Newbie question re: wired/wireless

[kevstanley]

I currently have Virgin Broadband, and am using just one PC, which is connected by ethernet to the modem. However, I have just bought a laptop, which is not yet delivered, and realise I have no idea how to proceed. The laptop is wireless enabled. The PC is pretty old and crappy. I know I need a router (have had Linksys recommended) but can I use it for both wired and wireless computers? Or do I need a dongle to enable my desktop to be wireless? It seems that routers are either described as wired or wireless, hence my confusion.

Also, is there anything else I need to do/buy to set up?

Sorry for being such a hopeless noob, but I hope someone can advise me on this!

[Cobbydaler]

You can use the router for both wireless & wired connections. Most routers will take up to 4 wired connections in addition to multiple wireless ones...

[Pedro1]

You can use the router for both wired and wireless. The laptop will pick up the wireless signal and you just connect your modem with patch cable to the modem port on the router and then another cable from one of the routers Ethernet ports to the computer.

[Halcyon]

Just becuase the laptop is wireless, it should still have an ethernet network port on the back so if you wanted to you could hook them both up by wires to the router.
As others have mentioned, you can have both wireless and wired connections to a router as nearly all routers have wired ports at the back.

Linksys are indeed very good. Make sure you buy a cable router and not an ADSL one.

[zovat]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Linksys are indeed very good. Make sure you buy a cable router and not an ADSL one.

Very good point - well worth noting - a number of people have purchased "broadband routers" which have built in ADSL modems. these will not work with cable...

Zovat

[kevstanley]

Thanks for the advice!

---------- Post added at 19:53 ---------- Previous post was at 19:51 ----------

Actually, one more thing. Is there a significant benefit to the Rangebooster routers? I am looking at the Linksys WRT54GR-UK, and wondering if the standard one will do the trick (I'm in a biggish 3 bed Victorian terrace), or whether to fork out the extra for the Rangebooster. Thanks!

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Buy the router and try it without a rangebooster first.