Desktop, Laptop, and a DSL Modem - How do I create a wireless network?

Greetings,

I am currently subscribed to Bellsouth DSL and need some help with setting up a wireless network within the house. The only piece of hardware I have at the moment is a Bellsouth DSL Modem. The modem is connected to our desktop currently, the internet is fine. However, after just recently purchasing an Inspiron 1520 and my sister bringing her laptop home from college, I would like to set up a wireless network within the house.

I have built my own computers, but have never set up my own network - how would I go about doing this? Do I need more hardware to make this happen, or can I work with what I already have? Thank you all.

 

You'll need a wireless router.

Modem to wireless router, desktop can connect to the router (wired) and laptop can connect wirelessly to router.

 

How much do routers normally run for? I need this network set up before 3 today

 

Some run for 20 bucks but they're wireless B with an okay range. As long as your house isn't monstrous it should reach most of it

 

NBR community - thank you.

 

You should be able to get a wireless-g router for ~$40 at a Best Buy type of store. Don't go for wireless-n or any sort of "super-g" routers unless you know you will be taking advantage of that technology. Most modern wireless can connect to a wireless-g router. Only the newest computers use wireless-n, but only if it was configured with it( it is still not default like wireless-g ). I would reccommend either a Netgear or Linksys router.

Most routers have a pretty well guided setup.
1) Turn off modem
2) Connect router to modem using ethernet cable
3) Power on modem
4) Power on router

After that, you will probably need to have a computer plugged into the router with an ethernet cable to configure the router. Look in your manual for a website address to access to configure. Usually it can be found by going to 192.168.1.1 in your browser. All routers usually have their own default password that you can find in the manual to access the configuration controls.

In general, I would reccommend setting up wireless encryption. This is especially important if you live in a densely populated area. If wireless is not encrypted, then your data is flying through the air as plain text. I have found that WPA is a good encryption ( instead of WEP ) option because it allows you to have an easy to remember password instead of a non-intuitive random key value.

Follow the setup instructions/manual and you should be find.

 

Stay away from Belkin. they have a high failure rate and are not reliable. Do not buy a older 11b router, you will not be please with the super slow wireless, and most do not support WPA. If you by a linksys only look a the the WRT54GL version. You may need 1 cat5e cable to connect your desktop PC to the lan port on the router. Most mfg have you run a setup program to do the initial setup. Most of these run very well. May need to clone the desktop PC MAC address in to the router. If you ISP looks for this, your router will not connect using it's MAC Address. Cloning the MAC will make the routers MAC address = to your desktop pc.