Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

Anyone help me with some very basic questions? I've just bought a new PC, but there is no wireless card installed. I bought a Belkin F5D7230uk4 Wireless G Router, which connects to ethernet ADSL/Cable modem. Unfortunately I am having to take it back to the retailer as the installation/manual CDs are missing. Given that I have read the threads regarding this particular piece of kit, I intend to try a different model. Any suggestions. I have NTL 10mbps broadband through the TV set top box. Are there any other pieces of kit that I need, I wish to connect two pcs and a laptop (the laptop has a wireless network card). Do I need a network card for the No 1 PC as well as the second one? Need to ket this info straight before I go shopping!
Thanks.

Re: Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

Don't buy a router with ADSL connections it won't work with NTL cable modems.

Re: Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

Most new PCs if they do not have wireless on board will certainly have an ethernet (RJ45) port. That, if you can run cable to the PC fromt he router, will suffice for wired networking.

Any PC that does not haver either ethernet or wireless will need some form of network adapter if you are to connect it to the router. You can do this via an USB adaptor (the adaptor can provide wireless access or different types plug onto an ethernet cable for wired access), but USB can grab reousces from your PC and slow it relative to a properly dedicated network adaptor. Best bet then is to buy a PCI ethernet network card for wired access or a PCI wireless network card - both of whcih would be fitted inside your PC.

As for the router. Linksys kit seems very popular on this board. Make sure you go got the "g" not "b" standard. Make sure too that it's a cable broadband wireless router, and does *not* include an ADSL modem.

Re: Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

The linksys WRT54G is indeed very popular and would work on NTL.

Re: Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

Make sure that the modem is 10Mb compatiable.

A member of the forum is a Belkin bod, and can say which can handle 10Mb (The problem is with the WAN port nit the LAN ports)

Re: Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

Thanks David/Rob, Thanks for your info. I have one ethernet connection (RJ45) to broadband via stb.

As a notsotechnical person, is it correct that the ethernet (broadband cable) connects to the router and another cable goes from the router to the RJ45? Do I need a wireless network card for PC No 1 and/or just PC No 2?

Re: Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

If you are using a router you will only need one network connection to any PC. That connection can be wired, or wireless, depending on your needs.

Your setup would be:

Set Top Box (or Cable Modem)
Wired connection
Router WAN Port
Wired or wireless connection
PC1 / PC2 / laptop

Re: Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

OK, still getting there..... Wired connection from where to what?(from broadband cable to router?) Router WAN port, is this on the back of the router? Wired or wireless connection, the wired kit will be on the main PC and the wireless connection will be from the other PC/laptop? Have I got that right?

Re: Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

WAN port - the Wide Area Network. Routers will have one port so marked which is connected by ethernet cable to the STB (modem).

Most routers have 4 LAN ports - Local Area Network. Thus you can connect by ethernet up to four separate computers, each with their own wire between one of the LAN ports and the network ethernet card port on that computer.

A wireless router also enables you to connect, as an *alternative* to a wired connection, a computer or laptop wirelessly to the router. A wireless router will support many wireless connections simultaneoulsy so you can have two or more wireless computers in addition to up to 4 wired computers.

To connect wired you computer needs an ethernet port, to connect wireless your computer needs a wireless adaptor. You do not need an ethernet port if you are connecting wirelessly, or vice versa.

There are ways to connect more than 4 computers wired, but that is beyond the needs of this thread

Re: Basic Info Required Before Buying Wireless Router
 

Thanks Rob, You've explained everything very well, I'm just sorry I'm so dense. I've already had some valuable advice from another member (Paul) regarding a problem I had with switching USB to ethernet broadband connection with my old PC. I still have to resolve this issue but this Forum has been a great learning experience. Thanks again.:)