Help! Wireless broadband does not work!?

Question

I cannot start up or get wireless broadband working on my now 4 month old PC and two year old desktop. Both run Microsoft windows. Laptop is Vista and Desktop is XP.

I have tiscali broadband and that's okay.
Wireless is for the laptop but I cannot get it started either with a router or with a modem and router.
I cannot get the desktop to accept modem/router or router alone.
Nothing works.
Yet Currys tell me that they work and are used by households.
The laptop is useless without the internet and I am not sure what is going worng.
Installation works on the desktop but will not work afterwards.
Installation will not work even on the laptop.
Anybody able to help?
Technicians gave me such a labryrinth of explanations that I returned their make.

Thanks for the swift brilliant answers.
I will look up th emanufacturer's website - embarrassed to admit I had not even thought of that!

Answer 1

Hi Becket

Lets break it down as it seems you're getting pretty overwhelmed with all the problems you're having.

Ok, so you have Tiscali broadband which you say is ok, so i assume that you have modem which came with the package to connect to the broadband. When u say that it is ok, does that mean you can take a network cable directly from your modem and plug it into your desktop or laptop and you can connect to the internet?

So, i'm assuming you also have a wireless router. What is it that isn't working exactly? You say that the installation works with the desktop but then it doesn't work. So what you need for your wireless to work is:

a working internet connection (obviously)
a wireless router
wireless network card (compatible with your router),

From what you say, it sounds like you're installing the drivers for the network card on your machine but then you can't connect. Can you give some more details on what you are trying to do and what the problem is exactly?

Answer 2

First off, can you connect by LAN, you may have to configure the system first.
Frankly, ALL ISP provided modems I have seen intentionally slow down the connexion, have no or poor firwall and put little codecs onto your machine so that it can be controlled to an extent by them.
Suggest you get say a Belkin Modem, connect it by LAN to the desktop machine and then configure the modem to work. Your laptop will just walk in the back door connection and the new firewall is magic, (Keep an eye on the updates).

Answer 3

I think the key here is to get everything on wireless. Your PC probably isn't though, wireless desktops are fairly rare.

Use the link below- you can buy them for about £50 from Maplins.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=49125&criteria=hi%20gain%20wifi%20dish&doy=22m12ed

This gadget will allow your PC to receive your wi-fi network.

Answer 4

it would help to know which router you're using. if you go to the manufacturer's website you'll find an easy setup utility.