Advice on going wireless with Virgin Cable + AOL!

[trish]

I am such a novice with wireless so please be patient with me!
Here goes.....
I have AOL broadband via cable (Virgin).8.73mb(just did a test!)
I now need to go wireless on 2 other pc's (1 laptop + 1 desktop).
We did try a Belkin DSL wireless router last year but gave up as the laptop wouldn't recognise it.
The laptop(3 years old) + other pc(brand spanking new) are ready to receive wireless )apparently).
AOL are the most user unfriendly co. to deal with and they say they cannot offer me any advice.
Please disregard the Belkin router now as we have mislaid the cable that connects it anyway!!(don't ask)
What router might we need to enable us to receive wireless on the 2 pc's being used upstairs?(main desktop downstairs).
Any advice would be most welcome.
Ta.
Trish.

[MovedGoalPosts]

to Cable Forum

AOL, like many Internet Service Providers don't offer "support" as in advice on how to do networking router wireless stuff. It's a limitation of what their staff can cope with in enabling basic broadband connection setup and troubleshooting.

It's been a long time since I've been anywhere near AOL. Do they allow connection of more than one computer simultaneously?

In theory any standard cable compatible wireless router should work. However this might well be messed up if the AOL broadband expects any form of login when connecting. I'm not sure many cable routers have the capability for that.

When you are ready to connect the router, start with a wired setup. Once that is working then you can add wireless. Make sure the modem, router and wire connected PC are all powered off as you setup the ethernet: modem <ethernet> router WAN (internet port), router LAN (network port) <ethernet> Computer. Then power on modem and let settle, power router let settle and lastly the computer.

What cable did you loose? If it's just an ethernet lead then these are easily replaced at low cost from any computer shop. A lot cheaper than a new router.

[trish]

Thanks Rob,
I will print off your reply to help me.
I have done some more research online since I posted and have discovered that Netgear is compatible with AOL + Cable. Whoopee!
I messaged AOL and their reply was that Cable AOL does not enable you to have a wireless connection! They give out some duff info!
Incidentaly, the lost cable from the Belkin is the one to plug the thing in to the power.
I think we will give a Netgear a try. Any advantage to buying a Netgear MIMO do you think? It has some good reviews on Amazon.
Thanks again.
Trish.

[MovedGoalPosts]

Your 3 year old laptop's inbuilt wireless is unlikely to be any higher standard than "g". Therefore although a MIMO router would go faster, it would be limited by the "g" speeds of your laptop. However it would offer some future proofing.