Wireless on Laptop..

Basq

Unsure of this whole area so bear with me..

Got a new laptop (HP Pavilion zv5368EA) before Christmas there. Noticed this button marked 'Wireless' near the top of the keyboard.

And also have a quick browse through a booklet i got with the laptop titled 'Using A Wireless LAN Adapter'

Here's what i want to know:

I am currently connected to Eircom BroadBand. Want to get a connection upstairs for the laptop but don't want the hassle of sending cables up through my ceiling etc.

So, am i to understand that by getting a WLAN Adapter (??), i can have both the broadband upstairs and downstairs.

Is it that easy or is there more to consider?

PS - Under the 'Communication' section of the specs, it has:

Communication - High speed 56K modem
10/100 LAN Ethernet integrated
54g Integrated 802.11 b/g Wireless LAN
One type I or II PC card slot. CardBus-enabled

I presume the item in italics would be the area to look into. How much would a WLAN Adapter cost, if it is as simple as i've stated above?

Auburn

54g Integrated 802.11 b/g Wireless LAN - This means that you already have a wireless LAN adapter inbuilt.

What you need to get is a wireless router so that you can share the Broadband connection wirelessly. Basically, the phone connection plugs into the router and than the router broadcasts a signal that your laptop then picks up.

Jammer

you'd need a wireless router. that'd send the signal around your house. your laptop has wireless built in so thats all u need. u can just plug ur PC into the router.

can get wireless routers from Komplett.ie or the likes of Peats/PC World.

aidan_walsh

I just got this one with its brother PCMCIA card the other day, and so far I love it...

Basq

Ah right! Cheers for the information all.

So all i'd need is a wireless router... any prices cheaper than £80? Komplett / Peats have any good offers on them at the moment?

Basq

How about this one from Komplett?

CNet Wireless Router 11 Mbps 802.11b, 4p switch

NotMe

Here's what you want: €75

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=306150&cks=PRL

You'll need to have an ethernet modem aswell. ( not a usb one)

Jammer

its only a B one, which is 11mbps, the G routers are 54/108 mbps. wouldnt really notice if u were jus using it for the internet though

Basq

Yeah, the modem i have - Netopia Cayman 3300 series - has both connections for Ethernet and USB. Am using the Ethernet on the computer downstairs anyways.

All i will be using it for is looking up research for projects and stuff, instead of coming downstairs, printing stuff off and then bringing it back upstairs. Doubt the connection will be under great strain!

So, in your opinions, would it be better to go with the €50 Komplett one i linked to OR the €75 one NotMe linked to?

All opinions welcome! Not really dealt with the area of Wireless Routers before.

EDIT: Also worth mentioning.. if i get this wireless router and i want to share the broadband connection, will the other computer not need a Wireless Adapter also? Or that can that still be hooked in via Ethernet as it is right now.

Tom Dunne

basquille wrote:

EDIT: Also worth mentioning.. if i get this wireless router and i want to share the broadband connection, will the other computer not need a Wireless Adapter also? Or that can that still be hooked in via Ethernet as it is right now.

Yes, you can share via Ethernet cable. Most wireless routers have four Ethernet ports along with the wireless antenna so you have the option of buying another wireless card for your second PC, or just plug it in via a standard cable.

NotMe

basquille wrote:

Yeah, the modem i have - Netopia Cayman 3300 series - has both connections for Ethernet and USB. Am using the Ethernet on the computer downstairs anyways.

All i will be using it for is looking up research for projects and stuff, instead of coming downstairs, printing stuff off and then bringing it back upstairs. Doubt the connection will be under great strain!

So, in your opinions, would it be better to go with the €50 Komplett one i linked to OR the €75 one NotMe linked to?

All opinions welcome! Not really dealt with the area of Wireless Routers before.

EDIT: Also worth mentioning.. if i get this wireless router and i want to share the broadband connection, will the other computer not need a Wireless Adapter also? Or that can that still be hooked in via Ethernet as it is right now.

I didn't see your post before I posted. I'd go for the cheaper one. As Jammer said it's slower but you wouldn't notice for internet browsing. Your wireless card supports both b and g so yeah go for that one.
That router has four ethernet ports at the back plus one port for the modem. So you plug the modem into it and plug your computer into one of the ethernet ports.

Basq

Cheers for all the info everyone!

Will go for the cheaper one then on Komplett (as well as a USB mouse for the laptop.. there's only so much of the TouchPad i can stand!).

I don't need any extra special connectors / plugs to hook it up to Ethernet or anything before i order it? Just the Wireless Router.. that's all!

MrPinK

Just the router and some standard ethernet cable, which those kind manufacterers will most likely bundle with it.

maxheadroom

basquille wrote:

Cheers for all the info everyone!

Will go for the cheaper one then on Komplett (as well as a USB mouse for the laptop.. there's only so much of the TouchPad i can stand!).

I don't need any extra special connectors / plugs to hook it up to Ethernet or anything before i order it? Just the Wireless Router.. that's all!

I'd reccomend going for an 802.11g router because you'll definitely notice the difference if you use the network to copy files from one machine to the other, or to stream music or especially video. an 11mbps connection won't be able to stream video, the bandwidth isn't there.

Maybe a Linksys WRT54G (€75 on komplett, €63 on jes.de - prices work out about the same when you factor in delivery)?

Basq

MrPinK wrote:

Just the router and some standard ethernet cable, which those kind manufacterers will most likely bundle with it.

Ah right.. i've already the computer downstairs hooked up to the DSL Modem using the Ethernet connection. Won't need another one, will i?

maxheadroom wrote:

I'd reccomend going for an 802.11g router because you'll definitely notice the difference if you use the network to copy files from one machine to the other, or to stream music or especially video. an 11mbps connection won't be able to stream video, the bandwidth isn't there.

Maybe a Linksys WRT54G (€75 on komplett, €63 on jes.de - prices work out about the same when you factor in delivery)?

Yeah, but i really won't need it for streaming music and stuff. I just need it for simply browsing around online and researching projects.

Got the computer downstairs for my audio and visual needs!

NotMe

basquille wrote:

Ah right.. i've already the computer downstairs hooked up to the DSL Modem using the Ethernet connection. Won't need another one, will i?

You'll need one wire from the modem to the router and another from the router to the computer. The router will probably come with an ethernet cable so you should be ok.

Basq

NotMe wrote:

You'll need one wire from the modem to the router and another from the router to the computer. The router will probably come with an ethernet cable so you should be ok.

Cheers for that!

Thanks again everyone for all the useful info.

Even though i'm a 3rd Year Computing student and have been doing Networking for the last 2 years. Never went near the idea of Wireless Routers etc.

Basq

Just found out Eircom are offering a free Wireless Router with new connections to BB for the next two months.

And also.. if you're a current customer, you can buy the Router for €49.99 (RRP: €149). I doubt that RRP is right though, as it is apparently only an 802.11b Router.

You need to sign-on for another 12 month contract with Eircom if you do buy it though!

Not bad value though... wonder if i go into 3G Stores, will they be able to sell it to me there?

See here: http://www.eircom.ie/cgi-bin/bvsm/bveircom/bladerunner/showContent.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1624263531.1104716609@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccgadddhjgifkdcefeceiedffndffj.0&cid=BroadbandIntroRes&site=Res&chanId=-536883873

Eircom wrote:

Exclusive online offer - go wireless for FREE!
Order eircom broadband home starter or eircom broadband home plus today and we will give you the wireless router for FREE! (standard price: €149 inc. VAT). Now you can surf without wires anywhere in your home.

If you're an existing eircom broadband home starter / plus customer, you can also buy our wireless router for only €49.99 (inc. VAT).

maxheadroom

basquille wrote:

Yeah, but i really won't need it for streaming music and stuff. I just need it for simply browsing around online and researching projects.

Got the computer downstairs for my audio and visual needs!

You say that now, but wait until you see the convenience of curling up in bed with your laptop and watching a movie on your downstairs computer without having to wait for it to copy across onto your hard drive Seriously though, why cripple yourself for the sake of €20 - you might not need it now, but you may in the future?

Basq

maxheadroom wrote:

You say that now, but wait until you see the convenience of curling up in bed with your laptop and watching a movie on your downstairs computer without having to wait for it to copy across onto your hard drive Seriously though, why cripple yourself for the sake of €20 - you might not need it now, but you may in the future?

Bought the one from Eircom for €50... and with an RRP of €150, didn't do too bad!

Cheers for the advice Max... but can already curl up in bed watching a movie with this little beauty - (www.archos.com/av400)

One last question though..

If i'm on the Net via wireless upstairs and someone else is on the Net downstairs via the Ethernet connection, will the connection be impared OR will only one be allowed connection to the broadband at the one time?

NotMe

Both computers can use the connection at the same time. It will make your connection a bit slower but you wouldn't really notice unless one of the computers is doing some heavy duty downloading with BitTorrent or something like that.

Civilian_Target

I have one of these routers and I highly recommend them...

http://www.linksys.com/international/product.asp?coid=19&ipid=371

Basq

Cheers for clearing that up NotMe!

Ordered it yesterday.. she said "should take about 10 days to get there"

But it is Eircom so i'm expecting it sometime before the end of the year!