
> too slow.
>
> Regards
> Mike
>
>
>
> "Aphrael" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:449fd18b$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Mike Mike wrote :
>> My pcmcia port doesn't work anymore in my laptop and I need the wireless
>> connection at my home network and in hotels when I travel.
>> The laptop does not have USB2, so the USB adaptors will be too slow.
>>
>> I have heard that it's possible to set up with a wireless switch connected
>> to the laptop's ethernet port, and that will probably be fine as long as I
>> have the computer at home, but what when I am out and need the wireless
>> connection on a hotel? Will it be difficult to set up and will it evenbe
>> possible without having any kind of access to the router?
>>
>> I know the best thing to do is buying a new laptop, but I'm trying to save
>> some serious $$$.
>>
>> Regards
>> Mike
>
> Err... Instead of complicating things, why not get yourself an USB
> wireless adapter ?
>
> Aphrael...

Not as expensive as what you will get if you try for ethernet to usb,
and not so slow. But... well, if you still want it Ethernet, you simply
try for an access point with "Wireless Client" setting. It won't be very
portable, will need a power outlet, but will work and be ethernet. Dlink
AP usually do, but certainly Linksys and other brands will offer the same.

Aphrael.
--
"La demande mondiale d'ordinateurs n'excédera pas cinq machines."
(Thomas Watson, Fondateur d'IBM, 1945)

In article <zvQng.20014$(E-Mail Removed)>,
Mike Mike <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>As I mentioned, my laptop does not have USB2 and I've been told USB1 will be
>too slow.
>


To slow for what? I think USB1 is going to be as fast as a "b" wifi
connection with anything but the strongest signal.

It's fine for email and general web browsing.


--
a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore. A Proud signature since 2001

"Mike Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>My pcmcia port doesn't work anymore in my laptop and I need the wireless
>connection at my home network and in hotels when I travel.
>The laptop does not have USB2, so the USB adaptors will be too slow.

I'm not sure that USB1 would be too slow, but I've never had good luck
with USB WiFi adapters.

The Linksys WAP54G in client mode will work well, but isn't very
portable, maybe one of the compact routers will work in client mode.

Maybe you should get a WAP54G for 'home, fixed' use and a USB adapter
for mobile use. Or a new laptop...

Can you use a wired connection at home?

Use a wireless 'gaming' adapter. These will bridge your ethernet connection
to WiFi. They're designed to connect a device that has only wired ethernet.
One of them would work in your situation. You'd have an external box and
it's power supply to lug along but that's it.

But if you've got a laptop that's only got USB1.1 and it's PCMCIA slot has
crapped out you might want to just bite the bullet and pickup a new laptop
(or a used one of more recent vintage). And, let me guess, you're running
win98 on it, right? Double the reason to upgrade to something new!

-Bill Kearney

Mike Mike wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> My pcmcia port doesn't work anymore in my laptop and I need the
> wireless connection at my home network and in hotels when I travel.
> The laptop does not have USB2, so the USB adaptors will be too slow.
>
> I have heard that it's possible to set up with a wireless switch
> connected to the laptop's ethernet port, and that will probably be
> fine as long as I have the computer at home, but what when I am out
> and need the wireless connection on a hotel? Will it be difficult to
> set up and will it even be possible without having any kind of access
> to the router?
> I know the best thing to do is buying a new laptop, but I'm trying to
> save some serious $$$.
>
> Regards
> Mike

Consider doing it another way.. They make (and sell, have one for my DVR)
Ethernet to USB converters.. You won't be able to use a USB "dongle", but
there are several USB wireless adapters (boxes with their own firmware, and
a USB cord/plug to plug into almost any USB connector.. Be sure to look for
Ethernet TO USB converters.. Many on the net are the other way around..

Current prices are cheaper I'm sure, but this was about what I paid for them
a few years ago..
USB/Ethernet connecter (Ethernet Plug on one end, USB receptacle on the
other, black box in the middle, pretty common since most DVR's are USB only
and most routers are ethernet), at the time $39
USB Network connection (seperate box like this Linksys at best buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1142298457206
Linksys Wireless-G USB 2.0 Network Adapter with SpeedBooster
$59.99

For a bit more (and fraid I don't have a link handy), they actually make USB
2.0 hubs, that plug into an ethernet port.... Bit bigger, allow 4 USB
connections, plugs into the ethernet port, and has it's own power supply to
provide power over USB.

Mike Mike <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> My pcmcia port doesn't work anymore in my laptop and I need the wireless
> connection at my home network and in hotels when I travel.
> The laptop does not have USB2, so the USB adaptors will be too slow.

USB 1.1 is almost exactly equal to the speed of 802.11b, which is usually
three times the speed of the typical link you are going to get in a hotel.
A USB dongle would be a good cheap solution.

http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG111.php
I use a DLink DWL-122 USB1.1, 802.11b dongle often. I set up new PCs using
this on clients that aren't going to have a permanent LAN connection. Some
friends rely on them for their home internet access. It works well with
win2000 or WinXP. I think USB in general doesn't work so well with Win98.
You didn't say what you have. (You also didn't say why your PCMCIA stopped
working, but that's a separate story.)

> I have heard that it's possible to set up with a wireless switch connected
> to the laptop's ethernet port, and that will probably be fine as long as I

A common "gaming adapter" is what you are looking for, for this purpose.
Somewhere around $80, typically.
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGE111.php

The adapters noted as being clients for PCs are a little more expensive,
probably no better.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=154416

That might be faster than your USB 1.1 in some situations, like laptop-PC
connections at home, but probably not for access to the internet.

The laptop should see it as a wired connection, so there are no driver
issues to contend with, if you already have a working LAN port on the
laptop.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:34:39 GMT, in alt.internet.wireless , "Mike
Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>As I mentioned, my laptop does not have USB2 and I've been told USB1 will be
>too slow.

I doubt it, unless you have 10Meg at home and frequent very expensive
hotels.

USB1.1 is rated at 12Mbps.
--
Mark McIntyre