Wireless router - apologies for my ignorance!!

Hi all,

I'm not particularly techie so don't laugh!

I'm looking to replace my USB modem with a router and thought it might
be good to get a wireless one so I can use it my work laptop as well.
I just wondered, what do I need to buy for my PC to be able to use
this router?

I know I need a wireless card(?) for the laptop but I assume I need
similar for my desktop?

Thanks for your help

Rob

(E-Mail Removed) (Sandman) came forth with the following in
uk.telecom.broadband

> Hi all,
>
> I'm not particularly techie so don't laugh!
>
> I'm looking to replace my USB modem with a router and thought it might
> be good to get a wireless one so I can use it my work laptop as well.
> I just wondered, what do I need to buy for my PC to be able to use
> this router?
>
> I know I need a wireless card(?) for the laptop but I assume I need
> similar for my desktop?
>

If you have a network point in the desktop no not really. Most wireless
modem/router's also have RJ45 connections. If you haven't got a network
card in the desktop get a cheap one instead of buying a more expensive
wireless one.

You can mix wireless and cable AFAIK

--
Mark

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Sandman <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I'm not particularly techie so don't laugh!
>
> I'm looking to replace my USB modem with a router and thought it might
> be good to get a wireless one so I can use it my work laptop as well.
> I just wondered, what do I need to buy for my PC to be able to use
> this router?
>
> I know I need a wireless card(?) for the laptop but I assume I need
> similar for my desktop?
>
> Thanks for your help
>
> Rob

It depends on where you're going to locate the router relative to the PC.
Wireless routers invariably also have ethernet sockets for wired
connections. Your PC probably has a built-in ethernet port, depending on its
age. If so, all you need is an ethernet cable between PC and router.

In any event, you need at least one wired connection to the router for
configuration purposes. If you only have wireless connections, it's all too
easy to screw up the config in a way which stops wireless from working - and
you're stuffed because you can no longer talk to the router to correct it.

If you *do* put a wireless card in the PC (which probably isn't necessary)
get a PCI (internal) card rather than a USB-based device. [I presume that
laptop will take a PCMCIA (credit-card sized) wireless card].
--
Cheers,
Tim
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.

"Tiscali Tim" wrote:

> In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
> Sandman <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm not particularly techie so don't laugh!
>>
>> I'm looking to replace my USB modem with a router and thought it
>> might be good to get a wireless one so I can use it my work laptop as
>> well. I just wondered, what do I need to buy for my PC to be able to
>> use this router?
>>
>> I know I need a wireless card(?) for the laptop but I assume I need
>> similar for my desktop?
>>
>> Thanks for your help
>>
>> Rob
>
> It depends on where you're going to locate the router relative to the
> PC. Wireless routers invariably also have ethernet sockets for wired
> connections. Your PC probably has a built-in ethernet port, depending
> on its age. If so, all you need is an ethernet cable between PC and
> router.
>
> In any event, you need at least one wired connection to the router for
> configuration purposes. If you only have wireless connections, it's
> all too easy to screw up the config in a way which stops wireless from
> working - and you're stuffed because you can no longer talk to the
> router to correct it.

That's not really true. Any router with a factory reset switch is easy to
get back up and running again, without a wired connection.


Dave.

Sandman wrote:

> I'm looking to replace my USB modem with a router and thought it might
> be good to get a wireless one so I can use it my work laptop as well.

If using a wireless router you really should enable WEP encryption which
will prevent casual theft of your bandwidth (and potential access to
your machines) by anyone passing. You would need to do more to prevent a
determined hacker.

Before you buy one make you have administrator access to work's laptop
so you can add your WEP key to the wireless network adapter (alongside
any keys insalled to access work's wireless network)

"higgy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:41a46502$0$24698$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Tiscali Tim" wrote:
>
> > In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
> > Sandman <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> I'm not particularly techie so don't laugh!
> >>
> >> I'm looking to replace my USB modem with a router and thought it
> >> might be good to get a wireless one so I can use it my work laptop as
> >> well. I just wondered, what do I need to buy for my PC to be able to
> >> use this router?
> >>
> >> I know I need a wireless card(?) for the laptop but I assume I need
> >> similar for my desktop?
> >>
> >> Thanks for your help
> >>
> >> Rob
> >
> > It depends on where you're going to locate the router relative to the
> > PC. Wireless routers invariably also have ethernet sockets for wired
> > connections. Your PC probably has a built-in ethernet port, depending
> > on its age. If so, all you need is an ethernet cable between PC and
> > router.
> >
> > In any event, you need at least one wired connection to the router for
> > configuration purposes. If you only have wireless connections, it's
> > all too easy to screw up the config in a way which stops wireless from
> > working - and you're stuffed because you can no longer talk to the
> > router to correct it.
>
> That's not really true. Any router with a factory reset switch is easy to
> get back up and running again, without a wired connection.
>
>
> Dave.
No but I feel warm and secure with my rj45 connection to setup my router.
Colin

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
higgy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> "Tiscali Tim" wrote:
>
>>
>> In any event, you need at least one wired connection to the router
>> for configuration purposes. If you only have wireless connections,
>> it's all too easy to screw up the config in a way which stops
>> wireless from working - and you're stuffed because you can no longer
>> talk to the router to correct it.
>
> That's not really true. Any router with a factory reset switch is
> easy to get back up and running again, without a wired connection.
>

OK, perhaps "need" is not the right word, and I should have said that it is
"highly desirable" to have a wired connection.

Whereas you *can* recover from a config error by going back to factory
settings, this can be a right pain if you have invested time in making a lot
of changes.
--
Cheers,
Tim
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.

Others have already replied to your Q's, but my experience is that USB wifi
adapters on end of a cable (up to 5M) are better because they can easily
be positioned for best signal, sometime half and inch make a difference,
also higher is usually better.
My laptop PC card is next to useless on my desk, but USB adaptor sitting on
shelf 3ft left of desk and 5ft of the ground works perfectly.
Regards,
Martin

Martin² wrote:
> Others have already replied to your Q's, but my experience is that
> USB wifi adapters on end of a cable (up to 5M) are better because
> they can easily be positioned for best signal, sometime half and inch
> make a difference, also higher is usually better.
> My laptop PC card is next to useless on my desk, but USB adaptor
> sitting on shelf 3ft left of desk and 5ft of the ground works
> perfectly.
> Regards,
> Martin

Friend of mine has bought a simple extension antenna for his daugther's
wireless PCI card - says it works very well. Cannot remember where he got
it from though.

Thanks guys!

Very usefull.

Rob