Wireless routers - help please how to get one and install it

[Flibbertyjibbet]

If anyone can help.. and poss save me a few quid.
We moved from aol to Tiscali recently and were asked if we want wireless. It was only £10 more than 'wire and plugs' but dp said no need to bother. Well we are both self employed, both use the pc in the evenings, and on Thursday afternoon my mum minds the kids so if I've no work on I work from home and would love to be able to do email etc in peace upstairs.
I know a lady with an IT supplies company and asked her how much for me to go wireless and she quoted me over £80 which I can't justify.
Have just noticed lots of people selling wireless routers on ebay and they seem to go for pennies.
Could I get one of these? Do I need any technical knowledge/software to wireless enable pc (laptop already enabled by its previous owner) or anything else I need to know? Or would it be better sense (I hope not £££) to get one of this woman and pay her the £30 for installation?
Any help or advice gratefully received. DP and I were nearly stabbing each other to get turns on the internet when doing our tax returns the other week

[whomovedmychocolate]

Depends on what computers you have and how old they are. For example, we have a BT home hub but we still need a wired network connection for the mac downstairs. However my laptop runs off an Airport extreme base station and we have an airport light base station in the shed so I can surf in the garden - (ha fat chance )

Your best choice honestly is to go somewhere like MAPLIN and explain your set up and ask them what they have an what you need.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Another option btw, is to run a hub and wires between the two so the internet connection is available to both (if you haven't considered this). This also means you can fileshare and printershare.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

See you are getting too technical for me already!!
Please explain
run a hub and wires between the two so the internet connection is available to both
as it went straight over my head. If I do this can I take laptop outside or upstairs, the main pc is in cupboard built into chimney alcove in front room.

The laptop I bought off my employer when made redundant in April, its already wireless enabled as when Iuse it it picks up next doors wireless. The desktop was a decent spec from PC world 12 months ago.
(Please don't ask me the specs...)

[whomovedmychocolate]

Okay. Let's start from the basics.

The internet connection come through the phone line yes? Where is that - I'm assuming that's in your front room and plugged into the back of the PC?

You have two choices. You can either buy a wireless router and plug the INTERNET connection from you phone line into that and then connect wirelessly to your laptop

OR you can buy a bogstandard hub and plug the INTERNET connection from your phone line into it and run 2 USB cables, one into the back of the PC and one up the stairs or to whereever you are using your laptop. Obviously the first is preferable.

The PC WILL NOT KNOW whether you are using a wireless hub if you connect it using wires! Think of it like a telephone extension - you put your wire from your telephone (internet) connection into the hub and another wire to the wireless router and then a wire out into the PC network socket. Then you just synch the laptop. If you are already connecting remotely to your neighbours set up, this will be remarkably easy because you can just search for a new signal and if it's not got the same name you've probably found the right one IYSWIM. You will need your username and password from your ISP - also your mail settings usually mail.ISPNAME.com and SMTP.ISPNAME.com

[whomovedmychocolate]

and yes you can still get that sort of thing cheaper online.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

Yes the internet connection is through the phone socket that is next to the pc in the 'cupboard' where I now. So your first option sounds good as there are no visible wires now, they are all tucked away as this area was custom built to give us a little office that can be shut when not working.
I think Maplin is a good idea there is one not too far away.
I don't want to buy from ebay as I don't have the technical knowledge to know if I am buying the right thing and there might not be any support from the seller.

Oh I just realised the laptop is still AOL'd I will need to find the Tiscali installation disc and have no idea where it is...
so one problem answered, another one raises its ugly head
thanks for your help.

[whomovedmychocolate]

AOL is the devil's spawn. You will need to install a proper browser. Tiscali can send you another installation disk although if you have Internet Explorer still on it somewhere just use that and then download the update.

Maplin will explain what to do. They are supercillious gits sometimes but at least you will find someone who has been trained in what they are selling, unlike Comet et al. If you get stuck, CAT me, if you can and I'll try and advise you a bit.

[whomovedmychocolate]

BTW the info you need to take with you is:

• What Operating systems are running on both machines
• What type of internet connection you have - broadband or dial up
• What wires you have an ports available - usually you will have a spare USB port on both machines - if you are going wireless it doesn't matter for your laptop so long as you definitely have a wireless card

[Flibbertyjibbet]

So, have Windows XP on both pcs and broadband connection.
But when you say 'wireless card' do you mean like an internal modem that is something IN the laptop?
I know its wireless enabled as when I bought it I asked one of my own clients who is a techy and he was quite impressed with what I got for my £50 and said ooo its got wireless too', and then I get the thing coming up saying 'wireless signal detected' if I switch the thing on when next door is on line.
Sorry to sound so dim! I do have skills in areas other than IT

Agree about AOL - Had to get rid of it cos it was really erratic for me sending my Outlook emails from my own business domain name. Everytime I got on to the help desk they would tell me to contact Microsoft grrr.
Thanks, hopefully I won't need to cat you - fingers crossed!

[whomovedmychocolate]

If it is wireless enabled it is fine don't worry!

You'll be absolutely fine and you can do this - it's not hard honestly. If my DH can figure it out without swearing (much) then I'm sure you are much more technically competent - NB I had to point out to him that the computer has to be plugged into work at one point

[Flibbertyjibbet]

Oh your dp makes me feel MUCH better.
I found someone selling the same wireless thigys as Tiscali use for their subsribers, only £28 inc p&p on ebay, they are new and he gives some of the instruction on the sales info. And a 7 days money back period!
So am feeling pretty confident and will order one today. Thanks for all your help.