Can I hook up wireless with so my two laptops can access the internet in my home without one being plugged in?

Question

Basically I want to know if I can get a router than doesn't require a "base" computer. What exactly does a router need to work?

Answer 1

Routers do not require a computer at all. The router will connect to the DSL/Cable modem and then wireless computers will connect to the router for Internet access.

Answer 2

You can purchase a wireless router (Walmart, Best Buy, etc.) and do not need a computer to be hooked up to it.
I recommend the brand name Linksys for routers.

Routers come as "G" and "B" usually in those stores. Your laptops would each have to have a wireless card either built into them or you can purchase one that just plugs in the side of it. The wireless card (network cards) in each laptop would have to be able to read a "G" or "B" depending on the type of router you purchase or they won't work together.

To see if your laptop has a wireless card if you have WinXP:
Start, My Computer, click link on left hand side that says "View System Information", Hardware Tab, Device Manager, click on the + sign next to Network Adapter.

This will list the names of the network cards in your computer. If it says WLAN in the name it is wireless. If you are unsure, google the name and look it up to see if it is wireless or not. This will also tell you if it is compatible with a G or B router.

Otherwise, when you purchase the router, have the store give you the wireless laptop card that is compatible with that router so you know they will work together without drama.

*If you liked my answer best, please rate it as "Best Answer".

Answer 3

you just need a computer to set up the router. you can use on of the laptops for this. it's better to hard wire the laptop to the router with an ethernet cable for initial setup. once you have enabled the wireless and any encryption, you can unplug the laptop from the router and just use the router as the wifi access point.

Answer 4

The wireless router needs to be plugged into the broadband modem. For the initial setup of the router it needs to be temporarily hard-wired into a PC as well (one of the laptops could be used for this). Once set up, you can remove the hard-wired laptop and connect both or either laptops wirelessly (if they have wireless adapters).

I have a similar setup, but one PC is wired, while the other two are wirelss. Everything works even if the wired PC is off.

Answer 5

Easy! Buy the NetGear RangeMAX wireless router WPN824. Hook the modem to the router.

You need a wired connection to first set it up, but after that, it doesn't need any sort of host computer.

I've been quite happy with the router and it's range. My house is long and 'skinny' with two levels and I get an adequate signal everywhere in the house.

Answer 6

The first answerer is absolutely correct; You can also tap into wireless networks within a certain range. For instance, if you have a neighbor with wireless or ur neighborhood has a business center with wireless, you can access that by going to Internet Options on your computer's Control Panel and clicking serach or find wireless connection ( not in those exact words, but something similar to that)

Answer 7

If you can string a cable to another site, you can use a wireless AP to send a signal from the other one. It takes a cat 5 crossover cable from the LAN port of the first router to the LAN port of the wireless AP. Most wireless routers can be turned into a wireless AP by turning things off.

Answer 8

With a wireless router and a cable modem/DSL you don't need a computer for internet.

...unless you're using dial-up. And that would just be a waste of time and money.