Cable Forum - View Single Post - NTL Wireless Broadband "Big Bang" Approach?

bravon33 · 02-08-2005, 12:07

I currently have a laptop and desktop, both on dial-up to NTL (not at the same time!). What I'd like to do is to switch to broadband, but wondering if its possible to go directly to wireless and bypass the Ethernet!

The reason for this is that my computers are quite old, both about 6 years old. My laptop is running Windows 2000 and has a PCMCIA (type II) modem (and one USB 1.1 port with no Ethernet connection). The desktop is running Windows 98 SE and has an external modem connected to a COM port (also has two USB 1.1 ports). There is an Ethernet card in it but I'm not sure if its working since the PC is an old one from work that had to have its disk wiped, so I'm not sure if its got the (correct) drivers loaded (and not sure what make or model Ethernet card is to download a driver from the net, although I think its a 3COM one). As an aside, is there a way of checking if an Ethernet card if working or has the right driver without plugging it into some network? Basically, I'm not confident that I can get an Ethernet connection going on either computer!

I really need the laptop connected to the internet but the desktop is a "nice to have" for my young son to play on! The plan is that I'll get a new PC in a few years time when he's old enough to need one properly.

Now, looking at the forums and websites online, I was thinking of changing to NTL Broadband and connecting the NTL provided cable modem via an Ethernet cable to a Linksys WRT54G (Wireless G Broadband Router). Then replacing my PCMCIA modem with a Linksys WPC54G (Wireless G Notebook Adaptor). I'll come to the desktop later, but is it possible to do this (i.e. set it up without Ethernet) in a big bang approach?

Or, do I have to do something like the following - firstly, get a PCMCIA Ethernet card (I was looking at the Linksys PCM100 (10/100) - not sure whether this would be compatible with NTL Broadband?) and get the NTL guy in to install Broadband. Then I would have to set it all up by connecting the cable modem with an Ethernet cable to my laptop's PCMCIA Ethernet card. So this basically gets me started on broadband. Once this is up and running, I then get the Linksys WRT54G (Wireless G Broadband Router), and set that up by connecting the cable modem to that, and then my laptop (via another Ethernet cable) to the router. Once the router is set up, replace the PCMCIA Ethernet card with the Linksys WPC54G (Wireless G Notebook Adaptor) so I now should have my laptop wirelessed up?

As for the desktop, what I was then hoping to do (regardless of the initial setup with the router/laptop), is to try to see if the Ethernet card is working on the PC by connecting it via a cable to the router (can this be done despite the router being deemed a wireless one?) and if this works I could leave this permanently (since I'm unlikely to move the desktop about much). If that didnt work, I was considering getting a Linksys WMP54G (Wireless G PCI Adaptor) since this works with Windows 98 SE allegedly, or maybe even putting a new Ethernet card in (if it would work by connecting permanently to the wireless router via an Ethernet cable).

Another option I was considering is if I there is a way I can confirm the Ethernet card is working in the PC, to use that to do the original set up NTL broadband, and then the initial set up of the router so that I wouldnt need the PCMCIA Ethernet card.

In all of this, I've not mentioned the USB option due to both computers having the original older 1.1 versions of USB.

Anyway, as you can see, I've got a few strategies planned but have no idea which one is the best to follow, or maybe none of them would work! In which case, as someone got an alternative plan of attack?

Apologies for long message, but thanks for your time in reading it! I look forward to reading any responses!

Cheers!

02-08-2005, 12:07	#1
bravon33 Inactive Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5	NTL Wireless Broadband "Big Bang" Approach? I currently have a laptop and desktop, both on dial-up to NTL (not at the same time!). What I'd like to do is to switch to broadband, but wondering if its possible to go directly to wireless and bypass the Ethernet! The reason for this is that my computers are quite old, both about 6 years old. My laptop is running Windows 2000 and has a PCMCIA (type II) modem (and one USB 1.1 port with no Ethernet connection). The desktop is running Windows 98 SE and has an external modem connected to a COM port (also has two USB 1.1 ports). There is an Ethernet card in it but I'm not sure if its working since the PC is an old one from work that had to have its disk wiped, so I'm not sure if its got the (correct) drivers loaded (and not sure what make or model Ethernet card is to download a driver from the net, although I think its a 3COM one). As an aside, is there a way of checking if an Ethernet card if working or has the right driver without plugging it into some network? Basically, I'm not confident that I can get an Ethernet connection going on either computer! I really need the laptop connected to the internet but the desktop is a "nice to have" for my young son to play on! The plan is that I'll get a new PC in a few years time when he's old enough to need one properly. Now, looking at the forums and websites online, I was thinking of changing to NTL Broadband and connecting the NTL provided cable modem via an Ethernet cable to a Linksys WRT54G (Wireless G Broadband Router). Then replacing my PCMCIA modem with a Linksys WPC54G (Wireless G Notebook Adaptor). I'll come to the desktop later, but is it possible to do this (i.e. set it up without Ethernet) in a big bang approach? Or, do I have to do something like the following - firstly, get a PCMCIA Ethernet card (I was looking at the Linksys PCM100 (10/100) - not sure whether this would be compatible with NTL Broadband?) and get the NTL guy in to install Broadband. Then I would have to set it all up by connecting the cable modem with an Ethernet cable to my laptop's PCMCIA Ethernet card. So this basically gets me started on broadband. Once this is up and running, I then get the Linksys WRT54G (Wireless G Broadband Router), and set that up by connecting the cable modem to that, and then my laptop (via another Ethernet cable) to the router. Once the router is set up, replace the PCMCIA Ethernet card with the Linksys WPC54G (Wireless G Notebook Adaptor) so I now should have my laptop wirelessed up? As for the desktop, what I was then hoping to do (regardless of the initial setup with the router/laptop), is to try to see if the Ethernet card is working on the PC by connecting it via a cable to the router (can this be done despite the router being deemed a wireless one?) and if this works I could leave this permanently (since I'm unlikely to move the desktop about much). If that didnt work, I was considering getting a Linksys WMP54G (Wireless G PCI Adaptor) since this works with Windows 98 SE allegedly, or maybe even putting a new Ethernet card in (if it would work by connecting permanently to the wireless router via an Ethernet cable). Another option I was considering is if I there is a way I can confirm the Ethernet card is working in the PC, to use that to do the original set up NTL broadband, and then the initial set up of the router so that I wouldnt need the PCMCIA Ethernet card. In all of this, I've not mentioned the USB option due to both computers having the original older 1.1 versions of USB. Anyway, as you can see, I've got a few strategies planned but have no idea which one is the best to follow, or maybe none of them would work! In which case, as someone got an alternative plan of attack? Apologies for long message, but thanks for your time in reading it! I look forward to reading any responses! Cheers!