Technicalities and practicalities of going wireless

[roisin]

Rather than hijack misdee's thread, I thought I'd start my own.

I'm a bit of a luddite wrt technology.

We currently have a PC which is connected to broadband (non-wireless). We also have in the house 2 laptops, and a not-very-old PC, and 2 Nintendo DSs.

Q1 What would I have to buy/do to get wireless access?

Q2 Is this desirable? What are the pros and cons?

Q3 Could we have a 'network' to connect the computers, but without wireless internet?

I'm sure a more techy persona will be along shortly but you need to know...

If any of your PC/laptops have wireless adapters.

Do you have a wireless router?

I think (I'm sure)you can network with wires - can't iamagine it will be very pretty though.

Pros and cons of wireless -

Pro, you can MN in bed on a Sunday morning. Bliss.

Con, the speed might be a bit dodgy if you have all of your machines online at once.

Think about your security.

I'm clueless about Nintendo - have just sorted ds2's x-box connection and have given up on the PSP.

We haven't got a wireless router afaik.

We don't have anything that's not integral to the machines.

I think the laptops are wireless enabled.

Has your router got a little aerial?

I don't think we've got a router. What does it look like?

I've just bought a laptop so I can work downstairs as well as in study. We had to buy a router from Dullards World but I took my brother with me who is a fat lot more techy than me. The router is bigger than a modem and has loads more flashing lights in the top of it. It's a famous name (will try to remember which) and had to buy the not-cheapest one as it depends on whereabouts your other pcs are in the house, thickness of walls etc. As the study is on 2nd floor and through a fire door I bought a router for £80 (bizarrely it's £120 online, this was the instore price, which I would imagine is a lie to make people buy them there and then).

think it's this one

If you don't mind keeping your PCs and so on close to electrical sockets (i.e. not in the garden) then there is a fabulous alternative to wireless that my IT specialist cousin's dh told me about. You buy these things that plug into the back of the modem, and then into a socket. Then you get other leads that plug into your ethernet socket of your laptop and into a socket. The internet is routed through your domestic electrical supply. I know it sounds barmy but we have it for the parts the wireless doesn't reach and it's a godsend, really efficient. The leads are about 50 quid I think. Let me know if you want more details.

This is all a foreign language to me

How much work is it to set it all up? We've got some techy/geeky teenagers at church. Maybe I could pay them to sort it all out/buy the right gear/and set it up? Do you think that would be a good idea?

Tamum - that sounds very interesting. I'd like to hear more ... like a name for ghe things and leads, so that I can google.

Thanks all

Hi roisin, you need at least two leads like this and extras for each computer if you want lots connected at any one time. There is no setting up at all which is good. Incidentally, for the Nintendos you just need a special Nintendo wireless USB thing that you plug into the nearest computer that can access the internet.

Oh, this sounds really promising. Thanks.

If I get a Nintendo wireless USB thing, will that work without a wireless router? i.e. could I get that now, so that the boys can do email and other bits on their nintendos immediately?

Can the Nintendos talk to each other without anything additional?

What you need is this for the Nintendos, but it won't let you email, just connect to other Nintendo games players (ds plays Tetris against rather a lot of Japanese players for example). You can get an internet browser for the DS so maybe that would enable you to do email from a web-based account? You don't need wireless for the wi-fi thing to work, certainly.

Oh yes, and my understanding is that two Nintendos in the same room, for example, can talk to each other anyway if it's the right sort of game.

Ha! Yes, I've just worked that out: just spent 30 mins 'chatting' to ds1

I might get him the wi-fi thing and the internet browser software for his birthday.

I'm just a bit worried about security though. But I think these days kids are going to use the internet to email/MSN etc., and you have to teach them how to be safe and trust they will stick to the guidelines.

thanks tamum