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    Question about wirleess network for Laptop?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by robweaver13, Jul 18, 2008.

  1. robweaver13

    robweaver13 Newbie

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    Hi,

    Right now I've got a desktop pc and will be getting a Laptop soon. My question is, can you have the Laptop connected to internet without having the Modem connected? My pc has the router and modem connected right now, any help appreciated...
     
    robweaver13, Jul 18, 2008
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  2. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    There is just 5 ways you can get internet in your laptop;

    1. laptop connected to the router's Ethernet port.
    2. laptop connected to the router through WiFi.
    3. laptop connected to the desktop and getting internet through it.
    4. laptop connected to a WAN carrier network.
    5. laptop connected to the modem.

    If none of these method above are implemented, then you get no internet.
     
    Wirelessman, Jul 18, 2008
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  3. Hiker

    Hiker Notebook Deity

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    In order to connect to the internet with your laptop wirelessly (or hard wired), your moden and router will need to be on.
     
    Hiker, Jul 18, 2008
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  4. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'm guessing that what you're really asking is: can I leave my desktop setup alone (i.e., with cable wire plugged into modem, modem plugged into WAN side of router, and desktop plugged into LAN side of router) and still get your laptop connected to the internet? Is that correct?

    If so, then the answer is yes. The simplest way is if the router is also a wireless router, and the laptop has a wireless card. In that case, the laptop would just connect to the router over the wireless portion of the network, and from there get right into the internet.

    Otherwise, if the router is not wireless, you can simply use an ethernet cable with one end plugged into the laptop (all laptops, well, 99.9999999% of all laptops have a wired ethernet port nowadays) and the other end into one of the unused LAN ports on the router. That will get the laptop onto the internet as well.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 18, 2008
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  5. robweaver13

    robweaver13 Newbie

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    Hi, thanks for the replies. Can you be connect to the web without having the router and modem NOT connected to the desktop and Laptop? I'm getting a Laptop to replace the Desktop but would like to be connected wirelessly...

    2. laptop connected to the router through WiFi.
     
    robweaver13, Jul 19, 2008
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  6. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yes. For example, before I added a headless desktop as a server, my home network consisted of only two wireless notebooks. The output from the broadband cable modem was plugged into the WAN side of the wireless router, and that was it - each of the notebooks then connected wirelessly through the router, and thence onto the internet.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 20, 2008
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  7. robweaver13

    robweaver13 Newbie

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    Okay, so all I need to do is keep the modem connected to the router, then just connect the laptop wirelessy? Do you need to connect the laptop hardwired once, before you connect wirlessly? Thanks for help...
     
    robweaver13, Jul 20, 2008
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  8. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    No. Generally, you only need to have a system hardwired to the router when you're trying to set the router's configuration. So long as the router is set to do automatic DHCP, and your laptop's wireless card is also set to get DHCP automatically, and you've set up the right security (WPA, or WPA2, not WEP) and you've got the security key entered into both the router and the laptop, you should be good to go.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 20, 2008
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  9. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    To have the laptop wired to the router will give you the best performance.

    To use the laptop wirelessly it will give you freedom of moving around in the house and still be connected to the network and internet. I always suggest to setup the wireless network while the laptop wired, and use the wireless network wizard for that. Then disconnect it and try to connect, you will be asked to enter the security password/phrasecode and you will be online.
     
    Wirelessman, Jul 20, 2008
    #9