I just want someone to tell me what to do!!!

I just bought an HP dv5000z and it should be built and shipped on the 13th. I live with my uncle who just so happens to have an HP computer. (he lives downstairs, I live upstairs). I have experience with wireless networks since I set one up in my parent's house, but that was a couple years ago. I have no idea which router I'm going to buy but it needs to be under $50...one that's on sale or something.

I think my uncle has AOL broadband or DSL, I don't know the difference, but he is connected to the internet ALL the time.

Do I buy a router and connect it to his internet and his computer...that was what I did with my parents' comcast. Does his computer need an ethernet card if it doesn't have one??

So basically I'm really lost. Can anyone just tell me which kind of router to buy, and what I need to hook it up to the main computer and internet source?

Thanks so much!

PS - my laptop will have built in 802.11b/g

 

Any router will do.

When you buy it, there is always(In most cases) a detailed and illustrated step by step guide in what to do. Most of the time, its easy and you can do it following the steps. If you still need help, stop by and ask again, we'll(or Nick only ) be glad to help

 

You can always call support if needed.

 

Find out if it's DSL or cable (if it's DSL, he'll have a wire that looks just like a regular phone cord going to the modem - if it's cable, it will be a round, usually black wire with a screw-in connector). AOL's DSL offering uses PPPoE, which is fairly common and most routers have this built in, therefore it will be relatively simple to connect to AOL. The AOL cable-based offering, however, may be a little more complex...

 

First of all, you will want to have a wireless G network. Do not settle for B...your signal will be substaintally weaker and so will your speeds (if the signal is weak). And like you said, you are upstairs so you want to signal to go throughout the house.

$50 budget for a router will get you something fairly decent. I have the WRT54GS, but it will run a little more than 50. Its a good router. A subsitute to that is the WRT54G (Not GS at end). By the way, those are Linksys routers. You can find them at any best buy/circuit city/whatever.

Broadband basically means a 'fast connection.' So both Cable and DSL are labeled as "broadband" connections. Your uncle could have DSL or Cable (most likely cable) but it doesn't matter because both will connect to your new router with no problems.

Now, where to connect the router.
This will have to be done where the DSL or Cable line is at. You said your uncle is downstairs and uses AOL. That means the DSL or Cable modem is downstairs connected to the wall. You will want to put the router down there in that case (unless you absolutely want to put it upstairs but you will have to find a outlet for your modem (cable or phone line jack).

My advice is just to leave it downstairs, a good wireless G router will not have too much difficulty extending the signal throughout the house.

Does your uncle need an ethernet card? Well, I doubt he is conneted wirelessly at the moment so yes he will need one. But, some modems have USB connections so he might be conneted in that manner. If that is the case, you WILL need to get a ethernet card for his computer because his cable/DSL modem will be connected directly to the router...and then the router to his computer. OR, get him a wireless PCI card or wireless USB adapter...but thats a waste of money in my opinion. Ethernet cards are cheap...and his computer probably already has one anyways.

Sorry to make this so long....but let me go over some basic instructions.

1.) Your DSL/Cable modem will connect to the router (with an ethernet cable that will be supplied in the router box).
2.) Your can then connect another ethernet cable to go from the router to your Uncle's computer. (If he has an ethernet port, probably does).
3.) In your router, only enable wireless G (it will probably ship out as being default wireless g/b mixed signal). But all you need is G for your laptop.

You should be good to go. Get whatever router you want...but I'd say get a good one that has decent reviews (read around or ask others).

Good luck.

 

His computer is going to need some sort of network card to connect with the router. You'll find that most wireless routers include ports for connected LAN or CAT5 as well. You should be able to install the router and software on his computer, plug the Modem into the router, and then use a CAT5 cable to connect his computer to the router and you can connect via wireless signal.

 

Nice Coriolis


Well basically, your going to want a G router. I don't know if you are going to set up a network between both computers, but one would be good to have incase you want to send a file to another computer.

As of today, i disagree with the Linksys router. I would only reccomend them to above average/experienced wireless users. Even i myself have a Linksys, and everynow an then, if a issue comes up, i know how to resolve it, but it's complicated. Netgear is the best router for you in this case. The Netgear WGR614 is a nice/cost friendly router for you. Coriolis did a review of it and can be found floating around in this Networking and Wireless forum. Its under $50, it's really easy to install and configure.

Figuring out what internet you have, if it is a strong cord that needs some force to bend in place, its a Coaxial cable. (Cable internet). If its DSL, its a flimsy cord that is really skinny.

More info is needed about your setup, and what kind of internet you have. And if you and your uncle have the same connection rather than 2

Nick (The Wireless errr )

 

You'd best find out exactly what his ISP is first.
If he has AOL Broadband, "any router" will NOT DO!
You cannot hook a "regular" router up to any kind of AOL broadband. You have to get a router that SPECIFICALLY says that it is for AOL broadband. Because the firmware will have a special section for the AOL login configuration.
AOL will NOT tell you this. The 17 year old kid at bestbuy/compusa/officemax will NOT know this.

So be sure of what his connection is before you go buying equipment.

I work tech support for Time Warner, which means i have the unfortunate experience with AOL and all it's fuc... er.. problems.

 

Thanks so much! you guys are REALLY helpful. I actually got a nice surprise when i checked my order status here at work...My laptop got to my house today at 9:00!! I can't wait to go home and play with it!

But now I really have to get on buying a router. The thing I'm worried about most is finding something that'll be easy to connect to my uncle's computer. I haven't had a chance to talk to him about buying a router. (i'm usually out and about til late and then he usually sleeps at his girlfriend's so I don't see him too much) I'm going to take everyone's advice here and see what I can come up with. You all have been awesome, thanks sooooo much!!!!!!

 

One more thing:

Turns out my uncle has verizon DSL, NOT AOL. Now I'm just wondering, if he does not have an ethernet adapter or a wireless card, I also need to buy one of those. So what is what, and what would be my best choice without spending too much money??

 

With Verizon DSL, you can use just about any router, but do get a model that supports 802.11 'G', and not just 'B'.

I'd be really surprised if he had VZW and didn't already have an ethernet card, but BestBuy has a D-link ethernet card on sale this week for $15. I wouldn't pay more than that for a wired ethernet card.

 

Thanks, that's helpful. I talked to my uncle's girlfriend today, she said he does have an ethernet port, so all I need is a router. So far I saw circuit city's best one (in my price range) is a linksys for $50. I'm not sure if that's the one I want or not. The reviews were the best, but I'd like something cheaper (I just bought a car and need to pay the taxes on it monday, so I'm broke right now!!!)

If anyone knows any good deals on routers at any big name stores, let me know - walmart didn't even have any at a decent price!!!

 

A decent price for a router is around $50. I would check out the Netgear WGR614. Its probaly even cheaper, and its a nice router

 

The Netgear WGR614 is on sale at BestBuy right now for $49, but the D-Links seem to be the flavor of the week, with the DI-524 at Circuit City for $29 after rebates, and the DI-624 for $39 after rebates. If you have a larger house that you and your uncle live in, you may want to splurge the extra $10 on the 624 - you may get a little extra range out of it. On the other hand, if you get the Linksys WRT54G (any version <5), there's always the option for a 3rd party firmware update that will allow boosting of the transmission power. If you wait a week or two, the big box stores are always running rebates and promos, so I'll bet you can get the WRT54G for less than $40.

 

I'm going to go to circuit city tonight and get the d-link router that is on sale. I'm a little sketchy because of all the poor reviews on circuitcity.com, but there are several very good reviews. I just need something simple...I'm sure I'll have no problem getting wireless access...my laptop found a connection last night! I didn't log on of course, but still, the closest neighbors are decently far away...and there's not much floor/ceiling between my room and my uncle's computer (which happen to be right on top of eachother!) So we'll see what happens.

 

Okay. Once you configure it, remember that you'll probably want to uninstall the Verizon dialer software from your uncle's PC. The PPPoE client that Verizon needs will be built-in to the router, so you don't need it anymore. Just set his PC up to be 'on the LAN'.

 

Thanks! you guys are awesome! I'll let you all know how it goes when I get it setup...hopefully I won't have anymore questions!!

 

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am on my laptop right now!! The D-Link router took like two seconds to connect and for me to find the network. Figuring out if it was really MY network or the neighbors was a little tricky, but we figured it out. Now i'm trying to burn dvds...for some reason i burned one and it freezes when I play it, i'm not sure if the has something to do with the dvds i bought, so i'm trying a diff. brand of blank dvds. Thanks so much to everyone who helped me out with the network stuff!!!!