Trying to set everything wireless.

Is there a way I can have everything in my house wireless? Like I have a desktop that is connected to a modem and router but the computer is 10+ years old and I want to get rid of it and get a laptop for everyone to use in the house. So I was wondering if I can have both laptops (mine and a future purchased laptop) printer, and all my gaming systems wireless or do I need a computer connected to the modem and router at all times so I can use things wirelessly? And another thing I will be moving my desktop to a different room is there anything I need to know/check out before I move it? I know how to set up the computer but I just want to make sure I don't overlook something and find out I couldn't set it up.

 

you can have multiple laptops on wireless connection, if that is what you are asking, printer can be wireless too if you printer is a wireless printer.

 

Everything can be wireless with the exception of one thing: the router and the modem. Something needs to be connected to the wall to get internet in the first place lol

 

I know they have to be connected, so then I have to have the modem and router connected to a computer at all times to use it wirelessly?

 

No, you need the modem to be wired to your wall to get the actual Internet signal, and then your router must be wired to the modem to broadcast the signal through your house. Everything else can connect to the router wirelessly.

 

Hmm so all I have to do is set the modem and router in the corner and install the disc that came with the router on my laptops and everything should work fine right? If so this is a relief since I can finally get rid of my 10+ year old desktop.

 

all you need for the router is power and a line from the modem.
the modem needs power and the coax cable if its cable or phone line for dsl. after that everything can be wireless

 

Perfect! Now to buy a wireless adapter for my 360 and probably buy a new router. Thanks for all the quick responses, +Rep to y'all.

Edit: One more thing how do I completely wipe out everything on my computer? To make sure no one gets any of our information from it after we dispose of it.

 

shoot the hard drive, burn it.

or get a hard drive wipe and do it multiple times (20 or so if you're paranoid) only way no one will ever be able to get anything off it is if it doesn't exist anymore (burning)

 

I expect no less from a fellow member whose name is "Tree_ Burner".

 

Actual serious answer here: Download and run DBAN. That should wipe it completely clean, if you don't want to destroy it. When you format a drive it leaves an "imprint" of all your data on the drive, in a way. DBAN should completely get rid of it.

Also, is your printer wireless? You can still set it up as a printer that is tethered to a computer through USB or serial, or whatever, and network it with all your other machines. There will be some tutorials on how to do it on the internet, that's what I've done with my LaserJet 2100TN.

 

Thanks I will read up on DBAN, and yes my printer is wireless I have it set up wireless on my laptop but it is wired on my desktop so once we get a new laptop I will be having it wireless for both. All I have to do is look for all the install discs I have for the printer and router. I might just buy a new router although the one I have is working perfectly fine. How much of an upgrade would it be if I got the Netgear Rangemax WNDR3700 (I currently have the Cisco-Linksys WRT54G)? Would there be a difference somehow? I really don't know anything about routers.

Edit: I will probably end up just destroying the hard drive.

 

You shouldn't have to install any software on your new laptop for the router. All you need is your WEP/WPA/? password. Installing software for your wireless printer may or may not be required. Your OS may pick it up.

I recently recycled an old Sony PC (Vintage 1997). Those old PC's usually have a very small capacity HD. Mine was only 6GB which pretty much makes it useless. I removed it, and one quick zap with a 10lb sledge was sufficient security for me that no one would try to extract information.

 

Remember that wireless will share bandwidth between all devices. So if you're copying a big file over the wireless between two computers, and then you start copying a file over to another computer, the copy speed will cut in half.

It's not catastrophic, but it's something to be aware of.

 

Yeah but I would need to install it to my laptop so I can open up ports for my gaming systems.

Yeah thanks for letting me know, It's kinda like downloading.

Anyone know if there would be a noticeable difference between the two routers I posted up top?

 

We have our whole house running a wireless set up with 4 laptops and a netbook:
worth investing in a wireless N router and probably worth the extra to have a dual band router ( I didn't do this and knowing what I do now I would have).
Anyways, wireless N provides significantly greater range of coverage than G -- not just better speed but also no blind spots or low signal areas. I have aD link and it has worked great. Routers are a lot of personal preference, key as I said is N and probably dual band for flexibility and increased efficiency.
We also have a wireless printer.
All work much better in win& but even those without are connecting just fine.