Routers.

Internet has not been my strong point in computing and neither has it been for my friends, therefore i am asking for some forumers to help

I use Virgin media ( UK )
A big wire comes out of the wall downstairs, long, thick.
It goes around my house, through a digital box for the television then up into my room, behind my bed and into my Modem.

The modem is then connected to a power cable which goes into a wall socket.
And an Ethernet cable which goes directly into my computer.

This is my internet, however i am buying the m15x alienware laptop and wish to use this with internet also, but wirelessly.

Do i have to buy a whole new package from BT or other? Or can i just buy a router and plug it somewhere into my modem and my internet becomes magickly wireless?

Any comments/replys will be greatly appreciated. Thankyou -eltoc

And as always, have a great evening.

 

Buy a wirless router plug that into your computer and your ethernet cable into your router.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=41&name=Wireless-Networking

So buy any of them ( for example ) plug the ethernet cable going from the modem into the router and i will have wireless internet? Do i need anything for my computer to pick up wireless internet?

 

Yo may also have to clone your PC's MAC address in the new router. I don't know about the UK, but here in the U.S., many ISPs register the MAC address of the PC/router. To clarify a bit ... Every piece of hardware has its own unique MAC address. Your ISP is used to "seeing" the MAC address of your PC connected to the DSL or cable Modem. Once you stick a new piece of hardware (the wireless router) into the mix (BETWEEN the modem and your PC), the ISP switching equip will see a MAC address different from what it has in the past, as the router will have its own unique MAC adress. In many cases this will preclude a successful connection.

There are two ways to resolve this issue: 1) Call the ISP and provide them with the MAC address of the newly purchased equipment. Henceforth connections should succeed as the expected MAC address will match what is actuially encountered. 2) Clone the MAC address in the newly purchased router. This "fools" the ISP switch into thinking that it's connected to your PC when it's actually connected to your new router. Basically, the router will assume/copy/clone the MAC address of your PC. This is generally a straightforwared proccess ... the installation software that comes with your new router should walk you through the procedure.

Best of Luck!

 

You will also need a wireless nic on you laptop, and have your OS recognize it and install its driver. You router should work very much out of the box, if not you will have to setup some parameters like enable DHCP, enable WEP/WPA, etc.

So basically, get a router and a wireless card for your laptop, when you get them come back here and we'll help you to turn up the wireless link and connect to internet.

 

Thanks Wirelessman you've been a great help.
I think the laptop im getting has a wireless card inside it, but I'm betting i'll have to get one for my Desktop aswell.
While customizing my laptop ( m15x ) there was no option to add a wireless card but looking through it again i see the option is chosen for me and irremovable.
What im referring is: Internal Intel® Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
And if this is what i think it is ( wireless internet card ) is it a good one? Or am i better off getting one of those USB wireless internet sticks that look like USB flash drives.

Is there any slowdown of internet using a router than if i were using a modem?

And do you have any recommendations for any good routers or wireless cards?
Thanks again!

 

Absolutely, the 4965 AGN is exactly what I have and it works smoothly. You don't need the USB adapters.

I personally like Netgear routers, but many like also syslink, just choose the one supported in your country.

If you want your desktop go wirelss then you will also need a different type of card, the 4965 is an internal minicard especially for laptops. But the routers come with ethenet ports, and if your desktop will be in the same room, then just use one of those ports and no need of wireless card, just an ethernet cable (cat 5 cable), that's all.

 

oh great, i'll buy another ethernet cable then, seeing as i need one to connect the modem to the router.

ok so i need a router, and an extra ethernet cable. Great.
The reason i asked for a recommended router is because there are so many out there spanding from 10 pounds to 200 pounds. I wouldn't want to spend nothing on it and have my internet go super slow.

 

Most of good router are in the $120-$140 here, so 200 pounds seems to me like expensive. But routers last long, so it's worth it to get the best. Keep away from belking, no good. This is my personal choice, other people will chalenge it but this is my opinion.


1. Netgear
2. Linksys
3. D-Link