Wireless Router

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:40 am

Need some techy help. I need to get a wireless router, but i've heard some horror stories about them.

Can anyone recommend one and a reputable company to get it from??? All i need it for is to sit in the livingroom and send the internet upstairs to the laptop in the study.

I know next to nothing about computers so it needs to be fairly simple.

Also... while i'm here.... the laptop keeps coming up some crap about this version of windows is not genuine. It was in getting fixed 6 months ago, but the shop's now shut down so i cant go back there. But i think he's loaded it with a dodgy disk or summat. SANJOOOOYYYYYY heeelllllpppppppppppp.

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:16 am

Do you already have a broadband router with ethernet?
Does your laptop already have a wireless interface?
How many computers are you trying to connect up?
Do you have any other stuff you need to attach to the network (e.g. a printer with an ethernet interface)?

Do you connect via ADSL or Telewest?

In general I would suggest either Linksys or Netgear boxes. Exactly which one depends on the answers to the questions above.

The reason that message is popping up now is because you have been given the "Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Update", by Microsoft as a windows update (which you probably have turned on to install automatically). This checks your windows license is valid. I doubt it has much to do with repair shop unless you know they reloaded windows for you (did all your documents, emails, etc. vanish? if not they probably didn't reload windows).

Do you still have the original installation disks for your PC? One of these should be either an XP disk or a system recovery disk that allows you to reinstall windows. My advice would be to back up what you want to keep, nuke the system with the install disk, download and install the millions of updates that have come out since then (using the Windows Update item in the start menu - be prepared for a lot of downloads and waiting), then put your stuff back on it.

If you don't have the original disks you may have to either purchase a copy of XP ... (or install linux, but that's probably not for you).

Cheers,
Robin

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:57 am

I'm with tiscali.
It has a wee box with ADSL written above a light.
I only want to connect the laptop to it
Dont have the original windows disk
The rest is way above my head

Lazydonkey · Post by **Lazydonkey** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:27 am

Linksys all the way

Free 24/7 support for the life of the product and they actually know what they are talking about.

Only thing is I'd recommend that before you unplug your old way of connecting to t'internet you download the latest firmwear (software the runs on the router) and apply it to the box.

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:17 am

OK,

So I suspect you are currently connecting via a USB connection and an ADSL modem, probably supplied by Tiscali when you signed up.

You need to work out if your laptop has a wireless interface already - if not then you'll need to purchase one of those too, and get it configured. If you can tell us the make and exact model of your laptop we can probably look it up and tell you ...

There are two options - a usb interface (which looks very much like those little USB pen drive things) or a PCMCIA (thick credit card looking thing).
The USB interfaces are a tad cheaper and easily ported to other machines; the PCMCIA interfaces are better integrated BUT they don't fit in PC's and they have a habit of getting the aerial bit snapped off when you drop the laptop ...

http://www.ebuyer.com

Netgear DG834G (quick code 52244) wireless basestation with ADSL interface.
Netgear WG111 (quick code 60014) USB wireless adapter.
Netgear WG511 (quick code 46056) wireless PCMCIA adapter.

Linksys WAG354G-UK (quick code 94178) wireless basestation with ADSL interface.
Linksys don't do a cheap wee USB adpater (they have cheap chunkier ones, but these are no good for you), so I would go with the netgear one if you want USB.
Linksys WPC54G-UK (quick code 45024) wireless PCMCIA adapter.

Let us know the make/model of your laptop and we should be able to close it down ...

Robin

Post by **ironside** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:15 am

I've installed a fair few of these D-Link ones and like them:

D-Link DSL-G604T Router & DWL-G122 USB adapter bundle (£59.47 inc VAT)
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/77141

If your laptop already has a wireless interface you can buy the router on it's own, but it actually costs more:

D-Link DSL-G604T Router (£60.67 inc VAT)
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/64222

Simon

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:11 pm

It's a Toshiba (dinosaur) and it has written on it............................

S1400-193

Model no PS140E-03CT0-EN

Any use?????

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:38 pm

gordon wrote:It's a Toshiba (dinosaur) and it has written on it............................

S1400-193

Model no PS140E-03CT0-EN

Any use?????

OK, that's a S1400-103 not 193 right? Well it doesn't have a builtin wireless interface and it looks like it's USB1.1 not USB2.0 so I would be inclined to go with the PCMCIA/PCCard type of adapter not the USB adapter (though it's your call - in theory the USB1.1 is slower than the rate at which the wireless works and you might get some problems, though in practice your internet connection is even slower, so if you're only surfing/emailing then it won't be any slower really).

Now you can take your pick from the models posted - all will work, though as I say I would probably prefer the PCMCIA/PCCard interface for your particular machine.

Cheers,
Robin

Post by **pete** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:24 pm

I've got a D link here (DSL 604+) which is only IEEE b not g (is that 11Mbps ratehr than 54Mbps? Think so).

Fine for web browsing, I have the disks*. Worked fine last time I used it btu upgraded. You'd still need a dongle for your laptop though.

Yours for the price of the postage (better it clutters up your house than mine!)

pete

*probably. but you are on your own for tech support

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:21 pm

I really do appreciate all your help guys, but i'm struggling to keep up with what your on about.

It's 1 meg broadband. I dont understand all this PCMCIA/PCCard , usb stuff. All i want is..... a wee box i can plug in that will send the net from the point in the livingroom to the laptop in the study with out running wires. And it needs to still provide the same speed of service so i can download car vid clips etc, photo's and music.

can i just buy this thing that Si posted

D-Link DSL-G604T Router & DWL-G122 USB adapter bundle (£59.47 inc VAT)
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/77141

i take it the wee stick thing picks up the net signal from the sender box down stairs. Would this work ok for what i need??? Is it easy enough to set up etc??

Post by **ironside** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:18 pm

gordon wrote:
can i just buy this thing that Si posted

D-Link DSL-G604T Router & DWL-G122 USB adapter bundle (£59.47 inc VAT)
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/77141
i take it the wee stick thing picks up the net signal from the sender box down stairs. Would this work ok for what i need??? Is it easy enough to set up etc??

Yes that will work fine for what you're talking about.

Simon

Post by **ironside** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:28 pm

. . . And they're pretty easy to setup.

All you have to do to get it working is tell it your internet username and password. It would also probably be a good idea to secure the wireless connection once you're up and running so that it asks you for a password. This stops people sitting in your front garden using your internet connection.

Simon

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:32 am

gordon, dont listen to simon. Its a PITFA to setup. get him to do it for you. its much easier

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:17 am

If you plan on using the laptop on a desk then I don't think you will have any problem using the DLink bundle.

If you plan on wandering about/using it on your lap I would take the time to understand the difference in physical construction between a USB "stick" and a PCCard ...

OTOH, you can always buy the PCCard one day if you get fed up with the USB "stick" - it's not like any of it costs anything ...

You're probably going to need some help setting it up, though.

Cheers,
Robin

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:28 am

Sorted. Cheers for the offer Pete but i've went for the one Si recommended.

Now..... just a case of dragging him down to set it up one it arrives