I'm new on wireless internet. I need to buy a router, but I don't know how to work it. Can anyone help me?

Question

I have a DS and am hoping to get a Wii within the next month or two. I really want Wi-Fi for both. My neighbor has wireless internet, and in certain areas of the house I can get Wi-Fi, but I'm hoping for something that I can use all over the house. Also, I am going to be getting a laptop (hopefully) by the end of July or August, so I need internet on that. However, I don't know what kind of router I need or how to set it up. I currently have a cable connection, if that helps.

Answer 1

Buy any wireless cable/dsl router that you can install a signal booster antenna on. The booster antenna runs $50-100 extra but extends the range. Second, plug the power adapter into a battery backup(perfered)or straight into a wall plate not a power strip.

The problem most people have with routers having to be reset so many times is because the voltage level from a power strip fluxuates to much causing the router to loose its connection to the internet. With it plugged into a battery backup it makes connection last much longer without ever needing to be reset(powered off and on) wall plate direct is second best, powerstrip, look forward to loosing the signal and poor performance most of the time...

Just follow directions of installation when you get the router you will be just fine...

Answer 2

So based on what you have stated you have a cable modem for internet access. I would suggest for several reason that you get a netgear wireless router. Setup is very easy basically you take it out of the box and plug it in. Now there are some settings you should look at chaging and they are the channel, SSID, Security. If you are experiencing issues i.e connection drops ever now and then look to see what other networks are around and change your network to a channel that is not in use. The usual channels are 1, 6, 10 the reason the others are not used is that they over lap with one of the above numbers so you still experience interfernace. There are other things that will interfer with the router as well Such as microwaves and portable phones. If you have 2.4 Ghz protable phones in your house you should look at moveing to 5.8 so they do not interfere with you wireless connection which will be at 2.4Ghz as well.

Now out of the box the router is unsecure and has the default user name and passwords. To mange the router you connect a pc via the wired connection initially and enter the default ip address usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 depending on brand. Password and usernames very read the instructions for that. Once in the menu's are pretty easy on all devices. You would want to change the username and password along with the SSID (Secure System ID). As if you do not anyone that finds your network can get in and make changes to yoru routering and if they chose they could lock you out of it completely. Also you may want to setup some kind of security WAP or the like just to keep your network a bit closed off so that nobody else uses if for shaddy activites.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Something else to add. There are several Wireless technologies that offer speed or range

Wireless A: not that common
Wireless B: 11 mbps
Wireless G: 54 mbps
Wireless N: MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) should be up to 20 times faster than 802.11b, and up to 3 times faster than 802.11a and up to 4 times faster than 802.11g

802.11b and 802.11g standards use the 2.4 GHz (gigahertz) band.

Because of this choice of frequency band, 802.11b and 802.11g equipment will suffer interference from microwave ovens, cordless telephones, Bluetooth devices, baby and security monitors, amateur radio and other appliances using this same band.

The 802.11a standard uses a different 5 GHz band, which is clean by comparison. 802.11a devices are not affected by products operating on the 2.4 GHz band.

Wireless N standard is in debate still and vendors are using different technology at this point until the standard is implemented in mid 2008. The frequency will be 5 GHz and/or 2.4 GHz

Data Rate (Typ)
74 Mbit/s

Data Rate (Max)
248 Mbit/s (2 stream)

Range (Indoor)
~70 meters

I would recommend that for the moment you buy a Wireless G that is backward compatible with Wireless B.

You can find them from $20- $60 at Best Buy, Compusa, and Circuit City.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Ditto Yes I Am Here!! above, if you want Linksys. I went through all the reviews, and found Linksys WRT54GS among the well-rated, so I bought it. I just hooked it up yesterday. It came with a CD. On the outside of the box was a big red sticker, "INSERT CD FIRST!" The CD had step-by-step instructions for installing the lil' booger. I carefully failed to follow the instructions, and failed the first time through. I backed up, and tried again, and when I followed the instructions TO THE LETTER, all went well. I suspect all routers come with instruction CDs (with pictures!) just like this one?

Answer 5

You would first purchase a wireless router.
Follow these steps:

1.) connect Cable to Cable Modem
2.) connect cable out Network cable to the network in port on the wireless router(the jack that stands out)
3.) Temporarily connect a Network cable from slot 1 in the wireless router to your ethernet card.
4.) open network connections under control panel
5.) right click and enable the Local area connection
6.)open internet explorer
7.) click tools-internet options
8.) click connection tab
9) click lan settings
10)check automatically detect settings
11) click OK
12) click Apply
13) open internet explorer
14) type in 192.168.0.1
15) the default username/password is admin/blank
16) look for the setup wizard
17.) follow instructions(make note of WPA/WEP key if you opt to have one)
18) Wallah!
19) you should now be able to remove the network cable from your computer
20) open network connections under control panel
21) disable Local area connection
22) enable wireless connection
23) right click wireless connection
24) select view available wireless networks
25) click refresh network list
26) Select your network
27) click connect
28) if you opted to use a WPA/WEP key you will be prompted to input it now
29) input WPA/WEP key
30)Wallah! you should now be good to go

Answer 6

You don't need a router to get internet on the wii if it is LAN don't get it! It is suppose to be a cord that plugs in the front of the tower in the computer. After your done with it uninstall it. I have one and if you don't ininstall like Aim, Yahoo, and internet will not work.

Answer 7

you desire a instant card on your computing device. And no, you do not could desire to plug the router into your computing device - that would defeat the purpose of procuring for a instant router in the 1st place. instant broadband programs tend to the two be A) yet differently of merchandising and marketing satellite tv for pc information superhighway B) a manner of charging human beings extra money for an identical provider

Answer 8

go to walmart and get a linksys wireless router with . It is fairly straight forward on the set up and has a good range.