confused about wireless internet?

Question

I have just bought a wi fi enabled laptop and will want to use it to connect to the internet wirelessly. I am soooo confused. What do i need to connect? I have orange broadband coming through on a bt landline. is it a router or a modem router? what do all the numbers mean? does the type of router or make affect the speed of the broadband (just got 8 meg, dont want to lose any speed). I am normally quite good just got mega confused. Also, can I have my big pc connected to the broadband at the same time as the laptop? i understand that i can set up a network but one would be hardwired, whilst the laptop would be wireless. please please help me.

thanks

Answer 1

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You need a wireless access point or one of its equivalents, such as a "wireless router" (which is a broadband router with a wireless access point and a 4-port wired switch in a single device)

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I'm afraid I'm on the other side of the pond and can't answer your question. Though it's likely it's merely a DSL modem, not a router, as you had only ONE computer before this, so it'd be a direct connection from that to your home PC, no router needed.

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What numbers?

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As the router actually "shares" your existing bandwidth among PCs that connect to it, speed will be affected somewhat, but I doubt you will even notice.

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Absolutely. That is the entire reason for creating a network, to "share" the connection.

Your best bet would be to go to one of the computer stores in your area and find a clerk and explain to him or her your situation, and receive a recommendation. Make sure to mention 1) Your PC, its OS, its port in the back to the BT "modem" 2) Your BT modem model and your BT internet connection type 3) Your new laptop, its OS, which WiFi standard can it do (there are several)

You'll likely end up buying a "wireless router" by Linksysm, NetGear, or some other brand. It should cost you about... oh, "30 quid" I believe it's over there, more or less, for a decent one. Follow the instructions as it goes between your land PC and your BT modem. Once you can go online with your land PC with it in place, then you can play with the wireless settings to get your laptop connected.

Answer 2

the router provides a connection to the broadband circuit in one direction and the ethernet cable in the other. SOme routers also provide a wireless connection as well , particularly the BT ones.A router connects 2 different networks ( Boroadband and your hone ethernet network say) and a modem changes a signal from one kind to another ( again broadband cable to ethernet cable) so your router is actually doing both.
You are right in that if your router has wireless built-in then your laptop will use wireless but your PC must be connected via an ethernet cable. You could buy a wireless card or USB dongle which would allow your PC to be wireless as well.
If your router only has ethernet connections , then you need to buy a wireless modem which connects wirelessly to the laptop in one direction , and has an ethernet socket which you then connect to your router in the other direction. It's all abit fiddly but works in the end!
If your router has a small black ariel ( about 4 inches long) then it can provide wireless.
Note well , your wireless connection will be slower than your ethernet connection- but not by too much.

Answer 3

You need to get a wireless router. This device will allow your WiFi enabled laptop to connect to the internet over the airwaves. Just about ALL wireless routers also implement a number of wired ports as well, so you desktop can plug into that.

The basic setup is very easy -- disconnect your PC from your BT cable modem, and connect the wireless router to the cable modem instead. (The router should have one port, separate from the others, labeled "out" or "network" or some such, clearly indicating which port should be connected to the cable modem.) Now, connect your PC to one of the remaining wired ports. It doesn't matter which one.

You'll need to configure the router from the wired PC in order to get you wireless laptop to use it. The instructions included with the router, or available online, should make this pretty easy.

The different numbers you refer to are probably different flavors of the IEEE502.11 standard that cover the wireless. You'll want an IEEE502.11g router as a minimum these days. This uses a 5.8 GHz connection to avoid interference with other common frequencies in use around the home.

The type and model of the router can make a HUGE difference in your connection speed: get the most powerful you can afford. Routers with multiple antennas (often 2 or 3) will provide better performance than those with a single antenna. Although the 502.11g standard is rated to 54 Mbps, you'll generally achieve less. As the signal gets weaker, the system throttles back the throughput to improve the performance at low power. You'll want to play with locating the router in a few different places to get the best coverage throughout your home.

When the laptop and the PC are connected to the router, both will have simultaneous access to your BT internet connection. The router uses a technique called Network Address Translation (NAT) to take the single IP address provided to you by BT and run multiple connections across that address. It's all transparent to you. The laptop and PC should also be able to form a local network so your laptop can use resources from your desktop (such as the printer).

Good luck!

Answer 4

If you already have an existing high speed internet connection you will need a wireless router. As far as the letters on them b is 11 megabit speed. G is 54 megabit. N is newer and faster but chances are that your laptop has a G wireless network card installed. No matter how fast of a router you have your connection will only go as fast as your laptop is capable of. So look up the specs on your new laptop and see if it is and get the same product router. you will most likely not notice a speed drop since your isp is giving you 8 megabit which is a lot less than G which is 54 megabit. With the device you will connect the wireless router to the cable that is normally going to your pc. Then on the back of the router there are 4 ports to plug in other pc's. you would then use the wireless for your laptop.

Answer 5

There are many ways around this.

1) Buy a Router (non-wireless), which the ADSL signal (you should have a little box plugged into the phoneline with the phone in 1 socket and the ADSL in the other), goes into. Then buy a wireless ACCESS POINT. Connect the INTERNET input on the back of it into one of the output on the back of the ROUTER. Then you can use up to 3 WIRED PC's.

I would use this if you have a USB Modem


2) If your computer is connected to your modem by Ethernet then get a WIRELESS ROUTER. Instead of the Ethernet signal going into the computer, put it into the INTERNET socket onto the Wireless router. Then you can have up to 4 PC's running on wired. (These extra PC's plug into the 4 ethernet outputs on the WIRELESS ROUTER).

Use if you have an Ethernet modem


3) Combine the 2 - WIRELESS ROUTER with a normal ROUTER.


Feel free to e-mail or contact me!!

Answer 6

I would recommend getting a Belkin wireless G router. It'll cost around $30 at WalMart. It's very easy to set up, reliable, and doesn't take up much space. That's all you need to get your wireless network going.

Answer 7

Ok.. I assume your in the UK? (BT).. What type of modem do you have? is it just a modem or a modem/router? Here's an example of a modem/router

http://2wire.com/index.php?p=8

BT has a partnership with 2wire.. Is this what you have for a modem?