do i need a desktop to wirelessly route my broadband to my laptop?

Question

i'm thinking of buying a router for my ntl broadband but dont know if i need a desktop to act as a base station or wether i can just plug my broadband straight into the router and just turn on my wireless on my laptop

Answer 1

You do not need a desktop PC to send a broadband signal wirelessly to your laptop. You need a WiFi router. There are loads of guides out there to demonstrate what you need and how to set it up.

Answer 2

Before you buy your router see if you need a ADSL or DSL modem first, In the UK for BT you need ADSL and NTL needs DSL modems, there're plenty of wireless routers with the correct modem built in.

NTL as far as I know uses cable, so go to PC world ask them the exact wireless router you need. Then you can try to find it on ebay for a lesser price. I couldn't wait so I bought one for me today (for BT) I got a Modem with wireless router and a USB connector to make a computer wireless (ie if you have a computer that doesn't have wireless) all for £59.

I think what you need is something like http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0128786842.1166142452@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdladdjjdjifgdcflgceggdhhmdgmi.0&page=Product&fm=13&sm=1&tm=1&sku=619685&category_oid=-28361

Good luck,

PS: YOU DON'T NEED A BASE STATION PC. In fact you don't need a pc at all,
1. NTL Connection (since you mentioned it),
2. DSL Modem (you probably have it already, comes with NTL),
3. Wireless router (PC world, Ebay, Some shop)
4. and an optional xbox 360 with wireless.

Answer 3

You just need a wireless router. you may need to connect to the router initially via a cable to set it up but once this is done you can just use the laptop wirelessly without any other PC needed.

You could also do the same if it was a games console you wanted to connect, the router will handle evrything once set up.

Answer 4

As far as my wireless router goes:

To initially set up the router, you needed to hardwire it to a computer. I used my desktop, but I'm sure you could use a laptop instead, as long as you have an ethernet cable and your laptop has an ethernet port.

Once it's up and running, nothing needs to be hardwired to the wireless router (other than the phone cable obviously), and it'll all be gravy.

Answer 5

Hey, You dont need a Desktop!! You need a router which routes your internet to tthe laptop.. What you can do is.. you can visit deals2buy.com and search for a WiFi router which usually cost you around 20-30$..

Answer 6

u dnt even kneed t use the modem... u jus connect the cable from the phone line t router plug it in put the settings into the router u can use the laptop and a ethernet cable to configure the router.... u dnt kneed a base computer.... wht ur asking should b ok...

Answer 7

usually you can just install the wireless router, cable the laptop to it, do the setup routine, copy the security key to the laptop ( I save it as a .txt file) then pull the cable and setup the wireless.
You don't need to have a desktop connected, but can connect one to the router later if you want.

Answer 8

You dont need a desktop.