Setting up a wireless access point.

Hey,
I hope someone can help me. I have a few newbie questions. At the moment
I have a USB wired router connected to my phone and my PC. Initially, I want
to go wireless so I can go online with my Nintendo DS but it'll be nice to
have wireless broadband in future for other things. Is it as easy as just
connecting a wireless access point to my router?

I saw a sign in Dixons (don't worry, I wasn't going to buy anything) on the
wireless networking shelf saying that wireless routers won't work with USB
routers (such as the ones usually supplied with broadband packages)...which
mine is and I wondered what the issue was with that. And if you have a USB
router, why would you go with a wireless router when a wireless access point
would do the same thing?

I'm sorry to waste your time with these probably very basic
questions...Google is just confusing me.

Gary

"Gary Kelman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:djrdl1$hk4$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hey,
> I hope someone can help me. I have a few newbie questions. At the
> moment I have a USB wired router connected to my phone and my PC.
> Initially, I want to go wireless so I can go online with my Nintendo DS
> but it'll be nice to have wireless broadband in future for other things.
> Is it as easy as just connecting a wireless access point to my router?
>
> I saw a sign in Dixons (don't worry, I wasn't going to buy anything) on
> the wireless networking shelf saying that wireless routers won't work with
> USB routers (such as the ones usually supplied with broadband
> packages)...which mine is and I wondered what the issue was with that. And
> if you have a USB router, why would you go with a wireless router when a
> wireless access point would do the same thing?
>
> I'm sorry to waste your time with these probably very basic
> questions...Google is just confusing me.
>
> Gary
I think you are getting routers and modems confused. What you get with a
broadband package is usually just a USB modem.

You can get routers with either built in modems or you can plug an Ethernet
modem into one that doesn't have a built in modem.

Likewise you can get routers that aren't wireless that you can plug an
access point into and you can get ones that have built in wireless.

So in theory you could have three different items - a modem, router and
wireless access point - advantage is if one bit goes wrong, you only have to
replace one bit. Also easier to upgrade for example the wireless AP if a
faster one comes out. Disadvantage is that you have three different boxes
with lots of wires and can be difficult to set up. Or you can buy a unit
with all three in one. Advantages are a nice compact unit and would probably
be a bit cheaper, with less wires and set up problems. Disadvantage is if
one bit goes wrong you have to throw it and get another one & individual
bits are not upgradeable.

Routers do not normally have the provision to plug a USB modem into them -
only an Ethernet one. Personally I would get a combined router/modem with a
separate wireless access point if I was buying one.

The router is basically a device that sits in the middle and "routes" the
incoming internet to different devices such as PC's and access points.

I'm not sure if your Nintendo is able to have a wireless adapter plugged
into it. I think you will probably need a wireless bridge such as
http://www.dlink.co.uk/?go=jN7uAYLx/...7n3qDnL04Yse/c .

Another option instead of wireless is Homeplug which is much easier to set
up than wireless.
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop...ShopGroupID=61