Home ADSL: wired to wireless - again!

[Jukie]

OK, I know it' been asked before. I've been through the previous threads on this subject and sadly am none the wiser! Sorry!!

I currently have a simple 1Mb ADSL link to a desktop via a USB ADSL modem. I am considering going wieless and replacing the desktop with a laptop, just so I can go from room to room. Laptop will be a "big" one coz I lke playing games.

From my understanding, I will need to replace my ADSL USB modem with a wireless router/modem that will plug into my telephone socket. Then I need a laptop with a wireless port or PC card in it. Subject to configuration/security etc, is that it? And am I right in thinking I should get the laptop connected using the wired connection first so that it establishes the connection to my ISP? When I originally got the ADSL modem, etc, the install CD configured the connection for me - the telephone number shows "0000000"!!

TIA and apologies a) for the long post and b) for not being clued up on wireless!

David

 

[Ted]

Subject to configuration/security etc, is that it?

Yes, thats it

And am I right in thinking I should get the laptop connected using the wired connection first so that it establishes the connection to my ISP?

Not necessarily - some routers can be configured via the wireless link (they use a set of defaults to talk to your laptop wireless card

you will need to know the login and password for your isp, and the protocol (PPPoA iirc)

 

[Shude]

You will probably need to connect to a new router with a cable first to configure it, they don't usually come with wireless enabled because you have to setup the security features before using it. That takes 5 minutes though, and if you get a router with wireless and an included card then it's often a LOT easier (same phrases/protocols/defaults used in the setup software).

As stated by Ted you will need to write down all the login/protocol details from your existing DSL "modem".

 

[grasmere]

the way I see it is this:

dont bother with your laptop connecting to your ISP - yet.

When you get your ADSL router/modem you set up your router so 'it' connects with your ISP. You do this via an interface webpage on your desktop whilst the desktop and router are 'wire' connected.

You then disconnect the wired connection.

Then you add a PCI card to your desktop and
cardbus adaptors to any laptops and they then communicate with the router and hence the internet etc etc

HTH

Ian

 

[Aswall]

I've recently changed my wireless router from a crappy 3Com one, which needed resetting every hour or so, to a Netgear one. It's much quicker, even though they were both 802.11g and set itself up automatically, all I had to do was plug a pc into it (lead included) tell it my user name and password and that was it. Set up WEP (WPA is stronger but my Pocket PC can't handle it) and off you go

For a laptop, I've just spoiled myself and ordered a Sony Vaio 317M to replace my knackered Tosh. Bit of a monster but should be great at games, which was a priority for me £1325 ffrom Comet and arrives tomorrow, snow willing :bannana:

 

[JohnC]

Try www.adslguide.org.uk

 

[Jukie]

Just to confirm that if a laptop has on-board 802.11g capability, I need a 54Mbps wireless router only and nowt else for the laptop?

Also, how do people find the reliability of a wireless connection in different rooms in a house? Eg router downstairs, PC upstairs or even in loft?

And I am slowly ploughing through the adslguide site - TVM, JohnC.

(Stop laughing at my ignorance, I'm trying my best.....!!!!! )

 

[Aswall]

Just to confirm that if a laptop has on-board 802.11g capability, I need a 54Mbps wireless router only and nowt else for the laptop?

Absolutely correct

Also, how do people find the reliability of a wireless connection in different rooms in a house? Eg router downstairs, PC upstairs or even in loft?

My router is on the upper floor of the house and I get full 54mpbs everywhere in the house, though it did used to drop off sometimes with my old router. My house is fairly big, but it is a new-ish house which are all made of cardboard. I do know of others who have problems with thick stone walls, but the network can be extended in these circumstances

And I am slowly ploughing through the adslguide site - TVM, JohnC.

(Stop laughing at my ignorance, I'm trying my best.....!!!!! )

Noone's laughing, the best way of learning anything is trial and error while making lots of mistakes along the way - believe me I know

Good luck

 

[Aswall]

Oh, make sure your router has a built in ADSL modem, not all of them do

 

[Shude]

Oh, make sure your router has a built in ADSL modem, not all of them do

That was one of 3com's tricks IIRC.

I ended up replacing a slightly dodgy 3com with their latest one and it's been great. The daft thing is that the old rubbish 3com router works perfectly at my friend's house, leading me to believe that it was BT/ISP related rather than the 3com unit itself.

 

[Aswall]

The 3Com router I had did have a modem in and always worked fine through the wired connection to the pc upstairs but got progressively worse on it's wireless connection. It would keep dumping the connection to the other two wireless pcs in the house requiring regular resets. After asking for advice I went for the Netgear which has been absolutely faultless but I noticed when looking around that several of the routers didn't include modems AND weren't any cheaper. I've always found Belkin stuff to be ok as well