Author Topic: Wireless routers (Read 1869 times)

reanne · « **on:** March 17, 2005, 21:12 »

Hi. Ive got NTL broadband. My mum is buying herself a new pc, and so theres going to be 2 in the house. We need to share the broadband so i gather i have to get a wireless router. Ive just looked in argos and they do an ADSL modem with built in 802.11g wireless router. Is that what i need to get?

Lona · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2005, 21:23 »

Yes Reanne, that's what you need providing that both PCs have a wireless card installed or wireless enabled.

What price is Argos quoting as there might be better buys on the internet.?

reanne · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2005, 21:26 »

Hi Lona

£79.99

How do i find out if the PC'S are wireless card installed or wireless enabled?

Lona · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2005, 21:34 »

I think you could get a better price that £79.99 Reanne.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=UFNTaG93UmVzdWx0cw%3D%3D

If you go into device manager and look at network connections it should tell you there if you have a wireless network installed.

reanne · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2005, 21:54 »

In device manager, theres only network adapters and under that it says USB cable modem 351000

Lona · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2005, 22:29 »

Quote from: "reanne"

In device manager, theres only network adapters and under that it says USB cable modem 351000

If there's only the one adapter, Reanne, then I would guess that your PC doesn't have a wireless card.

I bought a laptop just last week for my hubby's birthday and was assured it was wireless enabled. Spent 2 days trying set up a wireless connection, only to find out after checking device manager that it didn't have a wireless card.

reanne · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2005, 22:31 »

So that means i cant use a wireless router? Is there any other way i can share the internet connection?

Camstop · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2005, 22:35 »

I'm sure you'll need a DSL router and not a ADSL one for NTL

Best double check with Sandra mind :wink:

It's in this section here..>>> http://www.ebuyer.com

Lona · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2005, 22:35 »

Quote from: "reanne"

So that means i cant use a wireless router? Is there any other way i can share the internet connection?

The easiest way and I have got it with my main PC connected to my son's PC is using an ordinary asdl modem with an ethernet connection. With the help of Sandra, I bought an ethernet cable for pennies and hooked up the two pc's and we can both be on at the same time. The only drawback to this type of connection is that my PC has to be on for the other one to connect which I don't find a hassle as mine is on most of the time anyway.

Clive · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2005, 22:35 »

Just use cables reanne. You will get a faster connection that way. Most routers will take 4 computers so you shouldn't have a problem at all. Mine is set up that any or all of the machines can connect individually or at the same time.

Lona · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2005, 22:37 »

Quote from: "Clive"

Just use cables reanne. You will get a faster connection that way. Most routers will take 4 computers so you shouldn't have a problem at all.

She doesn't need to spend money on a router Clive right away as I have mine connected using my ordinary asdl modem.

Clive · « **Reply #11 on:** March 17, 2005, 22:40 »

That may be why they both have to be switched on Lona. I think that non-wireless routers can be bought for under £30 these days.

Sandra · « **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2005, 22:56 »

Hi Reanne, actually you dont want an ADSL router as youre on cable via NTL.
You have a few options which mainly depend on how much you want to spend and where your two pcs are in the house.
The simplest and cheapest is an ethernet cable to each pc, for this you need to buy a "crossed" cable that is long enough to connect the two pcs together. The drawback with this is that whichever pc is connected to the modem has to be switched on so that the second pc can connect to the net.
The next cheapest option is to use a router. You dont need a modem one so they are quite cheap. NTL usually provide you with a modem that has both a USB connection and an ethernet one. You would need to connect it via an ethernet cable to each pc, this time using "straight" ethernet cables.
The advantage of this method other the first is that you connect to the net from either pc whether one is switched on or not and of course you usually get them with 4 ports so you could easily add a couple more pcs later if desired.
If you have a problem running a cable from pc to pc or from both pcs to a router then you have another option of connecting the second or subsequent ones wirelessly.
This is the type of thing that youd need :

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=51436

You would also need a wireless card in the second pc, preferably a PCI one but you can use a USB one if you didnt want to open the pc up.
This would connect to one pc via etherent and the second by wireless and again they can connect to the net independantly of each other

Medicate · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2005, 23:15 »

Purchased my wireless router, laptop card and usb dongle, complete setup for laptop and pc from Maplins online. £69.99 free p&p.

Was online and sharing my NTL broadband in 6 mins (approx).

It took another 5 mins to sort out WEP protection (password Encryption).

Wireless Network Bundle, 54Mbps, not the fastest but I didn't see the need to spend more.