Posted on 07/02/2006 10:57:22 AM PDT by GB
Brother Freepers, after eight years online at home (joined this place about the same time), all on dial-up, we're finally getting into the 21st century and going broadband with cable Internet.
I got a great online deal which includes a discounted rate for six months, free (after rebates) modem and router and cash back.
The modem and router arrived in only two days, and Comcast is supposed to be out on Wednesday to set this up. I think I could actually set the modem up to the computer, etc., I just don't want to fool with splitting my cable line to get a dedicated line to the modem, so I'm letting them do it (also at a discounted rate).
After we get the Internet working as it's supposed to, I want to set up a wireless network so that other folks in the house can get online as well. Right now, that would only be my wife's laptop. It's a Dell with an internal WLAN card, she's never even been online with it and wants desperately to do so. At some point, once we get a place set up for it in the mell of a hess that is their room, the kids are also going to have their own computer. That may be a few months down the road, though.
Basically, what I'm wanting to do immediately is to give my wife wireless Internet capability in our house. At present, she's not planning to take it out to any hot spots, she'll just be using it in the house. And we want to keep our main desktop ... a new Dell; our old Dell desktop will be the one going to the kids ... wired if possible.
I've done my homework and looked at some online resources and looked at the instruction books, etc., and I'm still not confident in what all is required to do this.
So, I would like to ask some of my Freeper brethren who are more schooled in these things to give me the simplified, A through Z, "Run Spot Run" version of what I need to do here with all the equipment I've mentioned (cable modem, router, my wife's laptop, etc.) to accomplish this.
Thanks in advance for any help.
We've got cable, and a wireless router that serves our neighbor :~)
I'll ping the ones that know more than me about setting it up.
BTW... you won't regret cable. It's blazing fast :~)
Why do you need a wireless network if you're going through cable? If you have your house for cable, you can hook up a computer in each room that has a connection. True you may be out a modem but build slowly. Wireless is pretty much straight forward. To set up a wireless network without the neighbors tapping in you are going to have to read the directions.
We only have one cable connection in the house. I know we're probably out of the norm there as well, but we don't exactly have the Taj Mahal sizewise and we have one cable-wired TV, in the living room (kids have a TV in their bedroom, but it's only used for DVDs and games). Our computer is in a different room from the cable connection and we're inclined to keep it there because it suits our purposes for it to be there. I figure Comcast will split the line and give us another connection there. I just figured wireless would be the best way for my wife to be in another room and on the Internet with her laptop.
Did you forget that each computer would need a CABLE MODEM?
If you have 2.8 GhZ cordless phones, this can cause problems. They operate on the same frequency as do wireless networks. If the phone rings and you answer it, your network goes down.
why would want to run cable wire everywhere in the house?
This was meant for each computer-internet interface. It's just an option. Not recommending one way or another.
This may be a shocker to you but some newer homes have cable in a lot of rooms. That's just the way they're built.
If you have a computer set up already that you want to have broadband access, Comcast should run a split to that area. If you want to access via wirreless, the router must be able to do it. Otherwise, you might need something like a Wireless Access Point to plug into their router.
Without all the details about what you have... it's hard to be more specific.
But it doesn't sound like the originator of the post does.
Unfortunately, I don't exactly have a newer home.
I have a D-Link WBR-1310 wireless router.
My house was built in '52 and I think I have a cable connection in 4 rooms. I don't have a need for wireless since I have only one desk top now.
My wife has a lap top but only uses it away from home (she travels frequently on business) Wireless is nice and for your wife's lap top sounds ideal.
Now, I will interject my own question that someone may be able to answer: I haven't had a land line phone in several years and never plan on having one. I wonder if I could get the phone company to come out here and remove their ugly wires leading to my house?
Good Luck
You can ask, but there's not much incentive for them to do it, insofar as removal costs them money and gains them nothing. That is, unless you offer to defray the cost of removal, of course. Plus, from their point of view, eventually you'll pass on (sorry) or sell the house or something, and someone else will live there, who may in turn want landline service. At which point, someone will have to pay the cost of running a new wire.
But, you can always ask - just don't get your hopes up ;)
Windows XP on both the desktop and the laptop. As I said, the laptop has an internal WLAN card.
It looks like that router also has connections for up to 4 wired access points.
I would suggest you first have Comcast get your main computer (with a wired connection to the router) set up first. Then, you can go into the router configuration and establish whatever wireless settings you want. Make sure you change the default password and SSID, turn off SSID broadcast, etc. In addition, for wireless access I suggest you consider using MAC address filtering, so as to allow only specific wireless devices to connect. Encryption is also an option, but I don't know enough about that router or your wife's laptop to recommend a specific choice.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.