'Evening all,

Missus Bob complains that she can't get on the pooter 'cause I'm always on it (I don't know where she got that idea from!), so she's buying a laptop.
At the moment, My desktop is wired to 1Mb broadband via 'phone line, but I guess we'll need Wi-fi now. (Master Bob will also be getting his own laptop too before too long.) My knowledge is a bit thin in this department, so can someone please tell me:-
A) will I be able hard-wire my desktop to a router, as it's not got a Wi-Fi card?
B)If A is possible, will we be able to share files, printers etc?
C) Anybody care to make a recommendation for the appropriate equipment?

My apologies for my naiveté.

MTIA
Bob

How does your PC connect to the Internet at the moment? If you're using a USB modem, then I would recommend upgrading to a wireless ADSL modem router. This box will connect to your phone socket and will have (usually) 4 network ports on it. You can connect your PC to the network port using an ethernet cable, and then the laptop(s) can wirelessly connect to the Internet via the modem/router without your PC having to be switched on.

I am currently using a 'high-speed' wireless modem/router by Safecom which cost about £50 from ebuyer. New laptops will usually have wireless built-in. The only other requirement is that your PC needs an network port (also known as ethernet) which it probably already has. I also recommend the 3Com OfficeConnect series which does the same job.

If you decide to go down the above route, don't forget to come back and ask for advice regarding wireless security.

Regards,
Digitalic

Bob,

If you decide to go down the wireless router/modem route, and you
end up with one of the laptops needing a wireless card to get that
working, then there`s a decent offer on PC World at the moment for
a Linksys bundle, that gives an ADSL2+ modem/router (ADSL2+ gives
some good future proofing after the speeds over 8mb arrive) and also
gives a wireless card for PCMCIA slotted laptops.

Anyway, here`s a link showing the offer, just to give you something
to think about, and another price for some kit to compare in the
future.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/459034

I`ve got the exact same product above, and have been using it without
any problems for about 3 months now, and am very impressed. I got mine
from Currys for a bit more than the £49.99 its selling in PC World, but
I`m still happy with the purchase.

As Digitalic has already pointed out, if you do bite the bullet and
go wireless, make sure you come back here during the setup procedure,
just to check your security options are as tight as you can make them
with the available kit. It`s very easy to end up with something that
works, that you may be happy with, but could be very insecure,
so please remember this when setting any wireless network up.

Regards, and hope this helps,

Itsallaguess

Digitalic, itsallaguess,

thanks for your replies, very helpful. Thanks too for the advice re security.
Recs all round,
Bob

As an alternative to hardwiring your desktop you can get cheap USB plug in WiFi adaptors - look like memory sticks. Either way you can share files; printers, etc. I still find it a bit magical when "my" printer suddenly produces something from wife elsewhere on laptop!

I use Netgear - not the cheapest but reliable and fairly easy to set up.

www.dabs.com have a good selection. eg:
http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=40B5&InMe...

Another option. Use the power sockets in your home,getting better, see here.

http://www.digitalhomemag.com/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid...

Hi infrasonic,
thanks for your reply.

Another option. Use the power sockets in your home,getting better, see here.

http://www.digitalhomemag.com/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid...


Extract:-
"All you have to do is plug it into the nearest power outlet, and then run a regular network cable to your PC, Mac or notebook's Ethernet adapter. It will even work with games adapters or consoles. No drivers or SSID are required, and there's no need for WEP security either.
(my bold)

So your neighbours use a different power supply? ;0)

Bob

chrishgv,
thanks for that.

Bob

So your neighbours use a different power supply?

The linked items support encryption for privacy but it's not WEP so technically the article is correct :)

Thanks 1xion,

I stand corrected :0)

Cheers,
Bob

Another option. Use the power sockets in your home,getting better, see here.

I would second HomePlug devices if they meet your requirements. If you are likely to be moving the laptops around, then wireless is probably more suitable, but if they are going to be in the same place the majority of the time, HomePlug may be the way to go. We have two PCs on HomePlug and find it to an excellent system; setup is very easy... Plug it in, it works!

Regards,
Digitalic

So your neighbours use a different power supply? ;0)



Ages ago had a mains linked baby alarm. Worked fine to next door.

Of course you can also share a broadband connection with a neighbour!

So your neighbours use a different power supply?

That's quite likely.

To balance the load across the different phases, different properties will be supplied differently. Sometimes that means only every third house is connected to the same phase.

The normal laws of cussedness apply. If you need it it to work, it won't; if you don't, it will.

nybbler

With wireless you can use the laptop on battery away from a mains socket, you wife will definitely want this if you go for the other option. ;-)

Got one of these for the Sis-in-Law at the beginning of the year http://tinyurl.com/de5gl

The link is to Ebuyer for a Linksys Wireless-g Adsl2+ Modem Router - Gateway 4-port Switch+ Access Point.

It also should give a bit of future-proofing - I hope having just ordered one.

Works fine for her and her kids - one connected by wire, 2 wireless.

Slarti