Wirless router questions! (Newbie)

OK, I have a few questions for you guys!

My Fiancee has bought a new laptop and would like to use the internet
sometimes in our house. Currently our desktop is connected to Virgin
Broadband (512K).
She wants to connect wireless. Her laptop says it's wireless enabled. Our
desktop PC just has a standard Speedtouch modem plugged in (and powered) via
a USB port.

1. I understand I'll need a wireless router. What sort of price? And to they
vary much from make to make? And what else would I need?

2. I see you can get higher speed routers, but it'll mainly provide an
internet connection so will all standard routers provide speeds above our
current internet connection speed of 512?

3. Our desktop is always in one place, and near a phone line. Is it possible
to have a permanent USB connection to the desktop, while providing a
wireless link to the laptop?

4. How are routers generally powered? We would like it to have a separate
power supply all the time to the router, so if she's upstairs, and decides
to go on the internet, she can at anytime (without having to power up the
desk top)

5. How wireless router modems dial up? Currently with our Virgin broadband
set up, we 'dial up' each time we go on the internet. It's not an 'always
on' connection. Would either PC instruct the router to 'dial up' each time,
or is it an 'always on' connection?

6. I understand both computers can go on the net at the same time. How does
this effect the speed? Would it just simply be half the connection speed for
each connection? It's not often we're on at the same time, but it might
happen occasionally.

7. This isn't so important, but would it be possible to have access to our
printer, from her laptop, via the router?

Cheers for any help given!


Matthew Long

> 1. I understand I'll need a wireless router. What sort of price? And to they
> vary much from make to make? And what else would I need?

Depends on whether you want to buy retail where they can vary anything
from say £25 to three figure prices. Or you can go Ebay and go even
cheaper.

> 2. I see you can get higher speed routers, but it'll mainly provide an
> internet connection so will all standard routers provide speeds above our
> current internet connection speed of 512?

No problem there.

> 3. Our desktop is always in one place, and near a phone line. Is it possible
> to have a permanent USB connection to the desktop, while providing a
> wireless link to the laptop?

You can do by adding a wireless NIC to the desktop but I wouldn't
because of your next question...

> 4. How are routers generally powered? We would like it to have a separate
> power supply all the time to the router, so if she's upstairs, and decides
> to go on the internet, she can at anytime (without having to power up the
> desk top)

Get a wireless router. The desktop will connect via cable to the router
and the laptop via wireless to the router. It's just simpler that way
and you can turn off the desktop when you want to.

> 5. How wireless router modems dial up? Currently with our Virgin broadband

You enter your credentials for the account into the router and it will
be always on.

> 6. I understand both computers can go on the net at the same time. How does
> this effect the speed? Would it just simply be half the connection speed for
> each connection? It's not often we're on at the same time, but it might

In the absence of any other bandwidth shaping, you'd just fight for it.
It's not divided as such because then you'd have wasted capacity if the
other person wasn't using their allocation. You'll likely not even
notice.

> 7. This isn't so important, but would it be possible to have access to our
> printer, from her laptop, via the router?

Shouldn't be a problem. The neatest way is if the printer has an
ethernet capability, failing that, get a print server to provide it with
such. If you wish, you could just share it from the desktop but then
you're back to needing to have that machine on when you want to print.

David.

"David Taylor" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) d.com...
>> 1. I understand I'll need a wireless router. What sort of price? And to
>> they
>> vary much from make to make? And what else would I need?
>
> Depends on whether you want to buy retail where they can vary anything
> from say £25 to three figure prices. Or you can go Ebay and go even
> cheaper.
>
>> 2. I see you can get higher speed routers, but it'll mainly provide an
>> internet connection so will all standard routers provide speeds above our
>> current internet connection speed of 512?
>
> No problem there.
>
>> 3. Our desktop is always in one place, and near a phone line. Is it
>> possible
>> to have a permanent USB connection to the desktop, while providing a
>> wireless link to the laptop?
>
> You can do by adding a wireless NIC to the desktop but I wouldn't
> because of your next question...
>
>> 4. How are routers generally powered? We would like it to have a separate
>> power supply all the time to the router, so if she's upstairs, and
>> decides
>> to go on the internet, she can at anytime (without having to power up the
>> desk top)
>
> Get a wireless router. The desktop will connect via cable to the router
> and the laptop via wireless to the router. It's just simpler that way
> and you can turn off the desktop when you want to.
>
>> 5. How wireless router modems dial up? Currently with our Virgin
>> broadband
>
> You enter your credentials for the account into the router and it will
> be always on.
>
>> 6. I understand both computers can go on the net at the same time. How
>> does
>> this effect the speed? Would it just simply be half the connection speed
>> for
>> each connection? It's not often we're on at the same time, but it might
>
> In the absence of any other bandwidth shaping, you'd just fight for it.
> It's not divided as such because then you'd have wasted capacity if the
> other person wasn't using their allocation. You'll likely not even
> notice.
>
>> 7. This isn't so important, but would it be possible to have access to
>> our
>> printer, from her laptop, via the router?
>
> Shouldn't be a problem. The neatest way is if the printer has an
> ethernet capability, failing that, get a print server to provide it with
> such. If you wish, you could just share it from the desktop but then
> you're back to needing to have that machine on when you want to print.
>
> David.

Thanks very much for your helpful answers! I'll start looking around!

Cheers,

Matthew Long

You need an ADSL wireless router ( I take it you are on ADSL not cable?)...
This has an ADSL modem and wireless router in one box.
(You cannot use your existibg ADSL modem if it has a USB out and no RJ45)...

See http://www1.linksys.com/internationa...oid=6&ipid=371

ftp://ftp.linksys.com/international/...-ds-ukeula.pdf

You will be able to share the printer (USB? - connected to PC) while PC is
on - to enable laptop to use printer when PC is off you will need a print
server (network in USB out). There are also wireless print servers...

Guy



Matthew Long wrote:
> OK, I have a few questions for you guys!
>
> My Fiancee has bought a new laptop and would like to use the internet
> sometimes in our house. Currently our desktop is connected to Virgin
> Broadband (512K).
> She wants to connect wireless. Her laptop says it's wireless enabled.
> Our desktop PC just has a standard Speedtouch modem plugged in (and
> powered) via a USB port.
>
> 1. I understand I'll need a wireless router. What sort of price? And
> to they vary much from make to make? And what else would I need?
>
> 2. I see you can get higher speed routers, but it'll mainly provide an
> internet connection so will all standard routers provide speeds above
> our current internet connection speed of 512?
>
> 3. Our desktop is always in one place, and near a phone line. Is it
> possible to have a permanent USB connection to the desktop, while
> providing a wireless link to the laptop?
>
> 4. How are routers generally powered? We would like it to have a
> separate power supply all the time to the router, so if she's
> upstairs, and decides to go on the internet, she can at anytime
> (without having to power up the desk top)
>
> 5. How wireless router modems dial up? Currently with our Virgin
> broadband set up, we 'dial up' each time we go on the internet. It's
> not an 'always on' connection. Would either PC instruct the router to
> 'dial up' each time, or is it an 'always on' connection?
>
> 6. I understand both computers can go on the net at the same time.
> How does this effect the speed? Would it just simply be half the
> connection speed for each connection? It's not often we're on at the
> same time, but it might happen occasionally.
>
> 7. This isn't so important, but would it be possible to have access
> to our printer, from her laptop, via the router?
>
> Cheers for any help given!
>
>
> Matthew Long

> (You cannot use your existibg ADSL modem if it has a USB out and no RJ45)...

Sure he can

http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2200usb.html

But for me, I'd change it and get router/modem that does ethernet or a
router with built in modem.

David.