Wi Fi Router? Advice needed please

[fitfox]

We need to install something so that we can use more than one PC in the house and I would be grateful for any advice.

We have BT Broadband ATM, with a modem and a desktop PC.

We need to be able to use an additional laptop in the attic (there is a phone point there) and I have no idea whether we should be getting a BT Home Hub or a Wi Fi Router.

My Desktop is not enabled for a Wi Fi Router ATM.

Which is best and is there much of a price difference? Do we need to arrange for someone to install or could we do it ourselves. I am a technophobe so I would appreciate some jargon-free advice or I won't understand LOL!!

Thanks

I have wifi which I really like because I have one neat box in the hall, no wires needed and can cart my laptops around so I can be on MN anywhere in the house or garden.

I got mine through talktalk and it was very easy to set up on my own. I did my dad's too which was an AOL/BT one so I think they're all pretty easy. You can get a thingy (don't know what it's called ) to plug into your desktop so that it picks up the wifi signal. You can probably order one when you choose your provider.

The only things I would say is that you need to plug the wifi router into your main phone point rather than a secondary one and if the attic is miles away from that with lots of walls/floors in the way, the signal might not be that strong.

ps I should caveat all this with the fact that I don't know what a BT Home Hub is!

I have wifi which I really like because I have one neat box in the hall, no wires needed and can cart my laptops around so I can be on MN anywhere in the house or garden.

I got mine through talktalk and it was very easy to set up on my own. I did my dad's too which was an AOL/BT one so I think they're all pretty easy. You can get a thingy (don't know what it's called) to plug into your desktop so that it picks up the wifi signal. You can probably order one when you choose your provider.

The only things I would say is that you need to plug the wifi router into your main phone point rather than a secondary one and if the attic is miles away from that with lots of walls/floors in the way, the signal might not be that strong.

ps I should caveat all this with the fact that I don't know what a BT Home Hub is!

To enable your PC to use wireless, you can get a USB wireless adapter. It looks just like a memory stick.

No idea about BT as we have Virgin. Our supply cable plugs into a Virgin modem, which in turn feeds into our own Netgear router. The router can take 4 hard wired devices, and 255 wirelss. We have our printer networked into it, and 3 desktops and several laptops accessing it wirelessly.

BT home hub is the one which has a phone in it. Presumably you get some calls included in your package. We used to have the BT wireless package and it's pretty easy to self install. You can have your desktop wired through the modem and your laptops wireless or you can buy an adaptor and have the desktop wireless too. dd has an external wireless adaptor on her ancient laptop and it works fine.

Having said all that we switched to Sky because it was a cheaper package overall.

Science/Saggars Oh yes, just found out the lodger has a desk top, not a lap top. So we have 2 desk tops in the house, but from what you are both saying, she can get a "thingy" to plug into her desk top to make it wireless?

We have BT Option 3 which includes a home hub, although we passed on the hob hub when we got it a ywear ago, as its only recently we've come to need it. I Think the hub is free and you can either install it yourself or pay them £50 to install.

foxie, am really sorry that i left you hanging with this one

the bt home hub also gives you freeview I think www.bundles.bt.com/Default.aspx?s_cid=con_FURL_valuebundles

here's an example of the usb wi-fi adaptor that you would need for both desktops www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6769101/Trail/searchtext>NETWORKING+ACCESSORIES.htm

I can set it up for you, should be pretty straightforward.

ask BT if they supply wi-fi adaptors for desktops that aren't wi-fi enabled.

sorry again not to have got back to you on this.

Paddle - thanks for this

The Lodger says her desktop has a Wi Fi enabler plugged into it. Is it likely to work then, if I get the home hub thing, or is there a chance she may need to plug something else in? I can ask her what it is called if need be

if the laptop/desktop is already wi-fi enabled (as long as it's not a 3g card or something) it should just be a question of connecting to your wi-fi network when you set it up.

Piffle - if you get BThome hub yul do not need a router as it is part of the hub. i have Virgin so need to invest in a router.

sorry i meant fitfox!!!

The lodgers PC has a little black rod attached which is her wireless thingy. She says its not a 3G

Think I will call BT and also Sky and see which one works out cheaper

foxie, have you got sky already?

whichever option you go for you will need a usb wif-fi gadget for your desktop.

the bthomehub or whatever wi-fi you go for will have to run off the main phone jack which is downstairs at your place yeah?

BT and Sky & Virgin will all battle for your business so you should get a good rate from any one of them.

Don't forget Virgin are cable tho so it's different kit.

Clear?

clear as mud LOL!!

Yes, main phone point is on ground floor, so hope lodgers PC in the loft will pick it up!!

I will try BT and Sky. We got a very good deal a year ago with BT, after I rang saying I wanted to switch providers

If I buy the widget, would you be happy to help install then?? (grovel, grovel)

yep can deffo help install.