Total noob question

I was given a Netgear MR814 v2 wireless router by a client who bought it
and decided they didn't want to go that route.

Currently I have a desktop wired to a cable modem with a Realtek 8029
nic card.

I am thinking of getting a laptop so thought I would hook the desktop up
to the router via the nic card and then use the laptop around the house
via built in wireless.

The box says to use a FA311 pc adapter ( which I suppose is their
version of a network card ).

Now for the question:

Will this router work hooked up to my Realtek 8029 network card or do I
have to buy Netgear's card?

The picture on the box just shows a cable from the router to the pc with
the FA311 network card.

One place they call it a network adapter .. another place they call it a
network card.

--
Computers run on smoke -- when the smoke leaks out -- the computer stops

az-willie <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>I was given a Netgear MR814 v2 wireless router by a client who bought it
>and decided they didn't want to go that route.
>
>Currently I have a desktop wired to a cable modem with a Realtek 8029
>nic card.
>
>I am thinking of getting a laptop so thought I would hook the desktop up
>to the router via the nic card and then use the laptop around the house
>via built in wireless.
>
>The box says to use a FA311 pc adapter ( which I suppose is their
>version of a network card ).

The Netgear FA311 is a wired ethernet PCI adapter.
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/FA311.php

>Will this router work hooked up to my Realtek 8029 network card or do I
>have to buy Netgear's card?

It will work with your Realtek 8029 ethernet card. Please note that
the 8029 is a fairly old 10mbit/sec only chip. It's probably on an
ISA card. Since generic PCI ethernet cards are only about $15 retail,
I would consider buying a new card, unless the machine that it's in is
also ancient.

>The picture on the box just shows a cable from the router to the pc with
>the FA311 network card.

Yep. The MR814 v2 router can be used with CAT5 ethernet cable
connected to ethernet card, or used wireless, or both at the same
time.

>One place they call it a network adapter .. another place they call it a
>network card.

Same thing. It's also known as a LAN adapter, ethernet card, 10baseT
adapter, ad nausium. The names get changed to confuse the customer.

Methinks you need to do some reading on basic networking before you
proceed. There's nothing difficult about the wired part, but I'm
worried about drivers and configuration for the ancient 8029.

If you're NOT using the wireless for now, please remember to disable
the wireless in the configuration. The problem is that the default
configuration is wide open and zero security. If you can't turn off
the wireless, at least setup a WPA encryption key to keep the
neighbors and hackers (like me) out of your network.

For wired ethernet routers, methinks this is a good start:
| http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2006/0..._to_know_2006/
For wireless, see:
| http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2006/0...king_ntk_2006/

--
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

On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:42:17 -0700, az-willie <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
in <K%Wjg.231952$5Z.201538@dukeread02>:

>I was given a Netgear MR814 v2 wireless router by a client who bought it
>and decided they didn't want to go that route.
>
>Currently I have a desktop wired to a cable modem with a Realtek 8029
>nic card.
>
>I am thinking of getting a laptop so thought I would hook the desktop up
>to the router via the nic card and then use the laptop around the house
>via built in wireless.

Consider retiring/giving away* the desktop and just using the laptop
(notebook) -- they've gotten so good that in most cases they're a more
than sufficient desktop replacement.

*If and when you give it away, be *sure* to wipe the hard disk first!

>The box says to use a FA311 pc adapter ( which I suppose is their
>version of a network card ).

Pay no attention -- it will work with any decent Ethernet adapter.

>Now for the question:
>
>Will this router work hooked up to my Realtek 8029 network card or do I
>have to buy Netgear's card?

It will work with the Realtek.

>The picture on the box just shows a cable from the router to the pc with
>the FA311 network card.

Yep. Be sure to use a "LAN" port.

>One place they call it a network adapter .. another place they call it a
>network card.

Same thing.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>