Wireless router?? To get or not to get...

Hey there,

This is a hopelessly ignorant question, I'm sure, but then... I'm hopelessly ignorant. I'm going to university in the fall, and I'm researching what kind of internet connection I can get in my dorm. Apparently, we need to plug our ethernet cable in to connect to the internet (no hotspot I guess). My question is: what is the difference between a wireless router (i.e. D-Link DI-524 Wireless G Router for Inspiron 6400) and an ethernet cable? Is the wireless router just essentially a wireless form of an ethernet cable, or is it completely different?? For my prospective laptop I'm getting, would I need a wireless router for anything? Also, for the main campus itself, which is a hotspot, I would only need the built-in wireless modem in the laptop, right? Thanks a lot!

 

I guess the first thing you'll need is a cable modem. I'm sure they'll provide you with one (free or not, that's a different issue). Once you have your cable modem connected to the internet wall outlet, you have two options. First one is connect your laptop directly to the modem through an ethernet cable. Second one is get a router (wireless or not) and connect it to the modem, usually using the same type of RJ45 ethernet cable. Then, you have to connect your laptop to the router. If it's a wireless router, your built-in wifi will do; if it's a normal router, you'll need another cable.

The router itself cannot connect to the internet (except for routers with modem capacities, of course).

If you plan on using several computers at the same time in your dorm, go for the router. If you're going to be alone and just use your laptop, you won't need a router at all and a simple ethernet cable is what you need.

Since the campus is a hotspot itself, you don't need a router for that, either. Again, the built-in wifi gets the job done.

Cheers.

 

All right! Thanks for the help. I think I'll get the ethernet cable, since it's probably rather cheaper than the wireless router. Thanks again,

 

Huhhhh?
Colleges don't use cable modems. They're directly wired, ethernet and go. No modem provided, no modem required.


Otherwise, all is accurate. Get a router if you need to connect more than one computer. Also, get a router if you don't understand the concept of a firewall, or feel confused by one (routers as a general rule all include firewalls, which is useful to protect your computer from attacks- and trust me, especially when moving in at the same time as other freshmen, you'll have serious issues with this). Otherwise, feel free to just plug in and go.

 

Well, technically, there's always a modem. If the wall outlet is to be used directly with an ethernet cable, that's simply because the modem is somewhere else, but it's still there.

I spent some time several years ago in a college in Brussels. There, we were provided with the cable modem since the wall outlet was coaxial. I assumed his case would be like mine.

Anyway, it doesn´t really matter as long as Istari doesn't decide to buy a cable modem after reading my post.

Cheers.