Just got my first laptop, now how do I go wireless?

[Billmanweh]

I just picked up a laptop from a friend and would like to be able to use it wireless at home and away. My home PC is running XP Home and I have a DSL connection. The laptop is a Gateway that's about 4-5 years old running XP Pro.

Just curious what I need to add to my home PC and the laptop to do this.

[RockNRoll]

You'll need to get a wireless 802.11G DSL router, and a PMCIA wireless G card or a USB adapter for the laptop. From there with a bit of setup (that we can help you with) you can connect wirelessly all you like. :D

After installing the card and setting up the router you'll just need to punch in the wireless network info (SSID, encryption key, etc.) in the wireless utility on the laptop and you'll be good to go provided everything goes as it should.

[Sterling_Aug]

Check the laptop before you buy a wireless card. It may already have one installed and the previous owner did not know it or use it.

[cat6]

You need a Wireless Cable/DSL Router.

It is a device (size of a book) that connects between the Internet's Modem and the networked computers.

This device Routes (direct) the Internet to the appropriate computer.

You can plug in 4 computers with cable, and many computers can connect wirelessly to the Internet and between them self (Network Sharing).

The system would be connected like this, http://www.ezlan.net/network/router.jpg


More about Routers here, http://www.ezlan.net/routers1.html


When using DSLThe Router can be set to maintain the connection On without log on.

See here, http://www.ezlan.net/PPPOE.html

What to buy? See here, http://www.ezlan.net/buffalo.html