I recently purchased a used laptop with 802.11b wireless capability.  I would like to set up a wireless home network with my desktop still connected via cable and a wireless router to connect my laptop.  My house has three floors, with my desktop and internet connection in the basement.  I will be using the laptop mostly on the main floor.  I see routers with prices ranging from $25 to nearly $200.  How do I select one that will be reliable without buying way more than I will need?  Thanks for any advice or recommendations.
124214
If you are just looking for 802.11b you should be able to get one pretty cheap.  If you want to put a new wireless card in your laptop later that is capabable of 802.11g, then you may want to get a router with both b/g compatibility.  You'll also want to see what type of encryption it has like WEP, WPA, etc.  You'll will want secure your wireless connection with the highest level of encryption possible.  Also, don't forget to change the default password for the router.
550670
It should have came with software that shows you how to connect it step by step.  I would probably use the PC as the gateway (connect the router to the cable modem and to the PC).  Search for a wireless connection on the laptop.  After finding your router, connect to it.  I would reccomend putting some encryption (WEP) on your wireless, so no one else will steal your info or service.
148083
For Laptops: it ranges from $5- $119. Wi-Fi G would start from $32.\n\nFor Pocket PC : it ranges from $29 ~ $120. G Wi-fi are around $69, (without Rebates or Sale.)\n\nTypically the are for buissness men, however teenager are also one of the big users. \n\nHope this is what you wanted!
225230
You already have your ansewer a router is the way to go and they don't cost a whole lot!
406197
Live and Learn.  Wireless network gear is dodgy at best.   Go with LinkSys next time. \n\nGood luck and Happy Computing!
5413
I have a 5 computer network at home. 1 computer is wireless. I use a Dlink DI-524 wireless router. It has 4 wired ports on the back and wireless capability. It has a built in firewall and it seems to be plenty fast. It cost me $50 with a $25 mail in rebate(so actual cost was $25) at Office Max about 4 months ago.\nIf you need more wired ports use a switch. They run about $20 to $30 and they are truly plug and play.\n\nAs for the wireless setup...\nhttp://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesssetup.mspx#step3\n"D"
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I use a Linksys router (they are $30 to $100 depending on where you are and if your need RF or not).\nAdd a couple cables and go.  It will do all the login and ip addressing work, so once you set it up you never have to touch anything again. \n\nI have also used one computer to feed another, but it had 2 network cards.
636262
When you have DSL already you typically have a DSL modem. The only thing you need to buy then is a wireless DSL router. You connect the DSL modem with the DSL wireless router using a network cable (which is supplied when you buyt the wireless DSL router) and you're ready to go. Of course you need a wireless network adapter for your notebook or PC. Those are sometimes bundled with the router. Siince those wireless routers use standard protocols (e.g., WiFi, 802.11g) the network adapter can be purchased separatly and should work fine.\n\nThere are many DSL routers to choose from. A good place to start is to use Yahoo Search (provided the link below) to get started. \n\nA next step would be to look at Yahoo Shopping http://shopping.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AqdSzfoWCQqQNXf99FX8MxkEgFoB;_ylu=X3oDMTBhNjRqazhxBHNlYwNzZWFyY2g-?p=dsl+router&did=\nType in DSL router and you will see lots of them.\n\nAmazon also has a good variety of those. I personally recommend Linksys or Belkin. Overall they all work fine. Depends really on how much you want to spend, and what speed you need. A fast one is the Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G router, a little more expensive but worth the money.
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To use wireless, your computers need to be wireless too. Or you can just connect your ISP to the wireless router and use it as a normal router and connect your computers to it using an ethernet adapter.\n\nYour router should have come with an install CD. You need to setup your router to connect with your ISP first. The steps on CD is pretty self-explanatory. Set it up first to your ISP, then you can connect your other computers to it. If you have a wireless WIFI laptop, then it should detect it automatically after setup. If you have a wireless desktop, it too should detect it. If you want to use a connector, then you need an ethernet adapter to connect from your PC to the router. I am not sure if your belking router has a USB port in the back, but normally they have ethernet ports.\n\nIf you need more help, just contact me through my profile.
300356
you will need something call a router (buy them at Bestbuy or Circuit City.) Hook up is quite easy (just read the instruction) If you buy a wireless router, then you will need wireless adapter (Internal or USB) for both desktop and laptop
631435
ok, a router can work around the house and in the backyard. it will not reach miles, maybe a thousand feet if you have wireless N. but you proably have wireless G on your laptop. Go to verizon.com and check for the internet services, I know they provide for like 60 dollars a month if its really that important. But a router will not reach far from home unless you plan to network it to each house to keep signal strong. But a good router is Linksys, I had bad experience with Belkin.
569004
As advised by other you would need a wireless router but before you go out buy one you need to know what sort of broadband connection you have ie through cable or through phone line commonly know as DSL/ADSL.\nAs both have different type of wireless router due to different type of connection coming into your house.So check the type of broadband connection you have before you go out and buy.
568993
Wireless is always going to be slower.. its transmitting through air. You really want to connect with an ethernet cable, it will be faster and more reliable.. that may mean having to string a long cable through the house though. \n\nYou may also want to consider either a signal booster, to increase the range and signal of the router, or even a newer router such as the pre-N 802.11n ones.
254014
I have three PC's networked with a wireless router at home. (Netgear 54Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router). This router is a combination of five products - ADSL 2 +modem+router+firewall+802.11g access point and a four port Ethernet switch.\n\nTwo of the comps are wireless connected, while one is wired. The wireless connected PC's have a wireless antenna each that receives the signals.\n\nHas the installation and configuration been done correctly?\nWhy not ask your new router vendor to look into the problem?\n\nAs far as the cable outlets are concerned, the jack has to crimped on to the wire and then connected, else use an adaptor. Repeat for this too Why not ask your new router vendor to look into the problem?\n\n(My arrangement cost me about Rs.6000/- in India, that's about US$130 to 150/- and included free installation by the vendor, including a wire of 5 meter (15 feet) Length and matching jacks at each end - that's about 9 months ago.)\nst\n\nAll da best! Hope this helped!
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Most laptops have a wireless card built in.  You shouldn't need any further adapters.  If it doesn't have built in wireless (802.11b or 802.11g), then you'll need a PCI card or USB wireless receiver.\n\nWhat are you connecting to?  If you're just going to webcafes, hotels, your office, schoole, etc, you don't need anything further, just connect to the existing wireless network.\n\nIf you're looking to get wireless within your house, you'll need a wireless access point.  This doesn't necessarily need to be a router, but since you want to share our internet connection with your existing desktop, you'll need a hub or router of some sort to allow this.  Fortunately, most wireless access points double as small (4-5 computer) routers.\n\nNote that depending on your ISP, the DSL or cable modem they gave you may already have the wireless and router capabilities built in.  If not, give them a call and see if their current models do - most broadband providers will provide you a new modem after you've been a customer for 12 months or more.\n\nWhat you want to shop for is a wireless access point that is also a router.  This should run you about $20-$60, depending on how beefy you want.  The lower end will get you 802.11b, which will provide wireless speeds up to 11 mb/s.  The higher end will get you 802.11g, which can get upwards of 55mb/s wifi speeds.  Get the best you can afford.\n\nThe wireless router will have 3-5 plugs on the back, plus an antenna.  You'll connect the source plug to your DSL or cable modem and one of the outputs to your desktop.  Use your desktop to connect to the router via a web browser and configure the wireless options.  (Give it a name, specify security if you want to keep it private, etc; the router should come with specific instructions on this)  Once configured, connect to it from your laptop and enjoy.
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Hi Jon,\nWhile you're free to surf eBay for older 1700 series routers for example, what you'll want is an 800 series Cisco router.  This is Cisco's newer ISR (Integrated Services Router) that is not only your best bet for a home use broadband access router, but will give you the VPN functionality you need, and you have wireless options as well.  Check out the 851 for currently $399 list price or the 851W for $499 which has dual ethernet and wireless as well.  Both models have a 4-port 10/100 switch and an SPI firewall and IPsec VPN.  You also have 871 and 871W options for a little more.  Check out the link below to compare models based on your needs, this also has links to all the data sheets.  Also, to find a Cisco partner/reseller to buy one in your area, go here: http://tools.cisco.com/WWChannels/LOCATR/jsp/partner_locator.jsp
250683
Wireless Networks\nWhat I know\n\nBegin with the high speed DSL or cable service.  As far as I know, wireless networks would need one of these, although it is not certain that a simple wireless network needs a dedicated line; it might work with a dial-up but configuring the wireless router might be impossible since it seems to depend of internet access to do so.\nAssuming broadband is available, the next step would be to install a wireless router, such as a Linksys WRT54G, a device capable of speeds up to 54 Mbs.  The device itself has an internet-like address of 192.168.1.1 and each device attached to or accessing it has an address which converts the last digit to the form 100 or 101 and so forth.  Thus, a laptop with a wireless card might be address 192.168.1.101.     One can access and configure a Linksys router by entering the address 192.168.1.1 into a web browser and is immediately presented the configuration screen. The person doing the configuration change must have the user name and password originally entered at the time the device was installed, assuming the person installing it changed the default factory user name and password.  The Linksys router is installed by first attaching your main computer to the DSL or cable modem, then using the supplied software on the CD accompanying the router, following the steps as directed on the installation CD.  It directs you to attach an Ethernet cable from your computer to the modem, either DSL or cable, then arranging the wires from wall outlet or TV cable to the modem, then from the modem to the router, plugging cables into the jacks as shown.  If one follows this set of instructions, internet access is immediately available through the router.\nA simple wireless network need not be entirely wireless. One or more computers can be wired to the router, usually up to a limit of four, plus other wireless devices.  The Linksys routers are limited to 253 devices and defaulted to 50 total devices, but realistically it is not likely anyone would attach that many to a network.  My original configuration had the desktop wired to the router via Cat 5 ethernet cable and the laptop using a wireless card.  Later I installed a Netgear  USB adapter to the desktop and converted it to wireless.  The advantage of attaching the “main” computer by cable is that the speed is much faster, around 100 Mbs compared to 54 using wireless, although Netgear makes a wireless router capable of 100 Mbs.This higher speed would be an advantage when two devices on the network are exchanging files or accessing a shared printer.\nHaving installed the router, the next step is installing or inserting a wireless adapter in each computer.  This usually implies installing drivers and/or utilities supplied with the device on a CD.  If the main computer is wired to the router, it is only necessary to attach the Cat 5 cable from the back of the computer to one of the available ports on the router.  The computer must have an Ethernet (RJ45) port built in or a network card installed to do this.  At this point, no network exists, but internet access at each computer, wireless or wired,  normally comes on automatically with little trouble by the user.\nNow for setting up a true network.  Assuming each computer is running Windows XP, the next step is allowing Windows to create the network.   On each computer it is necessary to go to the Control Panel and select Network Connections, then select Network Setup Wizard. Windows will construct the network using the names of the computers involved and the name of the network which you gave the wireless router.  Simply follow the windows presented making sure you know the name you have given to that computer and the name you gave the network when you installed the router.   Where are the names to be found?  The computer name is located internally and is accessed by going to the Control Panel and selecting System.  A tab is labeled Computer Name and it also has the workgroup name