The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    What do I need......................?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by manzi, Sep 26, 2007.

  1. manzi

    manzi Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    598
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I basically have a desktop PC that has the Virgin Media broadband and a Motorola surfboard cable modem. I got a new laptop and i want to use the Internet Wirelessly. The modem at the moment is connected to my PC through the USB wire but the modem also has an Ethernet port. So do I need to connect a Cable Wireless Router into the exising modem through an Ethernet port, to get Internet on my laptop wirelessly?

    Will i be able to use the Internet on my laptop and PC at the same time?

    Also i want a router that is fast and is stable (802.g), can anyone reccomend me one?

    Thx for ur time
     
    manzi, Sep 26, 2007
    #1
  2. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

    Reputations:
    1,163
    Messages:
    3,017
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    I would plug a wireless router/access point into the cable modem's ethernet port. Most wireless routers have additional ethernet ports (4 commonly), so you could plug your existing PC into one of those and access the internet wirelessly on your notebook, presuming it has wireless built-in or a wireless card added on.

    You'll want to configure the wireless to use WPA (not WEP), WPA2 if your notebook also supports it. Set the DHCP configuration on your new wireless router up to limit the number of addresses it maintains available to something reasonable for your home.

    There's several well-known brands out there. I have a D-Link 802.11b\g myself. The draft 802.11n are out if you want to go that route. I stuck with b\g because my PDA only talks "b".
     
    AKAJohnDoe, Sep 26, 2007
    #2
  3. Thaoster

    Thaoster Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    162
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You need a router. There are lots of brand out there, Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, D-Link and others. Do some googling and read some reviews. I used to have Netgear and are not to fond of them, they timed out constantly.

    With a router, so many people can access the internet wirelessly, and yes you can still use your desktop for internet stuff.

    Internet ---- Internet modem ---- Router/wireless ----Computer/laptop

    You'll still need to set the security to keep neighbor's out.
     
    Thaoster, Sep 26, 2007
    #3
  4. kowell

    kowell Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    268
    Messages:
    547
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Basic connection would first be the coaxial cable to be connected to the modem. Thenr the modem and router are be connected via Ethernet cabling. Then the routeur can be used either wirelessly and/or via ethernet cables to the pc/laptop.

    Yes you can use botht the laptop and the pc at the same time.... That's pretty much the idea behind a router.

    Linksys WRT54G is a nice stable G router and reasonably priced.
     
    kowell, Sep 26, 2007
    #4