I'm a software whiz :D but unfortunately, a bit of a hardware novice so I'd appreciate some help with something I'm trying to do. I'm trying to set up a wireless router for home use.

I have an Alcatel Speed Touch Home ADSL modem hooked up to my PC (which is running Windows XP and I'm connected using PPPoE). My sister recently got a Sony VAIO which has a WI/FI card (or something like that) and we're looking to get a wireless router which we can hook up to the Alcatel modem and then hook my PC up to it, and at the same time allow her to access the internet using this router and her WI/FI card. We're also thinking of connecting our laser printer to the router.

We've downloaded a whole bunch of wireless router product information and are currently trying to make heads-or-tails of it, and are struggling a bit. :D I guess my questions are:

1) is what we're trying to possible and easy for non-techos to do
2) how exactly does a router work?
3) what would be the best router to do this (we were thinking of the Netgear FM114P)
4) do we need to install any hardware on our PC and laptop to facilitate this router working?
5) is there a possibility that our ADSL line speed would be affected (I'm currently on 1500Kbps)

Appreciate any feedback. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Mario, I just got one of my pc magazines in yesterday and the main topic this month is WI FI networks! I haven't read it but it's sitting on the coffee table! LOL If you don't get what you need in the way of answers let me know, I'll check which magazine and which issue it is and if needs be, I can have Nacht read it over and be in touch to try and help you.

I'm guessing we've got some techie types here who know the answers, though! :D

Well, Memsy ... most consumer grade routers are very easy to set up. I'm not familiar with the model you are looking for but I have used Netgear before and like the product.

So:
1. Yes, this is realativly simple and doesn't require too much tech know how. The tech support lines at the companies are usually pretty good too.

2. A router is kind of like your local post office. You have traffic for some destination, so you send it. If no one on your local network is the intended receiver, the router asks all nearby routers who knows how to get the data to it's destination. This repeats until the data gets there. Wireless is the same (at a very high level) just with out the wires.

3. I like Netgear, but don't know about that model.

4. If the laptop already has the WiFi, and you have the cables for your PC, then you will not need extra hardware besides the wireless router.

5. There may be some slow down, but not enough to be noticable unless both of you are doing some heavy download at the same time.

Hope this helps!

[ 10-02-2003, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: Night Stalker ]

mario! i heard from some people that wireless does not work if there is a wall or two between your computers .. not sure about that though. just wanna tell you that so you can confirm if its true ;)

I put in a wireless router so my brother & I could share my cable modem. He takes his laptop all over the house, & out into the back yard (the router's in the front room) and has never had any problem with the signal.

hey thats cool! .. thanks for the info.

One shouldn't forget security with WiFi. Anyone with a wireless card in range of your house transceiver can connect. If security is left wide open, you could be asking for it. ;)

Wireless routers *do* have a problem with a couple thick concrete walls/ceilings. That's why in the house where I live we chose for a wired router instead of a wireless one, because the ceilings here are rather thick, and the router (placed on the ground floor) couldn't send a signal to the upper (third) floor.
It *is* something you must be careful with!!

I have Linksys wired and wireless routers. Why? When I got started, they somehow struck my fancy. They are a little higher-end than D-Link and Belkin, I think, but still extremely reasonable. I got my wireless router as part of a package that included a wireless NIC for under US$100.

I chose 802.11b as my standard. Today, you might want to also consider 802.11g, but I've seen little difference between the 11mbit .11b connection and the 100mbit wired connection.

Setting them up is straightforward. You access the router via a web browser (the Linksys that I have accepts wired and wireless connections), and you put your settings in. Linksys' support pages gave me step-by-step instructions for hooking it up with my ISP (Comcast now, @home back then), and it was pretty much a breeze.

Three things to do, once you've got it set up:

1. Stop broadcasting your SSID. That's like screaming, "Hey, I'm over here!".

2. Start using WEP. Set up a 128-bit WEP password, and use it.

3. Restrict access by MAC address. Only those people on the invite list are allowed in.

Do those three things, and security should be a non-issue.

Let me know if you have other questions.

And the all-important question: How? :D

Unless this is something that's in the manual? In that case, I haven't actually bought anything yet - I'll check the manual when I do. If it's not there, then the question remains...How? :D

Cheers. [img]smile.gif[/img]