I have a desktop PC but want to buy a laptop but am confused about wireless routers.?

Question

If I buy a wireless router from BT (which is what broadband I have) can I just plug it in to my desktop like my current one is and it will work? Or do I need to connect the laptop and router up? Will my monthly broadband stay the same or will it go up? I'm very confused, please help.

Answer 1

Laptops are portable, but some/many also work in the conventional desktop format. As a desktop, you simply plug the BT Ethernet cable into the ethernet port as you do any desktop.

In the portable mode, a laptop would not have a cable to plug in, so you use a wireless router to connect it to the server. You need any wireless router which then connects to your BT Ethernet cable and this will send the server connection around the house so that the laptop can pick it up wherever you locate yourself, without it needing to be plugged directly into the cable.

I do not see how the mode of internal connection is going to affect your monthly line rental. Cable or wireless it makes no difference. However, some broadband providers may charge on the basis of how much information you download. Do BT do this? If they do, you would be advised to "password protect" your wireless router, so that others using laptops nearby, do not download at your expense.

The laptop only needs to be WiFi capable, but maybe all laptops are, anyway.

Answer 2

Providers of broadband can offer you a router or a cable modem router combo. they are most likely charging you a monthly fee for using their router so in the long run, i would recommend just buying your own because you will save some money. The coax cable coming from the wall that goes into your cable modem is fine where it is. The cord connecting your cable modem and PC will then connect your cable modem and router through the Internet port or the WAN port. normally routers come with an extra cord so you just plug one end into your PC and the other end into the router under one of the PC ports. Wireless is enabled automatically on any wireless router.

Answer 3

yes, the PCI card is for the desktop chances are the laptop already has a wireless adapter you can have both go wireless, but one should be close enough to the router to be connected to the router in case of any issues with connectivity or settings, etc. you also want to ensure you setup encyption, WEP is better than nothing but WPA/WPA2 is the more secure way.. ask if you need help with that. You don't need the PCI card at all, if you don't want the desktop to go wireless... so that part is up to you.

Answer 4

no. it's a flat rate.. same . it won't go up

you can plug 4 pc's in probably.. think of it like a 4 way plug that you put on the wall =)

and have one wireless.. but obviously you'll use more bandwidth.. so it's share between the 1+ pc's thats all.. you won't get 4 times the amount of speed etc.

as said before , get a netgear.. 834 or something.. it's got a built in firewall also.. bt might wanna sell you one. but you can get one off here cheap =)

www.ebuyer.co.uk

Answer 5

POssibly BT will actually upgrade your router to include wireless for free if you ask - check with them. Make sure the laptop you purchase has wifi built in (easiest way) costs should stay identical.

Answer 6

For the most part the setup is simple.

non wireless router, the normal router requires everything to be directly pluged into the back of it conect the item to the internet.

Wireless just means u can say by by to the lead going from your PC/laptop to your router, it does it via the wireless. Though we have rules to this game, which i may explain last.

So get ya wireless, plug a phone line into the back like yo old one, grab the lead going back to your PC, plug it into the back of the wirless router like normal ( normally 4 sockets ), u will need a wireless PC network adapater card if u want to get rid of its leads and conect it like ya laptop.

plug the power in and follow the install guide for the wirless, normally envolved going into its menu, chucking in ya login/pw changing 1-2 settings, normally u can just copy them of your orginal routers menu, or download from ya ISP website, they should have a guide for ya router your getting!

Also if make note if WEP is ON or OFF, OFF means less fuss, but its like a password for your router, when anything tries to conect, it asks it, if they dont give it, they cant use the net, stops ya neigbour using ya wirless ;), however if ya signal strength is to weak to reach ya neighbour ya dont need it.

If WEP is on and you want it on, u will need to write down the code next to it, it will need to be chucked into ya laptop wirless software so it can conect.

So router is setup, your PC know conects to the internet again, now your laptop! if it has inbuilt wireless, most cases software is already installed, if not find ya disk and install it, open the software, fill in the blanks, use ya ISP websites guides for help, If you ahve WEP on ya Wireless turned on, remember to turn it on ya latop and put in the code, once done, it should be able to conect to the net and everytime u turn it on, given it can get a solid signal strength, varies on the router and house layout, but normally half a house length is no issue.

Regards to bandwidth, usage etc, both the PC and laptop will share the conection, everything remains the same, its just when your PC and Laptop let say download a movie the same time, both will compete for the bandwidth and thus share it, so 50/50 split between them, so u will download and upload half ya normal speed at the same time on both, but i doubt u will do such a thing, so expect no effect for the most part.

Answer 7

we are with tiscali broadband and we bought a netgear wireless router, it was a wee bit tricky to set up, but we phoned the helpline and they talked us through it step by step,

our payments stayed the same as your account is still the same but it is just wireless,

Answer 8

broadband should stay the same (may get different speed)
also, you may have to config it a bit

Answer 9

yes, but you don't need to buy a BT one you can use other brands too try netgear