Desk pc (windows 98) UPstairs and want to get a laptop to use wireless DOWNstairs. What exactly do I need ?

Question

I have SBC DSL a HP desk top and am looking to buy a notebook computer...but would feel better if I at least knew what I am going to do once I DO get it.....someone said I need a wireless "card? " and a router ? ? Sales people in the stores.....are too techy for me to talk to .....Thanks in advance! ! !

Answer 1

This is NOT HP's or SBC's issue. But a good salesperson in your retail store should have helped you. The cheapest and easiest way is with cat5 cable like the other guys said, but if youre upstairs, you dont want to drill a hole in your floor. You need a wifi card in the desktop. It installs EASILY, turn it off, open up the case slide it in, close the case run the software (or some variant of those steps). It should take the averge person 5 minutes, and a knowlegable person 2. You also need a card for the notebook. MOST come with one ALREADY BUILT IN so that's easy. Then you buy a router. Plug it in, run the software. then hook to sbc and youre online. We'll be happy to help you when youre ready. As far as name brands, 1st choice, linksys, second, dlink, third buffalo. Do NOT buy some off brand. Also DO NOT buy the usb wifi adapter, use one that installs in your computer. USB G is probably the best way to go, it has plenty of distance for most people, but there is a new system called N that they're selling now. The usb's do NOT work as well and it is EASY to install an internal card. Be aware that win 98 does not do networking well and that many wifi setups will not work as well as win me, win 2000, win xp, etc. We'll help you when you're ready!

Answer 2

Yep, you need a router and a wireless card for your laptop. The router will connect to your upstairs desktop computer (the HP) and your laptop will use the wireless card to connect to the router. A router is just a fancy word for a gadget that splits an internet connection (much like a cable splitter splits your tv's cable connection). Routers are sold virtually everywhere these days (Radio Shack, Circuit City, even Wal-Mart's selling em). You can also get a wireless card for your laptop at these places. The wireless card just inserts into one of your laptop's empty slots (PCMCIA). Setting up the router is a pretty easy process (cable to connect it to your desktop is included as is the software to get it up and running). If you know anybody good with wireless, they could help ya set it up.

Answer 3

If you're buying a new laptop, most of them come with a wireless card built in so you don't have to waste your time and money searching for one. Just confirm with the salesperson you're buying the laptop from that it has an internal wireless card. But you definitely need to buy a wireless router that will be attached to your existing SBC DSL box. The most popular brands are Linksys and Netgear. I myself have a Linksys WRT54G.

Once you've unpacked your router and plugged in the power cord, the existing connection to your UPstairs PC will be moved to an ethernet (network) slot on the new router you purchase and another ethernet cable (one should have come with the router) needs to go from the router to your pc. Make sure you can access the internet once everything is re-connected.

Once everything is working normally for your UPstairs PC, you can start configuring your wireless network so you can get the laptop working. You'll have to connect to the router on your UPstairs computer using internet explorer via a pre-assigned IP address. Just type in http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx in the URL window. The x's represent numbers. You'll need to read the router manuals to see what the default IP address is for your router. Once you're connected, you'll need to setup your router to assign IP addresses using DHCP. This means when your laptop requests an IP address from the router, it will automatically assign one to it. You'll need to give your network domain a "name" so you can be as creative as you want or just take the default. You should also set up some sort of security (using a passphrase) on your router so nobody else in the neighborhood could piggyback off your wireless network. (your wireless network can reach up to 150 feet so your next door neighbors can potentially access your connection if it's not password protected). One last thing, change the router login account and/or password. All routers come with a default login/password. If someone were to gain access to your router, they could change your settings without you knowing. Not to worry, there's always a way to revert everything back to the factory standards if that happens or if you forget the login/password. This is all done via the router connection on internet explorer.

When you turn on your laptop, it may not be configured to use the wireless connection yet so you have to enable the wireless card. Go to Start --> Connect To --> Show All Connections, You should see a Local Area Connection and a Wireless Network Connection icons. Right click the Wireless Network Connection and make sure it sats Disable. If it says Enable, then that means it's not Enabled yet...just click the word and you should see a short "Enabling" message pop up. Once it's enabled, you should right click the icon again to see the "View Available Wireless Networks" link. Click it and another window will pop up that shows all the wireless networks your laptop is close to. The network domain you created earlier should be one of the networks you see on the list. Click that and click Connect. If you setup the passphrase protection, it should prompt you for the password now. Enter it and you should be connected to your wireless network. Test out your internet explorer to see if you can reach sites like Yahoo.com. If you can, you're all done! If not, you might want to make sure the settings in the router are set properly. There are quite a few settings you can play with. You can always post a question on YA if things aren't going smoothly...we're all here to help you. =)

Good luck!

Answer 4

At the very least you need a router to connect to wireless Internet. Some notebooks have built-in wireless capabilities, or a card like what you said.

Answer 5

The best thing to do is to purchase a "wireless kit" most come with a router and wireless card for laptop. a network card for the PC and good to go.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124140

Answer 6

You need a Wireless Router, and a Wireless card. You need to know what kind of wireless card your laptop takes to buy one (PCMCIA, ExpressCard, etc). I have a Netgear WGR614 B/G Router and its GREAT!

Answer 7

Easy/cheap way is to use CAT5 cable, then all you need is a cheap ethernet card in your desktop as Windows 98SE supports Internet Connection Sharing. Assume your laptop has ethernet already.

Answer 8

a notebook by itself doesnt need a wireless card. but if u want to use a wireless network u need one. u can problay get one from walmart, best buy, radioshack