We want to connect dd's laptop to the desktop's internet - shall I buy a wireless router?

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that means several laptops could use my desktop's internet, at home, right?

Was looking today in the shop...so many of em at so many prices. Am totally confused.

What do I need to know?

How much (how little preferably) do I need to spend?

you will need one. A colleague of mine who is a computer doc said the Net gear ones are the best but i had already got a belkin which was fien. When it went wrong,belkin just sent me anotherone in 3 days and i reurned the old one to them...really good service

yes you need a wireless router, but what kind you need depends on what internet connection you have - cable or ADSL.

If you have a cable modem you are in a better situation as the cable modem will plug into the router, but if you have ADSL you are probably using a USB modem, which won't be of any use, and therefore you will have to buy a wireless router with built-in ADSL modem.

I'm not sure if there prices are necessarily keenest, but www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/ have been the best site to look at this stuff for a long time.

I've been through quite a few wireless routers, they are considered 'consumer grade' technology, which means that the manufacturers don't bother testing them properly before releasing them. What this can be mean is that you lose connection, and have to unplug them all the time.

It sounds like you will have the router next to the desktop, and so that will be connected using a cable (not wireless), and only the notebook will connect wirelessly.

The biggest issue with wireless routers is that they suffer badly with speed and signal drop-off with distance. The latest wireless standard, called 802.11n (or just N), following on from 802.11g, and the basically obsolete 802.11b, has improved range (useful if you want to use your laptop in the garden, or upstairs through thick walls).

If you buy a 802.11n router, you will need an 802.11n laptop to make use of the improved speed (802.11b or 802.11g devices can still work, they just won't get any benefit compared with an 802.11n router). Centrino-branded laptops sold since late 2007 will support 802.11n. Older/non-centrino laptops might not.

As for which one to buy, I had a Belkin which was rubbish, don't rate Netgear, but my Buffalo is great, I have a more expensive version of this:

uk.insight.com/apps/productpresentation/index.php?alert=categoryresults&product_id=BUFNJRHPGN

which is a bargain TBH.

If you have cable rather than ADSL, get this one www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=7561

thanks aly and someguy.

that is really useful stuff.

yes, I have adsl with a modem plugged into the processer thing on the floor. So I must make sure I buy one with a modem built in, right?

Yes the desktop won't need wireless, only the kids' laptops.

I don't need a great range, though some of the walls in the house are thick. Still, most of the time we would be using it in the same room.

Will make a note of all that and go searching again.

If you think of anything else I need to know, bung it on here.

thanks.

Check with your internet provider too.
Over the last few years I have sorted out a few few friends connections for them and all the providers have sent out wireless routers as standard.

There are a few other ways to get this done....

You could buy a wired router and then connect to it via cables. Some people are concerned about wireless signals, needlessly in my opinion, and they can also be handy in more solidly built older houses where a wireless signal can get lost.

You can also buy products that turn your plug sockets into networking points. You plug a widget into a plug near your current network and then another widget into a plug where you want to be able to access the network and they talk to each other.

Finally if your current desktop PC has a either a spare network card or a wireless card in it already you could just share your current desktops internet connection to other machines in your house. Though this would mean your current PC needs to be on whenever you want network access.

As SomeGuy has already asked the big question for now is how do you connect to the internet at the moment?

Does the box connect to your PC via a network cable (which has a plug that looks a little like a phone socket) or via USB?

OK overlapping posts......

How does the modem plug into your processor box at the moment? By a network or a USB cable?

HI badger,

plugs in via a usb cable.

my belkin has been really good since i changed its settings. It hasnt disconnected once on the new ones,but on the factory setting it was doing it all the time. went into belkin website and followed instructions ...et voila.....constant connection...but i have to say that belkin were really helpful and sent me a new one free of charge (after 2 years)

got to go out now, will check back later.

Belkin have a poor reputation. I have a Linksys and my MIL has a Netgear. Both of them just work, once they're set up, except for problems of interference.

Any router you buy now will support at least IEEE 802.11g, which is quite a good standard. IEEE 802.11n is faster and gives you increased range. The main limitation on speed will be the ADSL line, not the router, so 802.11n is nice to have, but not worth a lot of extra money.

Once you've got it, you might want to set the channel to one that isn't too busy to minimise interference. You'll need a program like InSSIDer to see what channels are busy.

This may be bit simplistic, but would your ISP supply one? I'm with Tiscali, and they sent a man round to install the router and set up the PCs. I wouldn't have a clue myself.

If the existing kit has an ethernet port, one could also consider just adding a WAP (Wireless Access Point) such as the Buffalo WHR-G300N/U (under 40 quid), instead of buying a new router. It's an up-to-date unit which provides an 802.11N

(It may not apply for the OP, but may be of use to someone else. I only mention it because some time ago I bought some low cost WAPs at about a tenner each, one for a neighbour with a Mac and one for me to experiment with - I'd give it to the OP except I have now passed it on to one of my sisters, and plugged into her existing wire-only router it allows her to use her new laptop from other parts of the house - router and WAP are in one of the bedrooms upstairs, where their old computer was installed on a second phone line.)

thanks loads,

I have had a glass of wine and is 10 pm and i can barely understand a word you lot are saying. I try to keep up with the times but...

Good idea about checking with my ISP - I've just looked online- they have the following available I can order online for ?25. (am in Europe)

Wireless ADSL kit
Wi-Fi 802.11 B/G

Minimum requirements:

Windows XP etc.

Ethernet port or wifi receiver 802.11 B/G

But if I bought this how would i connect my old desktop? Would I still just plug something in with a usb? I have no idea if I have an ethernet port or not.

they are selling a outdated wireless adsl router, it's probably the same one they've been supplying for years. 25 euros is fairly reasonable though, and they may support it if you have trouble.

Your desktop will connect to it via the ethernet port on the router, and the laptop via the wifi receiver it will have built in (unless it's incredibly ancient, in which case you'll need to buy a wireless card for about 10 pounds).

you might as well order that.

You need to find out if you have an ethernet port. If not you'll need an ethernet card or adapter. There are loads of USB to ethernet adapters on amazon.

oh, right, very useful stuff - thanks.

They say it's guaranteed for two years.