wireless internet?

Question

Bought daughter a laptop for hs graduation. She would like to know how she hooks up to the internet-both with our cable modem & also wireless-we haven't a clue.

Answer 1

Let's cover what you need to get Internet access to more than one computer at home, via wireless LAN (local area network).

1. You order or use your existing Cable or DSL Internet access.

2. Your Cable or DSL company sets up your Internet access and typically either rents or sells you a Cable or DSL network bridge. They often refer to this as a Cable or DSL “modem”. Actually a complete misnomer since the device does NOT modulate or demodulate, nor does it convert analog to digital or digital to analog.

Prices for Cable or DSL Internet access vary from approximately $19 per month to $80 per month in the United States. This varies based on bandwidth, location, and provider.

At this point you have what is commonly called “Broad Band” or “High Speed” Internet access.

Now you want to share that high speed connection with more than one system. You want to be able to cart your laptop all over the house and stay connected to the Internet as you do so.

1. Confirm that your system has a wireless adapter or get one and install it. You need one of these for each computer. USB type are better. USB type that are 802.11n are best.

2. Get a wireless router. I recommend the D-Link DIR-655. Get D-Link n series USB wireless adapters if you get the D-Link wireless router. If you get a Linksys wireless router, get Linksys wireless adapters. They work BETTER together if they are the same brand. This isn’t a requirement, merely a suggestion.

3. Plug the wireless router directly into the Cable or DSL network bridge via an Ethernet cable.

4. Unplug the electrical cord from your Cable or DSL network bridge for 30-45 seconds.

5. Plug the power cable back in.

6. Check the Cable or DSL network bridge for green lights.

7. Make sure that the properties of TCP/IP are set to Obtain IP address automatically, and obtain DNS automatically on ALL of your computers.

8. Turn on or reboot your system(s).

Now you should be able to stay connected to the Internet with all of your computers.

If you can not access the Internet from every computer:

Attempt to log in to your wireless router via your web browser (internet exploder or Firefox) by typing in http://192.168.1.1/
Then log in using admin and admin typically. Be sure to change the password to something of your own choosing.
Enable DHCP by following the instructions in the manual for your wireless router.

You only need one wireless router for you wireless LAN. One wireless router can accommodate up to 253 wireless computers. You can use combinations of wired and wireless routers together but typically one wireless router is sufficient for all your needs.

For security:

1. Don't announce the SSID of your wireless router.
2. Use WPA2 if you can. WPA-PSK if not WPA2, or WEP at the very least.
3. Put the MAC addresses of all of your computers into the MAC routing table of your wireless router and ONLY ALLOW from the addresses in the table of the wireless router.
4. Turn the SPI firewall of the wireless router ON.
5. Filter anonymous or incomplete packets.

If this all seems too complex and complicated to do, use local.yahoo.com to find a wireless network professional near you.

Answer 2

If you think it is the wireless aspect of the connection, try plugging your laptop directly to the modem from your Internet provider. If that gives you Internet on your laptop then it is something with your wireless connection. Have you had other wireless connections before, using the same Internet provider, modem and router. Make sure your settings are the same then. Still more issues, try taking laptop to Starbucks or other WiFi spot and see if you can connect there. This is vague, sorry, but if it still doesn't work call the Internet provider back and they should walk you through it. If all else fails, contact someone who can come to your house for a small fee and get you all fixed up.

Answer 3

You need awireless router. They're cheap. A "G" type is good, you dont need "N". Linksys and d link are good brands. She can also use wireless at the coffeshop, bookstore, school. If she wants to use ANYWHERE she needs a WWAN card and a contract with either Tmobile, Sprint or Verizon at about 50 a month. Most companies are giving free older generation cards to get you to commit to service but I do not think most college kids need anything more than wifi ( the one already built into her computer)

BTW the comments from ht poster named JAG are excellent

Answer 4

Buy a wireless router. Plug it in to your cable modem. Simple as that.