Use "Notebook Router Kit" with Desktop?

Hello,

Reading many reviews for wireless routers/kits. Some links for a "wireless
router" or "wireless router kit" will lead to a "notebook"-titled device.

Are they interchangeable? Can I use something that says "notebook" or
"laptop" for a desktop?

Thanks very much,
Ellen

Ellen Hall wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Reading many reviews for wireless routers/kits. Some links for a
> "wireless router" or "wireless router kit" will lead to a
> "notebook"-titled device.
>
> Are they interchangeable? Can I use something that says "notebook" or
> "laptop" for a desktop?

AFAIK these "kits" are a wireless router and a notebook pc-card wireless
adapter. You put the wireless adapter into your notebook's pc-card
slot, which a desktop doesn't have. You'd be better off buying a
wireless router and either a pci wireless adapter (installed internally
into the desktop computer) or a usb wireless adapter (gets attached to
one of the desktop's usb ports). I like the usb wireless adapters in
situations where the computer is in one of those desks with the
enclosed area for the machine. Look for a usb wireless adapter that
comes with a usb extension cable - you can plug the end of the cable
into the desktop port and then stick the actual device somewhere up on
your desk or on the back of your LCD monitor stand.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thanks very much, Malke!
Ellen


"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Ellen Hall wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > Reading many reviews for wireless routers/kits. Some links for a
> > "wireless router" or "wireless router kit" will lead to a
> > "notebook"-titled device.
> >
> > Are they interchangeable? Can I use something that says "notebook" or
> > "laptop" for a desktop?
>
> AFAIK these "kits" are a wireless router and a notebook pc-card wireless
> adapter. You put the wireless adapter into your notebook's pc-card
> slot, which a desktop doesn't have. You'd be better off buying a
> wireless router and either a pci wireless adapter (installed internally
> into the desktop computer) or a usb wireless adapter (gets attached to
> one of the desktop's usb ports). I like the usb wireless adapters in
> situations where the computer is in one of those desks with the
> enclosed area for the machine. Look for a usb wireless adapter that
> comes with a usb extension cable - you can plug the end of the cable
> into the desktop port and then stick the actual device somewhere up on
> your desk or on the back of your LCD monitor stand.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

After looking at the back of the 2nd desktop, I have 2 questions: the "pci
wireless adapter (installed internally into the desktop computer)" -- that
would be a wireless card installed in an empty slot, like a modem or
graphics card, with an antenna? And the usb extension cable and actual
device -- that is something that you might want to physically adjust to
improve "reception," like rabbit ears?

Thanks again,
Ellen


"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Ellen Hall wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > Reading many reviews for wireless routers/kits. Some links for a
> > "wireless router" or "wireless router kit" will lead to a
> > "notebook"-titled device.
> >
> > Are they interchangeable? Can I use something that says "notebook" or
> > "laptop" for a desktop?
>
> AFAIK these "kits" are a wireless router and a notebook pc-card wireless
> adapter. You put the wireless adapter into your notebook's pc-card
> slot, which a desktop doesn't have. You'd be better off buying a
> wireless router and either a pci wireless adapter (installed internally
> into the desktop computer) or a usb wireless adapter (gets attached to
> one of the desktop's usb ports). I like the usb wireless adapters in
> situations where the computer is in one of those desks with the
> enclosed area for the machine. Look for a usb wireless adapter that
> comes with a usb extension cable - you can plug the end of the cable
> into the desktop port and then stick the actual device somewhere up on
> your desk or on the back of your LCD monitor stand.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Ellen Hall wrote:

> After looking at the back of the 2nd desktop, I have 2 questions: the
> "pci wireless adapter (installed internally into the desktop
> computer)" -- that would be a wireless card installed in an empty
> slot, like a modem or
> graphics card, with an antenna? And the usb extension cable and
> actual device -- that is something that you might want to physically
> adjust to improve "reception," like rabbit ears?

Sort of, almost. You've got the pci card right. You put it into a pci
slot on the motherboard inside your desktop computer. The usb wireless
adapters look rather like usb thumbdrives except they come with an
extension usb cable. You plug the usb cable into a usb port on your
computer and the other end of the cable goes into the usb adapter,
which you can then put on the back of your monitor or somewhere *up*. I
just installed a Netgear usb adapter and it had a nifty little piece of
velcro stickum so you could stick the adapter somewhere unobtrusive. I
put it on the back of the client's flat panel monitor stand. There are
no antennae.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

How do one of those USB Adapters perform in comparison to a PCI Adapter.
I have a PCI wireless now but my computer is in one of those holes in the
desk.
I would like to try a USB cause it give better signal strength.

So, do you think a USB one is as good or better then the PCI?

Thanks,
Ed.

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ud91OO%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Ellen Hall wrote:
>
>> After looking at the back of the 2nd desktop, I have 2 questions: the
>> "pci wireless adapter (installed internally into the desktop
>> computer)" -- that would be a wireless card installed in an empty
>> slot, like a modem or
>> graphics card, with an antenna? And the usb extension cable and
>> actual device -- that is something that you might want to physically
>> adjust to improve "reception," like rabbit ears?
>
> Sort of, almost. You've got the pci card right. You put it into a pci
> slot on the motherboard inside your desktop computer. The usb wireless
> adapters look rather like usb thumbdrives except they come with an
> extension usb cable. You plug the usb cable into a usb port on your
> computer and the other end of the cable goes into the usb adapter,
> which you can then put on the back of your monitor or somewhere *up*. I
> just installed a Netgear usb adapter and it had a nifty little piece of
> velcro stickum so you could stick the adapter somewhere unobtrusive. I
> put it on the back of the client's flat panel monitor stand. There are
> no antennae.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

"Ed." <esmithoh(at)zoominternet.net> wrote:

> How do one of those USB Adapters perform in comparison to a PCI
> Adapter. I have a PCI wireless now but my computer is in one of those
> holes in the desk.
> I would like to try a USB cause it give better signal strength.
>
> So, do you think a USB one is as good or better then the PCI?

Wireless connectivity always depends on location and construction of the
building, so no one can ever say with 100% certainty about the range.
Your wireless range depends on your individual space.

That said, if you aren't getting good connectivity* and your wireless
router is far away from your computer you might want to try the usb
adapter. It is always better to have your wireless devices up high to
minimize interference from furniture, etc. The usb adapter I used at my
client's house is for a computer that is in the same room as the
wireless router and all I can tell you is it works very well.

If you want more details, I consider MVP Jack's site (sorry but I don't
know his last name) to be the canonical resource for wireless
information:

http://www.ezlan.net/index.html

*And there aren't other factors involved such as malware, other wireless
device interference like cordless phones, microwaves, etc.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thank you for the reply and am checking out the link you provided.

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Ed." <esmithoh(at)zoominternet.net> wrote:
>
>> How do one of those USB Adapters perform in comparison to a PCI
>> Adapter. I have a PCI wireless now but my computer is in one of those
>> holes in the desk.
>> I would like to try a USB cause it give better signal strength.
>>
>> So, do you think a USB one is as good or better then the PCI?
>
> Wireless connectivity always depends on location and construction of the
> building, so no one can ever say with 100% certainty about the range.
> Your wireless range depends on your individual space.
>
> That said, if you aren't getting good connectivity* and your wireless
> router is far away from your computer you might want to try the usb
> adapter. It is always better to have your wireless devices up high to
> minimize interference from furniture, etc. The usb adapter I used at my
> client's house is for a computer that is in the same room as the
> wireless router and all I can tell you is it works very well.
>
> If you want more details, I consider MVP Jack's site (sorry but I don't
> know his last name) to be the canonical resource for wireless
> information:
>
> http://www.ezlan.net/index.html
>
> *And there aren't other factors involved such as malware, other wireless
> device interference like cordless phones, microwaves, etc.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Malke,

At the risk of overstaying my welcome, would you please check out these
devices and tell me if I'm on the right track?

This one to be wired to the satellite modem and main computer:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper

and one of these two for the wireless computer at the other end of the
house:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper

I realize these may be pricey and/or more than I need for simple internet
sharing, but I want to leave options open for possible file sharing in the
future.

And I appreciated the information you provided to Ed in this thread about
putting the antenna up high.

Thanks again for your time and willingness to help,
Ellen


"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ud91OO%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Ellen Hall wrote:
>
> > After looking at the back of the 2nd desktop, I have 2 questions: the
> > "pci wireless adapter (installed internally into the desktop
> > computer)" -- that would be a wireless card installed in an empty
> > slot, like a modem or
> > graphics card, with an antenna? And the usb extension cable and
> > actual device -- that is something that you might want to physically
> > adjust to improve "reception," like rabbit ears?
>
> Sort of, almost. You've got the pci card right. You put it into a pci
> slot on the motherboard inside your desktop computer. The usb wireless
> adapters look rather like usb thumbdrives except they come with an
> extension usb cable. You plug the usb cable into a usb port on your
> computer and the other end of the cable goes into the usb adapter,
> which you can then put on the back of your monitor or somewhere *up*. I
> just installed a Netgear usb adapter and it had a nifty little piece of
> velcro stickum so you could stick the adapter somewhere unobtrusive. I
> put it on the back of the client's flat panel monitor stand. There are
> no antennae.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Ellen Hall wrote:

> Malke,
>
> At the risk of overstaying my welcome, would you please check out
> these devices and tell me if I'm on the right track?
>
> This one to be wired to the satellite modem and main computer:
>
>
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper
>
> and one of these two for the wireless computer at the other end of the
> house:
>
>
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper
>
>
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satel...VisitorWrapper
>
> I realize these may be pricey and/or more than I need for simple
> internet sharing, but I want to leave options open for possible file
> sharing in the future.
>
> And I appreciated the information you provided to Ed in this thread
> about putting the antenna up high.
>
> Thanks again for your time and willingness to help,
> Ellen

You're not "overstaying your welcome" at all. Unfortunately, I don't
know anything about satellite modems. They are not that common here
(Fresno, CA) and are generally only used if you live so far out in the
country that you can't get DSL or cable. I have only two clients who
have them and one of those people went back to dialup.

See if MVP Jack's website says anything about satellites. You should
also check with your satellite company to see what they support.

http://www.ezlan.net

I'll have to bow out now, but I'm sure someone with satellite experience
will pop in.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User