do you need a ethernet cable or wireless adapter to hook my laptop up to a router?

Question

okay ppl are saying that you can use a ethernet cable and some ppl say that u need a wireless adapter
which one is right
or can you use either one

Answer 1

You can use either one...

Obviously if you use an ethernet cable you are limited to using your laptop to an area within the length of the cable.

If you use wireless you are limited to an area within range of the signal (approximately 100 yds) depending on obstacles. You will also need a wireless adapter for your laptop to receive the wireless signal emitted by the router. Most newer laptops have wireless adapters built right into the laptop. Check to see if your's does. Usually you can find it in the Control Panel on your computer.

Either way you will still need an additonal ethernet cable to connect the router to your broadband modem. Whether you use wireless or ethernet from the router to your laptop is what were discussing.

Answer 2

it depends on if your router has wirless capabilities. You should be able to look at the documentation for that. It will say something like 802-11 N, a/b/g

however, even if your router is wirless, you can still use an ethernet cable to access it. So the cable is good either way,.. you'll need a wireless adapter such as a PCMCIA wireless network card or a USB wireless adapter if your laptop or desktop doesn't have it internally.

Answer 3

That depends upon the laptop. If yours has an ethernet port then you may use an ethernet cable.

Go to Device Manager and see if there is a wireless adapter installed already. If so, then go to Network Connections and view available networks, looking for the one broadcast by your router. Of course, you would have to have a wireless router for this...but I presume that you do.

Answer 4

if your laptop has a wireless internet adapter, card, or built in airport, AND your router is wireless too, then no ethernet cable is required.

if your laptop or router does not fit the above criteria, and your laptop has an ethernet port, then you must use a ethernet cable to connect the laptop to the router

Answer 5

this all depends whether or not you have a wireless router or just an ethernet router. if it is wireless, you can most likely do both(it has an antenna if it is wireless usually) if its not, then you have to use a ethernet cable.

Answer 6

Well is it a wireless router? If it is then you can use both. If it is not wireless then you can only use an ethernet cable.

Answer 7

if you have wireless router you need only wireless adapter. don't forget to activate it.

if you want wired then you need CAT5 cable