wi-fi enabled laptop

[Church Mouse]

Hello

If my Laptop is WiFi enabled - do I still need to buy an adapter or anything else for my main pc?

Thank you

Church Mouse

[Raistlin]

Originally Posted by Church Mouse

Hello

If my Laptop is WiFi enabled - do I still need to buy an adapter or anything else for my main pc?

Thank you

Church Mouse

That really depends on what you intend to do.

You will need a wireless enabled router that will connect to your internet connection (cable modem/adsl modem, or whatever), or a wireless enabled router that will replace the modem providing your internet connection.

This will then enable you to access the internet using the wireless capability of your laptop.

You can continue to connect your main pc to the router via the ethernet cable if you like, or you can get a wireless adaptor for the main pc and connect to the router that way.

HTH, but if you've any more questions just shout.

you can set up a ad hoc wireless network using internet connection sharing but I wouldnt advise it

[Church Mouse]

Thanks

It's just that a friend of mine has a new wi-fi enabled laptop and she has Sky broadband, she has no cards or routers for her main pc, and she says she can connect to the internet on her laptop but has no other equipment ?

I have VM cable broadband on my main pc. I am thinking of buying a new laptop.

Thank you

Church Mouse

sky would have sent a router you should be able to run an ethernet cable to the pc if not try a cheap usb wireless adapter set it up on tower and they should be fine. Unless of course she has connected to someone elses network thats unsecured and sky aint sent all the kit yet

[Church Mouse]

Thanks Zinglebarb,

I do not really understand wi-fi and as I have cable just wondered if I would be able to connect as easily as my friend with a wi-fi enabled laptop.

At present I connect my existing laptop by disconnecting my main pc from my modem and then connect my laptop via an ethernet cable to the modem.

Thanks for your help.

Church Mouse

[jem]

Ok I understand what you want to do. You have a VM cable modem, which is a small black box thing into which you can connect your PC or laptop using an ethernet cable. Now the modem can only have one device connected to it at a time and when you swop to another machine you probably need to power it off and then on again right.

What you need is a cable router. This is a device which plugs into the modem and itself has a number (usually four) of sockets into which you can plug PCs or laptops and use them all at the same time without having to reboot anything. Even better is to get a cable router which also has wireless built in, something like a Linksys WRT54G but there are other options available. Then not only can you plug your PC into one of the sockets on it but your wireless laptop will also connect directly to the internet using..well wireless!

If you go looking for a wireless router, make sure you get one for cable connections and not an ADSL wireless router/modem. These are more common in the shops but certainly won't work for you.

[Church Mouse]

Thanks to all for advice

Church Mouse