i have a dell home desktop, connected to the internet with cable broadband box...and a new acer?

Question

and a new acer laptop, with a built in wireless card. both pc's run on xp home. can i connect to the net on my laptop without using any cables or cords to attach to the desktops broadband? i.e like riding on the desktops connection and being able to connect that way? if so..please..please..step by step?Thanks

Answer 1

The quick answer is yes. Not sure what sort of broadband box you have. I assume you're referring to your cable modem. In any case, what you would need to purchase is a "wireless access point" or WAP (the 2 biggest names are Netgear and Linksys). Both are easy enough for even the casual comp user to set up. Below is a link to the one that I use at home. Basically, you buy the WAP, connect your modem to the router, then wire the router to your desktop for a direct connection. You would then install the software provided with the WAP in both your desktop and your laptop to configure the network so that both machines can use the same modem. The Linksys setup guide is very straightforward as long as you take your time and follow step by step. Once completed, your desktop will be hardwired to to router and modem and the laptop should be able to connect to the internet wirelessly from anywhere in your home. Hope that helps.

PS: Newegg tends to have very competetive prices so I'd be surprised if you'd find a better deal except on eBay. Additionally, standard shipping is great on Newegg... no need to pay extra for expediting. Alternatively, if you want this thing tomorrow, pretty much any radio shack or best buy carries this same/very similar thing.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833124012

Answer 2

The best way for you to share your purchase a wireless router. With cable broadband, you have more than enough bandwidth to share with 1 other laptop. I highly recommend linksys routers. After you buy a wireless router follow these steps.

1) Connect the cable broadband box to the router's internet port
2) Connect your dell's into one of the numbered ports on the router
3) Secure your wireless router with a password from your dell (using your browser by typing in the router's IP address)
4) Browse for a connection on your laptop and connect to your router

Answer 3

What you are proposing is possible, but sub-optimal. You have a new laptop, so you probably have enough cash to do what I'm about to suggest instead -- should take less than $50.

First, purchase and install a wireless router between your cable broadband modem and your desktop computer. Then, configure your laptop and wireless router to connect over WPA-PSK (if your router and laptop support it) or WEP (less secure, but supported by all hardware you're likely to find.)

Voila! Not only do your desktop and laptop now share the internet connection, but you'll also have a firewall between the internet and your two computers -- which is a very, very good thing to have. Hooking your cable modem directly to your desktop computer is an invitation for massive numbers of computer invasions and virus infiltrations.

To illustrate, here's your current system:

[cable] ----- [desktop]

You'll do this instead:

[cable] ------ [wireless router/firewall] ------ [desktop]

Then you'll configure the wireless communication (desktop not shown below, since I can't make it look proper with this font):

[cable] ------ [wireless routerusing WPA-PSK or WEP] === [laptop using WPA-PSK or WEP]

In the above diagrams, --- indicates a wired connection, and === indicates a wireless connection.

Good luck!

Answer 4

One INternet connection can normally conect to only one device (PC or Laptop) at a time; the way u have it now.
However, u can setup a small home network in the following ways-

Buy a small 4-port wireless router from Belkin/ Linksys/ Netgear/ Dell or any other manf. that suports both wired and wireless connections.

The connection from the broadband box goes into the router. Then, u can connect upto 4 computers ( one on each port) through a cable (get straight cables) to this router and also through wireless; in ur case ur laptop.
the number of wirelss clients depends on the router.

Answer 5

Buy a Wireless Network Card for your Computer and configure the Wireless Access Card as a Access Point.

Becuase Wirelss Network Card would be much cheaper than access point.

Now you can connect to the Wireless Network Card in your Computer using the Built in Wirelss Network Card in your Laptop.

Assign IP address in a different Range and give the Computers Wirelss Card Address as Gateway address on your Laptop Wireless Card.

I am not sure if XP home comes with internet connection sharing. If it comes share the Broad Band. Or you can install a free proxy server linke LANSuite which can be downloaded from www.download.com

Any you should be online.

If you still need further clarification please get back to me.

Answer 6

The only way to get connected without a router (within close proximity of a radio wave wireless, etc), is to have a bluetooth installed. My Toshiba has one and connects to our internet signal without a router and without wires or anything
The other is a wireless router but you still have to be plugged in..

Answer 7

You need what is called a wireless router my dear - I would assume that the Acer has a wireless card. You can pick one up at Walmart, etc.
As for the setting up - they are very easy - follow the instructional CD that come with the rouer (Linksys, D-Link, etc.)

Answer 8

Yes you need to get a wireless router

Answer 9

no, i think you might have to get a router, cause thats what i have, and yes it does have cables... what a shame i know huh?

Answer 10

u can use adhoc network.