Wireless modem router?

[Bob Cooper]

Can somebody help out with this............

I want to set up a wireless broadband connection so that I can use my laptop in any room in the house without dragging around a bunch of wires.

I've already got a Wanadoo/Freeserve broadband connection with a broadband modem I got from Freeserve (a purple thing that looks like a big mouse).

Now, what I "think" I need is a "wireless ADSL modem router" and a "802.11 pcmcia card" - is that right?

Something like this perhaps
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=82066

I only want to connect one computer to the internet wirelessly, not a whole load of computers, although I may need to connect with my work laptop too (see below)

It looks like I have a spare slot in my laptop to take the pcmcia card. What i want to do is put the modem/router in the spare room and have the rest of the house clutter free so that I can roam around the house or maybe even the garden or garage and have internet and email access. What is the likely range of these things? Will it work in my garage at the end of the garden (about 10m away?)

Will this work? Is it easy to configure things to connect to my ISP (Freeserve) or do I need a degree in computer science to do it?

Also am I right in assuming that all I need to do is plug the pcmcia card into my laptop, then plug the modem/router into the phone socket and bingo!

My laptop is a compaq nx9010 running Windows XP.

Also I have another compaq laptop (for work) which is WiFi enabled. Can I use this one to access the internet at the same time?

As you will have guessed by now, I'm a bit of a numptie when it comes to IT.

Any help would be much appreciated by all you IT types.

Many thanks

Bob

[Alun]

As you already have an adsl modem, you only actually need a wireless router. Unless of course you want to just have the one 'box', in which case you are on the right lines.

The setup you are talking about sounds about right. As a priority, you need to set up the (wep) encryption and lock the network down as much as you can. This is in no way as complicated as it sounds

Good luck, I have just done exactly what you are thinking about.

P.S. You can connect as many computers as you want to the network, and they will all have internet access. Your wifi integrated notebook is no exception.

[Al_Star]

Hi Bob,

Got similar setup myself. I ended up with two devices - ADSL router and a wireless bridge.

Originally Posted by Bob Cooper

Now, what I "think" I need is a "wireless ADSL modem router" and a "802.11 pcmcia card" - is that right?

Something like this perhaps
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=82066

I only want to connect one computer to the internet wirelessly, not a whole load of computers, although I may need to connect with my work laptop too (see below)

This is quite a nice way of doing it as it's all integrated. Good news is it will do wireless and wired so you can just plug your laptop in with a network cable if you come unstuck.

Originally Posted by Bob Cooper

I only want to connect one computer to the internet wirelessly, not a whole load of computers, although I may need to connect with my work laptop too (see below)

It looks like I have a spare slot in my laptop to take the pcmcia card. What i want to do is put the modem/router in the spare room and have the rest of the house clutter free so that I can roam around the house or maybe even the garden or garage and have internet and email access. What is the likely range of these things? Will it work in my garage at the end of the garden (about 10m away?)

Spare slot is a good start. Range wise it should cover the whole house. To give you an idea I can pick up two different neighbors at home so the range is pretty good. Solid walls can interupt the signal though.

Originally Posted by Bob Cooper

Will this work? Is it easy to configure things to connect to my ISP (Freeserve) or do I need a degree in computer science to do it?

Also am I right in assuming that all I need to do is plug the pcmcia card into my laptop, then plug the modem/router into the phone socket and bingo!

My laptop is a compaq nx9010 running Windows XP.

Also I have another compaq laptop (for work) which is WiFi enabled. Can I use this one to access the internet at the same time?

It should work fine. Usually there is a nice wizard/web interface to configure the router which you just put your ADSL login and password details that freeserve gave you.

Main difference you will find is that you are used to a modem - whereas this is an wireless network. That means you might need to get the router to do a couple of things you aren't familiar with - DHCP being one acronym you might need! You should be able to turn on DHCP on the router and it should then work.

If you come unglued drop me a message and I'll try and help. I play with routers and wireless at work albeit a different make.

Cheers
Al

[ahar]

Originally Posted by Bob Cooper

Something like this perhaps
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=82066

I have exactly that set up and it works well. The set up routine for it is pretty easy. Just remeber that once you have it set up to use the 'Update' option in wireless box's configuration screen as there is a small bug in its software that's fixed by this - took me ages to work that out !